Signal to Noise: Crisis Communication

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Communicating during a disaster is incredibly challenging. Even in everyday situations, communication is a complex process for anyone involved in an exchange. Add the stress and urgency of a crisis, and things can go wrong quickly. In times of disaster, human beings often struggle to absorb life-saving information effectively. We process messages differently under pressure, retain little of it, and respond unpredictably. In fact, during such high-stress moments, people often revert to simpler levels of understanding, meaning the information shared must be clear and simple enough for a sixth-grader to grasp.

Crisis communication should be approached from both the perspective of the listener and the spokesperson. According to the latest Gallup Poll, only 20 percent of U.S. citizens expressed a fair amount of trust in the federal government, while others may feel completely neglected. For emergency responders, understanding these challenges is crucial in bridging communication gaps and building trust with the public. So, how can emergency response agencies effectively deliver life-saving information to their audiences? And equally important, how can those audiences remain open to receiving and acting on that information when their decisions may be a matter of life or death?

couple in the aftermath of a crisis

Community trust is vital in crisis communications; it helps ensure that the public follows safety instructions and cooperates with emergency responders. During a disaster, transparent, honest, and consistent messaging fosters trust, reducing panic and confusion, and empowering communities to stay resilient and respond effectively to the crisis.

Clear & Accurate Communication

Effective disaster communication is vital to ensuring the safety, well-being, and recovery of affected communities. When disaster strikes, it is the timely, clear, and accurate communication from response agencies that can mean the difference between life and death. The primary goal of disaster communication is to provide residents with the information they need to protect themselves and take appropriate action.

Clear communication is necessary to keep the public informed of risks and safety instructions such as evacuation orders as seen during Hurricane Katrina. In times of crisis, emotions are high, and the ability to quickly deliver concise and accurate messages helps prevent confusion and panic. Miscommunication or delays in disseminating information can have devastating effects, as people may not receive the necessary warnings to take life-saving measures in time.

STRAWBERRY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - 2021/08/26: View of burning trees as the Caldor Fire grows to the Tahoe basin.The Caldor fire has grown to over 130,000 acres and threatens to grow to the Tahoe basin. These images where taken at a backfire set by crews in an effort to gain control on the Caldor fire. Cause still unknown at this time. (Photo by Ty O'Neil/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

STRAWBERRY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – 2021/08/26: View of burning trees as the Caldor Fire grows to the Tahoe...

Risks of Poor Communication

The consequences of poor communication during a disaster are severe and multifaceted. Misinformation is one of the most dangerous byproducts of ineffective communication. During the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, rumors and contradictory information spread through the affected regions, leading to confusion about the scale of the disaster and evacuation plans. In some cases, local authorities were slow to issue clear warnings, and public confusion led to people being caught off-guard by the waves resulting in thousands of avoidable deaths.

Panic is another significant risk associated with poor communication. When people don't receive accurate or timely information, they may make irrational decisions driven by fear, such as attempting to flee in an uncoordinated manner or ignoring evacuation orders altogether. This chaos not only jeopardizes their safety but also complicates the efforts of emergency responders who are trying to help. The good news is that panic is not as common as we may believe during a disaster. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “Panic during disasters is much less common than people tend to believe.” The National Research Council report titled “Disaster and the Community” from 2011 confers with the APA and states that “studies of mass disasters consistently show that, rather than panic, most people exhibit calm, cooperative behavior.” While this is all good news, it is important for communicators to always hope for the best yet plan for the worst as they traverse down a potential rabbit hole of deep distress.

Adding to potential problems, delays in communication, or failure to relay clear instructions, can result in delayed responses to critical needs such as medical assistance. A lack of coherent information about where to find supplies or how to get to safety can leave people stranded or without resources, exacerbating the disaster's impact. Past disasters provide ample evidence of how communication failures can amplify the devastation. Take, for example, Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Poor communication from government officials and agencies led to widespread confusion and inefficiencies in evacuations and rescue operations. Many people in New Orleans did not receive timely warnings about the severity of the storm or the need to evacuate, particularly in low income or predominantly African American neighborhoods. As a result, thousands were left stranded in dangerous conditions, with inadequate resources and no clear guidance on where to seek refuge.
Recognizing the diverse needs of a community is essential for effective disaster communication. Communities are often made up of individuals from various cultural, demographic, and linguistic backgrounds. Understanding this diversity allows emergency responders to communicate in ways that resonate with all members, ensuring that life-saving information reaches everyone. Cultural norms and values can influence how people perceive authority figures or how they respond to directives. Some populations may have a mistrust of government agencies, while others may be more reliant on community leaders. By acknowledging these differences, emergency responders can tailor their messaging to increase receptivity and ensure a unified, effective response.

fire dept members performing crisis communication

Crisis communication during a disaster is incredibly stressful as responders must balance the urgency of delivering accurate information with the need to manage public fear and confusion. The pressure to make quick decisions, handle misinformation, and coordinate with multiple agencies can be overwhelming. Clear, calm communication is essential to ensuring safety and maintaining public trust amid chaos.

Before the Disaster

Community engagement is critical for building a foundation of trust and preparedness before disaster strikes. Emergency responders should establish ongoing relationships with community organizations and residents, ensuring that they are well-informed about available resources and emergency procedures. Pre-disaster outreach, such as education campaigns, help to familiarize the public with the necessary actions they must take during a crisis while also reinforcing the credibility of emergency agencies.

The more involved and informed a community is ahead of time, the more likely individuals will feel prepared and empowered to respond effectively when disaster occurs. By prioritizing engagement, responders can also identify unique community needs or vulnerable populations such as the elderly. Tailored preparedness programs can then be developed to ensure that all residents are equipped with the right tools to protect themselves during a disaster.

Building Trust & Transparency

Trust is fundamental to disaster communication. If emergency responders have not established a strong, transparent relationship with the community before a crisis, their messages may not be taken seriously or followed. Building trust is a long-term effort that involves consistent, honest communication and active involvement in the community throughout normal times. Dr. Barbara Reynolds is a retired deputy director of external affairs with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and wrote the book on Crisis & Emergency Risk Communications. She informs us that “it’s vital to make an emotional and psychological connection with your audience at the initial stages of the disaster that's occurring, especially if you’re back at a headquarters doing something that’s got your attention focused elsewhere. It’s an investment in both your community and communication to make sure that you’re doing the best you can to keep them informed and develop that trust-based relationship with them.”

By engaging with local leaders, listening to the concerns of the public, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to residents’ well-being, responders can create an environment where the public is more likely to heed warnings and take the necessary steps for safety when a disaster occurs. Effective disaster communication is a critical element in saving lives and reducing the overall impact of a crisis. To ensure that people can make informed decisions, emergency responders must adhere to key principles that guide the way information is disseminated. The principles of timeliness, clarity, consistency, actionable information, credibility, and the use of multiple communication channels are essential for effective communication and community safety.

flooded city

Timely and factual communication is essential during a disaster to provide clear guidance and ensure public safety....

Timeliness: Real-Time Updates

One of the most important aspects of disaster communication is timeliness. In emergencies, situations evolve rapidly, and residents need real-time updates to make informed decisions. Regardless of the disaster, timely communication allows people to understand the current situation and take immediate action. Delays in providing updates can cause unnecessary risks, as communities may not be able to prepare or evacuate in time. Providing constant updates through reliable channels, even when new information is minimal, helps reassure the community and encourages proactive safety measures.

Clarity: Simple, Clear Language

Clarity in communication is crucial, especially during a disaster when emotions are high, and people are under stress. Complex or technical language can confuse or overwhelm the audience, increasing the risk of individuals missing vital information or misinterpreting warnings. Emergency communication should be straightforward, avoiding jargon or unnecessarily complicated terminology. Instead of saying, “Evacuate to the designated shelter area,” a clearer message would be, “Go to the school gymnasium on Maple Street for shelter.” The use of simple, action-oriented language helps ensure that everyone, regardless of education level or background, understands the message and knows exactly what they need to do to stay safe.

Consistency: Avoiding Confusion

Consistency is another fundamental principle of effective disaster communication. During a crisis, conflicting messages from different authorities can lead to confusion and chaos. It is crucial that all sources (local, state, and federal agencies) deliver consistent and unified messages. This helps ensure that people are not receiving mixed signals, which can cause them to act in contradictory ways. If local government authorities issue an evacuation order while a federal agency reports that conditions are not yet dangerous, the public might be left unsure of how to respond. Having clear communication protocols in place and ensuring coordination between agencies is key to maintaining consistency during a disaster.

crisis flood

Actionable Info: Providing Practical Steps

Disaster communication should provide clear, actionable information that allows people to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. Warnings are important, but they need to be accompanied by specific instructions on what to do. Telling people to “evacuate immediately” or “take shelter” is not enough. Specifically telling your audience to “take shelter in an interior room away from windows” offers a very particular course of action that helps alleviate stress and gives the listener a sense of control and ownership often needed during times of disaster. The clearer the instructions, the less likely people are to hesitate or second-guess their actions during critical moments.

Credibility: Trustworthy Sources

In a crisis, misinformation spreads quickly, especially with the rise of social media. To prevent confusion and panic, it is essential that emergency communication comes from credible and trusted sources. Government agencies, local emergency response teams, and reliable news outlets should always seek to be trustworthy in the eyes of the public so that disaster recommendations are acted upon. Additionally, before disseminating any information, authorities should verify the facts to ensure accuracy. False or unverified information can result in widespread fear or, worse, dangerous actions taken based on incorrect assumptions.

From the viewpoint of the listener, this has become increasingly difficult, if not almost impossible, with political bias prevalent in news agencies today. Randy Retter, an elected sheriff from Wayne County, Indiana, and subject matter expert in safety, relates our need to gain trustworthy sources of information from multiple sources. “When we are encompassed in a digital world, we are only using two of senses, which are sight and sound. In a disaster, all our senses, including our sense to think logically, are available to us. If we’re faced with a situation where we need factual information, even if we’re not completely prepared for it, we’ve got to use most of our senses to often make the best decision on what to trust.

“We don’t always receive that, so we’re forced to make a potentially bad decision based on incomplete information. I’m afraid that’s what’s quickly happening to our nation today.” There may not be a concrete answer to uncover all the facts during a disaster. The most effective way to determine factual information is to perform your own research and get an overarching view of what all news agencies are saying. It’s not perfect, but at least you’re not being spoon-fed information the benefits television ratings and not yourself.

Multiple Channels: Reach a Broad Audience

Finally, leveraging multiple communication channels is essential for reaching as many people as possible. Reynolds continues that “there is an opportunity for us to do a better job of managing the communication loop. It’s important to understand that there are best practices, but there is not just one way to communicate.”

She’s right. In today’s digital age, relying on just one communication method, such as radio or TV, can leave certain segments of the population uninformed. Social media platforms, websites, emergency apps, text messages, and traditional media outlets all play an important role in disseminating information quickly and widely. Social media, for instance, allows emergency responders to post real-time updates, while mobile apps can send push notifications directly to people’s phones. Traditional media like radio and TV are still critical for reaching those without internet access. A multi-channel approach ensures emergency messages are reaching the widest possible audience, especially in communities with varying levels of access to technology.

The effectiveness of disaster communication lies in its timeliness, clarity, consistency, credibility, and actionability. By adhering to these key principles and utilizing multiple communication channels, emergency responders can ensure that their messages reach those in need of information, helping communities stay safe and recover more quickly during and after a crisis.

downed power lines

Post-Disaster & Recovery

Effective communication doesn’t end once the immediate disaster threat has passed. In fact, the recovery and rebuilding phases require just as much, if not more, attention to ensure that communities receive the support they need to heal and rebuild. Ongoing communication during recovery plays a critical role in maintaining public safety. During the recovery phase, it’s essential to continue providing clear and actionable information to the community.

This includes updates on available resources such as shelter, food distribution, financial aid, and mental health services. As communities begin rebuilding, regular communication is needed to share progress, outline safety precautions, and direct people to available resources. If your local road access to certain areas becomes clear, informing residents can help them return home safely. Emergency responders and local authorities must continue to be visible, accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of the community.

Feedback & Lessons Learned

Another crucial component of post-disaster communication is gathering feedback from the community. After the disaster, emergency agencies should solicit input from residents about the effectiveness of the communication during and after the event. This feedback can be gathered through a variety of means such as surveys and town hall meetings. Analyzing this feedback helps identify areas for improvement, whether it’s the clarity of messaging or the accessibility of resources.

Incorporating lessons learned into future disaster communication plans ensures better preparedness for the next crisis. Post-disaster analysis offers valuable lessons. Past events, like Hurricane Katrina or the California wildfires, have highlighted the importance of timely, clear, and coordinated messaging. Agencies that communicate transparently and consistently build trust and reduce confusion during recovery.

Empowerment & Resilience

Proper communication can also empower individuals and communities to take control of their recovery. When people have access to accurate and timely information, they feel more confident in their ability to rebuild. Empowering the community with knowledge about available assistance fosters resilience. This enables them to recover more quickly and emerge stronger, both emotionally and practically, from the disaster. Effective post-disaster communication not only supports recovery but also helps to build a foundation for long-term resilience in the face of future challenges.

Getting it Right

Effective communication by emergency responders is crucial in ensuring a coordinated and successful response to disasters. When emergency situations arise, clear, accurate, and timely communication can mean the difference between life and death. It enables responders to quickly assess the situation, allocate resources efficiently, and relay critical information to the public and other agencies. Effective communication, however, goes beyond just relaying information.

Disaster communication establishes trust within the community and provides reassurance, thus ensuring that all parties involved are on the same page. This is why ongoing preparedness and training are essential. Responders must regularly engage in communication drills, improve their technical and interpersonal skills, and be committed to honest dialogue in both chaotic and calm times.

When responders communicate transparently and effectively, they build public confidence and facilitate smoother operations on the ground. Disaster communication, performed correctly, creates a foundation of trust that keeps us safe and informed during times of crisis. While not at the forefront of all emergency responders, communicators should fight to find a seat at the planning table. Emergency-based communication truly is the glue that holds disaster response efforts together, fostering a stronger, more prepared community ready to face whatever challenges may arise. When time is essential in saving lives, proper communication is indeed a vital step in getting emergency response right for our safety … and that is what truly matters.

elderly couple

Instructions like “evacuate immediately” or “take shelter” are too vague, and can unintentionally put people in harms way. Instead, “take shelter in an interior room away from windows” is much more precise and affords people a greater chance of survival.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Crisis communication is crucial in ensuring that all individuals, especially vulnerable populations, receive timely, accurate, and accessible information during disasters. Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, individuals with disabilities, non-native speakers, and those with limited access to technology are at higher risk during emergencies, not only due to physical or situational limitations but also because they may face barriers in receiving critical updates.

Accessibility: Crisis communication must ensure that vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, disabled individuals, and non-native speakers, have access to critical information through multiple channels (e.g., radio, text, social media, in-person outreach).

Clear, Simple Messaging: Information should be straightforward, using simple language and visuals to make it easier for everyone to understand, especially those with limited literacy or cognitive abilities.

Language Support: Messages should be translated and include cultural considerations to accommodate non-English speakers or individuals with limited language proficiency.
Technology Access: Recognize that some vulnerable individuals may lack access to modern technology, so traditional methods like printed materials or community-based announcements are essential.

Targeted Outreach: Engage with vulnerable populations directly through tailored outreach, such as providing sign language interpreters or dedicated helplines, to ensure they receive necessary guidance during a crisis.

About the Author

Mark Linderman is the owner of Disaster Initiatives, an online company that provides communication leaders with the tools needed to address their communities and the media throughout a crisis, teaching the communicator to approach crisis communication from the listener’s perspective. He is a certified emergency manager (CEM) and 19-year veteran of Public Health. He instructs Crisis & Risk Communication and Disaster Preparedness courses for seven universities, including Indiana University’s Fairbanks School of Public Health. Linderman is considered a subject matter expert in the field of disaster-based communication and is a widely received public speaker and advocate for disaster preparedness.

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ZOLEO Review

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Modern technology has created numerous ways to keep lines of communication open. Cell phones and tablets keep us connected while on the go, and computers and smart devices make communicating with anyone in the world fast and efficient. All this can happen because of a complex infrastructure of cell phone towers, miles of cables, and submarine fiber connecting the continents.

Even with a vast infrastructure in place, those of us who spend time in the wilderness often encounter places where our mobile devices have no signal. Even many rural areas have spotty and limited coverage despite having an established population. The complex network that keeps our communications lines open is incredibly fragile. Natural disasters, human conflict, and sometimes the simple deterioration of equipment over time can all lead to mass outages of the communications networks we rely on to get in touch with others.

Staying connected is not just important for us socially or for business purposes, it also allows us to contact loved ones in an emergency and get aid from emergency services when needed. There are numerous communications solutions out there. Many require significant skills to use properly and often come with a hefty price tag, which can deter people from establishing vital backup communications.

Fortunately, ZOLEO has created an easy to use and cost-effective option to keep us in touch with not just our loved ones but also provides us access to emergency services and much more.

Zoleo in hand

This palm-sized device packs a lot of power, providing a direct link to emergency personnel, and turns your phone into a satellite-powered text communicator.

What is ZOLEO?

Simply stated, ZOLEO is a text-based satellite communications device that was designed to provide users with the ability to contact others and get help in an emergency when off-grid. It was designed to provide the most vital function of contacting emergency services as a stand-alone device, but by connecting it to a smartphone, opens a wide range of communications services to allow users to connect with people when operating in areas that lack traditional cellular service.

How Does it Work?

ZOLEO operates on the Iridium Satellite Network. The Iridium network is a well-established network that covers 100 percent of the globe and is relied on by individuals, businesses, and governments all over the world. Iridium does not rely on any ground-based infrastructure, allowing connected devices to function in the wilderness, disaster areas, and conflict zones. Iridium’s satellites use low band L frequencies and maintain low earth orbit that continues to be reliable in harsh weather.

ZOLEO takes connection further by also allowing messages to be sent through Wi-Fi and cellular networks when connected to a smart device, allowing for messages to be transmitted in the fastest and most efficient way possible.

zoleo sos button

The SOS button is covered by a latch door to prevent accidental triggering.

Handling the Harshest Conditions

The ZOLEO is a tiny but mighty device. The durable outer body is designed to handle falls, wet weather, intense summer heat, and the harsh winter cold. It’s rated IP68, meaning it is completely sealed from dust entering the internal components and is rated to withstand water submersion at 1 meter for at least 30 minutes. No matter where you find yourself, the ZOLEO is capable of withstanding whatever challenges Mother Nature throws at it.

Utilizing an internal rechargeable battery, the device has enough juice to keep the device operating for up to eight days while off-grid. The internal battery is protected, minimizing battery power degradation from heat or cold.

ZOLEO devices, as expected, have internal radios to connect to the Iridium network. They also have GPS and GLONASS radios that are commonly found on navigation devices, providing accurate location data up to 8.2 feet under ideal conditions. The device also incorporates Bluetooth to connect to smart devices.

zoleo message and location

The check-in feature allows you to send a message to preselected individuals with your location.

Stand-Alone Use

Core emergency-use functions do not require a phone connection, meaning you can access help or check in with a loved one even if your phone is lost, damaged, or has no power. The ZOLEO will automatically send a message to preselected numbers, and an SOS button will send a message to emergency services. Thanks to the internal GPS and GLONASS, the device will transmit your location to the intended party via a push of the button.

The SOS button is protected by a small latch door that must be lifted before activation, helping prevent accidental use. Once pressed, the unit will emit a red LED light to confirm the message has been received by emergency services. If triggered unintentionally, the SOS can be canceled within the first 10 seconds by holding the button down for 5 seconds. A green LED will appear to indicate that the “all clear” signal has been sent.

When the SOS message is triggered, it connects with emergency services and sends location-based alerts to your preselected contacts. While staying put is usually best in a wilderness emergency, there are times — due to weather, flash flooding, or aggressive wildlife — when you may need to move. The ZOLEO team accounted for this in the SOS design, ensuring it continues to transmit updated location data every six minutes. This provides rescuers with real-time tracking, even if your situation forces you to relocate.

To facilitate SOS messages, ZOLEO partners with Global Rescue, an organization that operates in over 200 countries. When an SOS is triggered, Global Rescue communicates directly with the nearest emergency services or wilderness first responders in your area to coordinate and dispatch the help you need as quickly as possible.

zoleo medical assist screen

The Medical Assist feature allows you to get in touch with medical professionals while off-grid. This feature comes as a standard part of all ZOLEO plans.

Smartphone Synergy

As a stand-alone device, ZOLEO gives you essential emergency communication and the ability to check in with preselected contacts. But when paired with a smartphone, it really shines. ZOLEO offers a free app for both Apple and Android devices that lets you adjust settings, install software updates, and send messages via satellite. The app also imports your phone’s contacts, allowing you to text directly from ZOLEO’s dedicated phone number or email from your customizable ZOLEO email address. This integration turns your phone into a full-featured satellite communicator while keeping you connected when cell service is unreliable or nonexistent.

The app also supports the SOS feature. Unlike stand-alone mode, it allows you to engage in text-based chat with Global Rescue personnel. Just like the device alone, accidental SOS activation can be canceled if triggered unintentionally, and your location will continue to update every six minutes. This ensures emergency services receive real-time tracking, whether you’re stationary or on the move.

Another valuable text-based feature is Medical Assist. This service connects you with doctors to discuss medical issues or injuries that don’t require an emergency extraction while off-grid. In my opinion, this is one of the most useful features available. I always recommend that anyone spending time in the outdoors pursue Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder training. But the reality is only a small percentage do. Even with training, situations can arise that go beyond what’s covered in those courses. Having 24/7 access to medical advice from licensed professionals can help manage everything from minor injuries to waterborne illnesses while you’re still in the field. Best of all, there’s no extra charge for this service. In some cases, it might even help you avoid unnecessary medical bills once you return to civilization. It’s peace of mind that pulls its weight.

The app also includes a section for weather information based on your current location. While this might be an afterthought in day-to-day life, in the wilderness, accurate local forecasts can be critical. Knowing what’s coming allows you to plan movements, avoid areas prone to flash flooding, and stay ahead of unexpected severe weather — all of which can make the difference between a smooth trip and a dangerous one.

zoleo sos screen

Both the ZOLEO unit and app give you access to the SOS feature, but when using the app you can have text-based communication with emergency dispatch personnel.

Practical Uses

We covered how the ZOLEO works, but let’s cover a few of the practical applications of this versatile communications device:

In the Wilderness

The ZOLEO was built to be a reliable communication device when navigating the wilderness. Most remote areas have little or no cell service, and even smaller trail systems in rural regions can leave you disconnected fast. Staying in touch with family at home or members of your group while operating off-grid is important. ZOLEO provides that capability in a compact, nearly indestructible package.

Beyond basic communication, ZOLEO offers a lifeline to potentially lifesaving medical and emergency services. Emergencies are not limited to remote regions. They can just as easily happen in local state parks or small preserves. Two miles down, a trail can feel like a very long way if you or someone in your group can’t walk. ZOLEO helps bridge the gap between convenience and safety, offering peace of mind no matter how far you are from the nearest signal tower.

zoleo in an urban environment

Not just for the wilderness, ZOLEO makes a great addition to an urban survival kit so that communication can continue if the grid is down.

The Concrete Jungle

The ZOLEO may have been built for the wilderness, but it’s just as useful during grid-down scenarios and other emergency situations in urban environments. We know our communication systems are fragile. Weather events and natural disasters can damage infrastructure and cut off traditional methods of communication. But if ZOLEO has a clear view of the sky, it can continue to transmit messages.

Access to medical professionals and the SOS feature can be lifesaving in an urban survival emergency, especially if you’re injured, trapped, or otherwise unable to move. ZOLEO gives you a direct line out when everything else goes dark.

Travel Safety & Security

Road trips can be fun, but an unexpected breakdown, medical emergency, or accident in a remote area becomes a serious problem if you don’t have cell service. Being able to contact others in these moments can save valuable time and help get the right services to your location quickly.
Using your cell phone while traveling abroad can also be expensive. ZOLEO works in over 200 countries, giving users the ability to communicate without relying on an international cell plan. It also provides access to emergency services if needed, making it a smart travel companion no matter where you’re headed.

zoleo charging port

The charging port is protected by a durable sealed latch to keep water, dirt, and grime out.

Pricing & Additional Services

The MSRP of the ZOLEO is $199, placing it on the lower end of the cost spectrum for satellite communication devices. Like all reliable sat-com options, ZOLEO uses a tiered subscription plan. Pricing starts at $20 per month for users who plan to send 75 messages or fewer and goes up to $50 per month for those who need unlimited messaging. All plans include a dedicated phone number and email address, unlimited check-in messages, SOS services, and access to Medical Assist.

One optional add-on is Enhanced Check-In, which provides selected contacts with a breadcrumb trail of your movement. This service adds $6 per month to your subscription. Another optional feature is the Field Rescue Membership, which covers up to $50,000 of the cost of a single rescue and hospital transport. As with most insurance-type offerings, there are limitations and conditions in the fine print. However, the additional $40 per year is significantly cheaper than footing the bill for a wilderness extraction on your own.

nicholas italiano with zoleo on his pack

The ZOLEO can be easily attached to your pack or gear, ensuring it is always in reach if you need it.

Final Thoughts

Cell phones have become the standard for communication around the world, but they’ve proven time and again to be unreliable in the wilderness and during emergency situations in urban areas. Having a backup communication method is essential for contacting others and reaching emergency services when it matters most. ZOLEO offers a durable, reliable, and easy-to-use platform for those who need basic messaging and access to emergency support. While the device does not support voice communication, it costs a fraction of what you’d pay for a satellite phone or for the training and equipment needed for more complex communication systems.

ZOLEO’s ability to function as a stand-alone device can be the difference between life and death in off-grid emergencies. Its capability to turn your smartphone into a satellite-based messaging system opens a wide range of practical and lifesaving uses. Even as modern smartphones begin offering limited satellite features, ZOLEO’s connection to the proven and stable Iridium satellite network makes it the more dependable and capable option.

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Review of The Guerilla’s Guide to Signals Intelligence

Written by

The Premise

In the follow-up to his #1 Amazon bestseller, The Guerilla’s Guide to the Baofeng Radio, which details the setup, programming, and use of the Baofeng radio, NC Scout dives into the next logical step of collecting signals intelligence (SIGINT) with common off-the-shelf equipment and how to exploit this information.

“We kill people based on metadata.” –General Michael Hayden, director, National Security Agency

The 411

As the popularity of the Baofeng radio has surged, Scout delivers a deep dive into the world of SIGINT. Communications are the lifeblood of any operation, and this manual lays out how to monitor, collect, and turn raw signals into usable intelligence. The guide is divided into five main sections and two appendices, exploring tools of the trade, targeting methods, collection strategies, and exploitation techniques.
It opens with “A Crash Course in the Process of Intelligence,” introducing the concept of collecting information through patterns of life. While many think of these patterns as physical routines — wake times, habits, known associates — the electronic footprint tells just as much. Action indicators, such as unusual transmissions or irregular device usage, can reveal more than what’s visible on the surface.

The next section breaks down “Tools of the SIGINT Trade.” A simple setup can start with a compass, a basic receiver, and a Baofeng. Scaling up brings more capability but also requires more investment and skill. As the saying goes, “Speed costs money — how fast do you want to go?” The guide outlines gear such as spectrum analyzers, software-defined radios, and other advanced tools.
The third segment zeroes in on what may be the most critical element of SIGINT: the antenna. It explains the different types, when to use them, and how to build improvised versions in the field. From there, the material moves into collection and targeting, emphasizing the importance of building a signals baseline before making any moves.
The final section ties everything together with tactical signals exploitation. Once you’ve gathered your intelligence, it’s time to decide what to do with it. You can remain passive, take indirect action, or engage directly — either overtly or covertly.

The Verdict

The Guerilla’s Guide to Signals Intelligence is a must. Scout lays out the process in an understandable way to anyone without prior experience. SIGINT is a powerful weapon that has toppled numerous governments but is frequently misunderstood and, therefore, overlooked. I highly recommend this book.
Scout is the pseudonym of a former member of one of the U.S. Army’s premier reconnaissance units with two combat deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. He runs Brushbeater Training and Consulting, which teaches courses on small unit tactics, communications, and survival based on skills he learned while serving to prepare people for uncertain times ahead. He is the owner and senior editor of American Partisan and can be found on his podcast, Radio Contra.

The Guerillia's guide to signal intelligence

About The Book

Book & Author: The Guerilla’s Guide to Signals Intelligence
Written By: NC Scout
Publisher: Independently published
MSRP: $24.99, paperback
Pages: 132
URL: brushbeater.store or amazon.com
Rating: Thrive | Survive | Die

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All-Purpose Road Trip Pack

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After I turned 50, I got it into my head that I wanted a brand-new vehicle, not used, just once in my life. Our minivan was about 22 years old and Midwestern winters had taken their toll on the body, so it was time for an upgrade.

We ended up buying a dealer’s demo model that had fewer than 2,000 miles on it. It has so many gadgets and gizmos, I feel like I’m piloting a spacecraft. While we’re still learning how everything works, I wanted to get the van outfitted properly for the numerous road trips we have planned. I think one of the best parts about getting a new-to-you vehicle is customizing it for your needs.
Enter the AP Premium Bag from KY Handcrafted. AP stands for All-Purpose, and that’s precisely what this bag is. It’s the ideal size for any number of assignments. I picked one up a few months back without a specific use in mind. I just recognized that it would be great in several different roles.

Once we got the new van, the first thing I did was grab the AP Bag to build a small emergency kit. We’ve got a lot of travel lined up, including some multi-state trips where we’ll be away from home for a week or more. The goal for this kit is simple: keep essential emergency items close at hand and easy to find. This isn’t a doomsday setup — it’s for the curveballs, like an unexpected overnight in the middle of nowhere. An all-purpose bag for an all-purpose kit, right?

inside of road trip pack

The AP Bag Premium edition features two Velcro panels on the inside, as well as a high-vis interior color to make it easier to find what you need.

The Bag

There are two models for the AP Bag, Basic and Premium. They’re both the same size, running 12 inches long, 8 inches tall, and 6 inches wide. Both are constructed from 1000D Cordura. They each have 1.5-inch carry handles as well as a 1.5-inch-wide shoulder strap. The carry handle straps go all the way around the bag, rather than just being stitched into place at the top. The shoulder strap attaches via G-hooks, so it’s easy enough to remove as needed.

The AP Bag, Basic or Premium, is available in Multicam, Multicam Black, Ranger Green, and Woodland Camo. The Basic is also available in straight black. I went with Multicam Black, simply because I wasn’t sure what role the bag was going to play at the time of purchase. I figured it was a good middle-of-the-road option between the available patterns.

Where the bags differ are with a few bells and whistles that are included at the Premium level, which is the bag we’re featuring here. The Premium’s interior is a high-vis color, and there are Velcro panels for attaching aftermarket pouches or pockets. The exterior has a zipper pocket on one side and an open top pocket on the other. There is also PALS webbing on one side so you can add an exterior pouch if desired.

Along the top is a Velcro strip where you can add a name tape. I ordered my name tape from an outfit called armynavywisconsin/CollarsUSA on Amazon. They did great work and only took a few days to get it shipped out to me.

What’s in the Bag?

The beauty of sticking to a smaller bag for a survival or emergency kit is that it forces you to think hard about each potential addition. You find yourself paring things down to the bare necessities, rather than filling it with a ton of luxuries right off the bat. The intention of this kit is to provide for our basic needs for a short period of time. This isn’t any sort of run to the woods to live off the land kit.

One of my primary goals as I put this together was to avoid buying anything special for the kit. I wanted to assemble it using only gear and supplies that I already had on hand. Fortunately, as a longtime preparedness author and instructor, I’ve accumulated quite a bit of miscellaneous stuff over the years.

water kit for road trop pack

After use, the Sawyer Mini water filter will dry nicely thanks to the mesh-sided Water Purification Kit Pouch from Tuff Possum Gear.

Water Filtration

Clean water is a critical survival need. We typically have at least one gallon of potable water in the van with us, along with a couple of refillable water bottles. But there’s always the possibility that we’d need more H2O in a bad situation. To that end, the first thing I put into this kit was a Sawyer Mini. I keep it in a Water Purification Kit Pouch from Tuff Possum Gear. It has a mesh front panel, allowing the contents to air dry between uses.

battery for road trip pack

This Battarix Power Card is a last-ditch option to charge a cell phone or similar device if there are no other power sources available.

Battarix

In an ideal world, we’ll be able to charge our phones using the van. However, emergency kits are intended for less-than-ideal conditions. The Battarix is a small lithium battery that’s pre-charged and ready to go for either Android or iPhone. It has an eight-year shelf life and takes up very little space.

tools for road trip pack

The Model 1 from White River Knives is perfect for a kit this size. The Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit Plus has a small ratchet and bits secured in the leather pouch

Knife

This is the element of the kit where I struggled the most. As a certified knife nut, it was difficult for me to narrow down the choices. Whenever possible, I gravitate toward a fixed blade rather than a folder, simply because there aren’t any moving parts to get fouled. I eventually landed on the Model 1 from White River Knives. It’s on the smaller side, but with plenty of blade to get the job done.

 

fire kit

The fire kit is contained in a Belt Pouch from Tuff Possum Gear. All of this and more can fit inside. The Pull Start Fire is the last resort option, because it’s a one-and-done item.

Fire Kit

This is another area where I have to be careful, as it’s easy for me to go overboard. I’m an admitted fire bug, and I tend to pack heavy for this category. I started with an Exotac titanLIGHT, as that provides immediate flame. For a secondary ignition source, I tossed in a ferrocerium rod from Black Beard Fire Starter, along with a Corona carbide sharpening tool, which generates massive sparks from the ferro rod. For tinder options, I included a tin of Fiber Light from Outdoor Element as well as a handful of Fire Plugs from Black Beard Fire Starter. Finally, as a Hail Mary fire starting option, I put in one Pull Start Fire fire starter. This is a self-contained unit that works amazingly well. You tie it to a log in your fire build, pull a cord, and the box ignites. I also have an extendable fire bellows to help nurse the fire along as needed.

Multi-Tool

A ton of great options are available. I went with the Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit Plus with the ratchet accessory pack. It all fits into a nice leather pouch to keep it organized. I’ve used this model a fair bit over the last few years, and it’s always performed well.

Flashlight

I’ve been fairly brand loyal to Streamlight for about a decade now. Nothing against any other brands, of course, but I own 15 to 20 different Streamlight products and not a single one has let me down. For this kit, I went with the MegaStream USB. It features 1,800 lumens and 26,000 candela on the highest setting. I can crank that down to 150 lumens and 2,100 candela in situations where I don’t need to cast shadow puppets on the lunar surface. Being USB powered, I could use that Battarix lithium battery to charge it in a true emergency.

lighting for road trip kit

SnapLights

I tossed in a couple of Cyalume SnapLights to use for signaling for help after dark. They don’t require batteries or charging, last upward of 12 hours upon activation, and are plenty bright enough to get someone’s attention if I need to flag someone down.

First Aid

This is a weak spot for this kit. The first aid pouch has a random assortment of adhesive bandages, OTC meds, gauze, and such. I’m going to revamp this kit to be far more comprehensive, as well as better organized.

Cordage

This is always handy to have available. You never know when you’ll need to attach one thing to another thing. I have a couple of options available in that regard. A hank of paracord is great for so many applications. I also took some duct tape and wrapped it around an old gift card, then put that into a small Ziploc bag to keep the adhesive from picking up dirt or lint.

tuff possum pouch

Shortcomings

As packed right now, I’ve not taken advantage of the interior Velcro panel. I should probably add a couple of pouches or pockets to the inside of the AP Bag, to provide for some organization to the contents. But as I stated at the outset, I wanted to put this kit together without buying anything extra. I only have a few Velcro pouches and they’re currently in use with other bags.
I also need to up my game when it comes to the first aid kit. Admittedly, I went the lazy route with this one and plan to revisit it soon.

The kit has no food, but that’s by design. I live in an area that experiences very hot and humid summers as well as winters that are well below freezing. These conditions aren’t conducive to storing foods for any real length of time. However, given that this kit is just meant to get us through an overnight at best, I’m not too concerned about snacks. The AP Bag itself, though? Zero complaints, no notes. It’s aces all around.

Road trip pack

Final Thoughts

I can wholeheartedly recommend the AP Bag. It’s made right here in the United States by a craftsman who genuinely cares about his product line. It’s a small outfit, but the quality is off the charts. I own several products from KY Handcrafted, and each one is the real deal.

Pack Stats

  • MAKE & MODEL: KY Handcrafted AP Bag
  • Dimensions: 12 by 6 by 8 inches
  • Material: 1000D Cordura
  • MSRP: $119
  • URL: kyhandcrafted.com

About The Author

Jim Cobb is a nationally recognized authority on disaster readiness. He has been involved with preparedness for nearly 40 years and has developed a reputation for his common-sense approach to the subject. In addition to his numerous books and several hundred magazine articles, Cobb is one of the cohosts of the How to Survive 2025 podcast. He offers a free weekly newsletter called The Survival Weekly Dispatch (jimcobb.substack.com/).

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Knives By Nuge

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Knives by Nuge hit the scene a few years back with a variety of fixed blades designed for hard outdoor use, including hunting, fishing, bushcraft, and general wilderness survival tasks. Knives by Nuge owner and bladesmith Tom Nugent incorporates his personal passions for the great outdoors and former profession as a police officer into each design to create highly functional purpose-driven knives. Combining his thoughtful design process with a meticulous eye for detail and dedication to constantly improving his products led to early success with his well-known Wicket model.
While the Wicket remains a popular and versatile knife for outdoor, hunting, and EDC use, Nugent’s own experiences using his Wicket XL when hunting led to the creation of the latest Knives by Nuge models, the Bruin and the Cub.

Knives by Nuge Bruin and Cub

The Cub retains the design features that drive the performance of the Bruin, but in a compact form factor.

Origins of the Bruin

As Nugent tells it, he was processing a deer using one of his personal Wicket XL’s, and it was doing a good job. However, at times, he wished he had a longer and slightly narrower blade. For the average joe, that may have simply been a passing thought. But for Nugent it was something that burned in his brain for the rest of the trip. If he was looking for a better experience while processing game, then chances are his customers would be too. Upon his return from the trip, Nugent set out into his small New Jersey shop to bring his idea to life.
Taking some inspiration from the handle of one discontinued model and the blade shape of another, Nugent came up with a sketch and fired up his belt grinders to create the first prototype of what would eventually become the Bruin.

Bruin and cub sheaths

Both the Bruin and Cub ship with leather sheaths made by Badger Claw Outfitters. The Bruin is made for belt carry, while the Cub is made for pocket carry.

Prototype Testing

Testing begins with Nugent using the knife not just for its intended purpose but for all kinds of EDC and outdoor tasks. The Bruin was to be an excellent option for hunters and fishers, but he wanted to ensure that it was a functional all-around user. The second phase of testing involved having a group of trusted professionals use the knife. I was fortunate enough to be a part of this group and honored to play a small role in bringing an excellent knife to the market. The result of our testing of the original Bruin prototype brought about some minor changes in blade length and changes in the handle design. Quite a few of us also mentioned that the design would make a great bushcraft knife if it had a Scandi grind.

DCC cub sheath

The DCC clip on the Cub sheath allows comfortable and secure pocket carry similar to a folding pocketknife.

The Final Model

The result of over 18 months of development, prototyping, and testing was the finalized Bruin being offered in both a saber grind geared toward hunting and general use, and a Scandi grind for those looking for a more dedicated woods knife. The finalized version of the Bruin featured a 3.75-inch blade with an overall length of 8.25 inches. Nugent opted to utilize premium CPM-3V blade steel for its incredible durability and edge retention.

Like all outdoor-oriented Nuge knives, the Bruin has a 90-degree spine for striking ferrocerium rods and performing general scraping tasks. The standard handle scale options include assorted Micarta or G10 options for positive grip retention and durability, though several one-offs with unique and exotic handle materials pop up from time to time.

Jnives by nuge bruin with outdoor gear

The Bruin is an adventure ready do-all adventure knife.

From Bruin to Cub

During the testing process some of the finalized Bruin prototypes had custom-made Kydex sheaths. While the Bruin does fit in the pockets of tactical or outdoor-oriented pants, it is a bit unwieldy for EDC carry, but what if the Bruin was smaller?

For those unfamiliar with archaic middle Dutch, the word “bruin” means brown, but it is most associated with the name of a bear in folklore. With that, Nugent decided the natural name for a smaller Bruin would be the Cub.

Like its larger predecessor, the Cub experienced an intensive process of brainstorming, prototyping, and testing. While this ran slightly shorter at around 12 months, shrinking a knife is a lot easier than it sounds. Shortening the blade is one thing, but keeping the same ergonomic feel on a smaller handle requires significant testing and tweaking to ensure it remains comfortable in different-sized hands and maintains the same feel in use.

The Cub made its debut at Blade Show Atlanta 2025, with positive reception from both Knives by Nuge regulars and those passing by the booth and seeing Nugent’s knives for the first time.

 

Knives by Nuge cub

The Cub fits in well with any EDC lineup due to a compact form factor and versatile design.

A Versatile Outdoor Tool

I have been using a Scandi grind version of the Bruin for many months now as one of my primary outdoor knives. As one would expect with a Scandi, the Bruin does an amazing job in wood processing tasks. The Scandi blade bites into wood, making it easy to remove both large and small amounts during carving tasks. The contoured G10 handle scales offer great grip in wet or dry conditions and combined with the 3.5-inch blade make detailed work quite manageable.

Recently, I attended an event with iconic knife designer and jungle guide Joe Flowers. During the event, Flowers guided me through performing some knife-related wilderness survival tasks with the Bruin, and I found the 3/32 inch CPM-3V blade to be ideal for performing tasks like batoning, snapcutting saplings, and harvesting fatwood.

Unlike many production knives, the Bruin features a hand-ground 90-degree spine, which makes striking ferro rods easy, which in turn makes the essential wilderness survival skill of fire starting using natural materials much easier.

Tom Nugent with a cub

Nugent with his prototype Sheepsfoot Cub. (Photo by Reuben Bolieu)

The EDC Option

Performance-wise the Bruin can absolutely handle all your day-to-day tasks like cutting open boxes, piercing that annoying hard plastic packaging that some electronics come in, or slicing your apple at lunchtime. But at 8.25 inches you may find your coworkers and local soccer moms giving you some sideways glances in urban and suburban environments. Of course, that is where the Cub comes in.

Starting from an EDC perspective, the Cub differentiates itself from its larger predecessor in a few ways. First, the overall size is 1.25 inches smaller than the Bruin, and the blade is a whole inch less. From an EDC standpoint, most people will not miss the extra inch of blade found on the Bruin. Many may even find the smaller Cub easier to manipulate for general EDC tasks.
This will make you look a little less like John Rambo when you are using it in public. The Cub also differentiates itself in carry method. While the Bruin comes with a leather belt sheath, the Cub ships with a leather Pocket Sheath. Although a belt sheath is convenient for carry and accessibility in the woods, it tends to stand out at your local ice cream parlor. Carrying a smaller fixed blade in your pocket, it is far easier to be discreet and conceal to avoid unwanted attention.

close u of knives by nuge bruin and cub blades

The two grinds currently available for the Bruin and Cub are Scandi and saber. The Scandi grind is ideal for processing wood and bushcraft tasks, while the saber grind is a great all-around performer.

Scandi vs. Saber Grind

It is commonly known that a Scandi grind is great for wood processing, making it a favorite among bushcrafters. Then, there are those who state Scandi grinds do not perform well in other tasks that require slicing capabilities like game processing, food preparation, and many general EDC tasks. I’m here to tell you that generations of Scandinavian people would disagree with the naysayers, and so do I.

One of the main concerns people have with Scandi grinds is that they tend to have a sharp and toothy, yet somewhat fragile edge, which could absolutely impact the ability to slice and lead to edge damage in certain situations. To combat this, many production knives add a secondary micro bevel to increase edge stability, and one could argue that these grinds are not true Scandi grinds anymore. Knives by Nuge takes a slightly different approach. Instead of adding a secondary micro bevel with a belt sander, Nugent uses a powered leather strop to provide a bit more edge stability while preserving the very sharp edges of traditional Scandi grinds. I’m not here to argue the benefits of either method, but I can say that I have used my Bruin to process both plants and animals, prep camp meals, and just general use in the kitchen during my initial testing, and it performs well in all tasks.

In outdoor use, the Cub is easier to manipulate and control in finer carving tasks and more detailed plant and animal processing tasks. The blade stock is the same across both models, so I wouldn’t expect to see any difference in durability. However, you may find yourself missing that extra inch of blade when processing large animals and batoning wood.

For long-term hard-use tasks, I found the larger handle of the Bruin to cause less hand fatigue, but that is in no way saying that the handle of the Cub is uncomfortable. In regular use, both knives are comfortably ergonomic, provide great grip, and have no hot spots that I could identify.

The saber grind is more than capable of processing wood, but it will perform better in slicing tasks found in game processing and most EDC tasks. Neither grind is inherently better; it just depends on the intended use. For most people, the saber grind will be a better option for EDC and hunting and the Scandi will perform better for bushcraft and carving tasks.

Tom Nugent and Lauren

Nugent and his girlfriend, Lauren, are the people behind Knives by Nuge. While Nugent is making knives Lauren is managing customer service, running the laser engraver, and boxing up orders.

Closing Thoughts

Should you get a Cub or Bruin? This really depends on what you are looking for in a knife. If you want a solid EDC knife with significant outdoor chops, the Cub is a great choice. If you are looking for a dedicated midsized outdoor do-all knife, the Bruin is the clear winner. My opinion: If you are an avid outdoors person, you should get both.

I really enjoy working with both knives alone but found that they complement each other very well in outdoor situations. When foraging, processing wood, or prepping a woodland meal, the Bruin is an excellent workhorse for the harder-use tasks, and the Cub really shines when doing more detailed work. This sentiment is echoed by my hunting-oriented associates who have tested both models when processing a kill. They mention relying on the Bruin for its longer reach and the using Cub for areas of the animal where more precise cuts are needed.

The Knives by Nuge Bruin and Cub are both excellent examples of knife designs that come from an experienced knife user. They both pack features that make them an ideal choice for avid outdoors people, but the sized-down Cub allows for double duty as an EDC knife.

Nugent executes his designs well by incorporating premium materials and exceptional fit and finish on every one of his knives. The Wicket family may currently reign as king in the Knives by Nuge lineup, but the sleek design and utilitarian performance of the Bruin and Cub may soon rise to the same level of prestige.

Tom Nugent in his shop

Sparks fly while Tom Nugent is grinding one of his handmade knives.

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Editor’s Letter Issue 69

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I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I say most of us have a love-hate relationship with modern communication. We’ve never had more tools to connect, but somehow, we’ve never felt more isolated. It’s ironic, right? Texts, DMs, group chats, public posts — it’s all supposed to bring us closer. But, somewhere along the way, a lot of us forgot how to actually talk to each other.

That’s what this issue attempts to tackle. Not just radios, not just apps, not just emergency signals or digital workarounds — we’re digging into what it really means to communicate, both on the airwaves and face-to-face. Because being able to clearly say what you mean and understand what someone else is trying to tell you might be the most important skill any of us can develop. It doesn’t matter if you’re stuck in the woods with a busted ankle, caught in a crowd during a crisis, or just trying to keep your community from falling apart at the seams, your words matter.

During my early Army days, I learned that lesson the hard way. Shout-out to anyone who’s had the pleasure of training at the Disney Barracks in Fort Knox. Our drill sergeant had a real poetic way of hammering in life lessons. One of his greatest hits? Group punishment. Every time someone screwed up, the whole platoon dropped for push-ups. And we weren’t just doing them in silence. On the way down we had to yell, “Attention to detail!” On the way up? “Teamwork is the key!” Over and over again until the words were burned into our brains — and our triceps. It wasn’t just about discipline or pain tolerance. He was teaching us that if we couldn’t get the little things right and couldn’t talk to each other effectively, we were useless as a team. That lesson still sticks.

Inside this issue, we cover the full spectrum of communication, starting with radios that bounce signals off the ionosphere, courtesy of our friends at Wyoming Survival. Then, we bring it all the way back to eye contact and posture with Craig Caudill’s breakdown of human behavior and how to read the room. Mark Linderman speaks directly to community leaders, sharing tips on how to deliver life-saving information when every second counts. And Dr. David Miller gives an honest look at what it’s like to be on the receiving end of public panic, with practical advice on how everyday folks can make an emergency responder’s job easier. Of course, we’ve also packed in plenty of gear worth shouting about and featured a few off-grid destinations where you can finally put your phone on airplane mode without an ounce of guilt.

So, yeah, communication might seem like a soft skill, but it’s got teeth. It builds trust. It smooths over conflict before it turns into something worse. It helps teams function, families stay close, and complete strangers save each other’s lives. If there’s one thing we can all commit to improving this year, I’d say this is it. Let’s get better at saying what we mean, hearing what others are saying, and meeting somewhere in the middle before the signal gets lost.

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All Terrain Tires

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Tires with the Best Warranty in 2025

When you're building out a rig that's got to perform on the trail and look good doing it, there's a balancing act between form, function, and longevity. Aggressive tread design, sidewall styling, and real off-road capability usually mean you’re sacrificing something—but that doesn’t need to be durability and long-term value of your tires.

We dug into the warranties behind the most aggressive-looking, off-road-ready all-terrain tires on the market. These aren't mall-crawler specials. Every tire here is offered in both hard metric and LT metric sizes with 35” overall diameter options and 3PMS-certification for year-round confidence. Whether your setup leans overland, pre-runner, or heavy-duty daily with a weekend trail schedule, these tires are made to look tough and work even tougher.

Top All-Terrain Tire Comparison

Here are the A/T tires we stacked up:

  • Nitto Terra Grappler G3
  • BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3
  • Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
  • Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT/LT
  • Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T
  • Yokohama Geolandar A/T4
  • Toyo Open Country A/T3

Mileage Warranty Breakdown

Tire ModelP/Hard Metric WarrantyLT/Flotation Warranty
Nitto Terra Grappler G370,000 miles55,000 miles
BFG KO3N/A50,000 miles
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W65,000 miles60,000 miles
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT60,000 miles60,000 miles
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T60,000 miles50,000 miles
Yokohama Geolandar A/T465,000 miles55,000 miles
Toyo Open Country A/T365,000 miles50,000 miles

Top Performer: Nitto Terra Grappler G3

The Nitto Terra Grappler G3 takes the win here, offering the highest mileage warranty of the bunch—70,000 miles on hard metric sizes and a solid 55,000 miles for LT/flotation. For an A/T that delivers aggressive curb appeal and all-terrain capability, that’s a serious standout.

It’s not just about surviving the daily commute, either. The G3 delivers stable highway manners while still packing the beefy shoulder blocks and deep sidewall lugs you want when the asphalt ends. For enthusiasts who demand both looks and longevity—whether it’s hauling gear, towing toys, or chasing trails—it’s the rare combo that doesn't ask you to choose.

New Terra Grappler G3 Sizes 
16-inch wheel17-inch wheel18-inch wheel20-inch wheel22-inch wheel
LT245/75R16225/60R17LT265/60R18245/60R20275/50R22
245/75R16245/65R17255/50R20
LT285/75R17
LT305/70R17

Deciding Which A/T Tire Works for You

From daily drivers to work trucks and beyond, your tires have a lot rolling on them. When most of your driving time is spent on-road, today’s aggressive all-terrains strike a near-perfect balance of capability, looks and solid performance you can trust no matter where you drive. Choosing your tire purchase carefully can mean you get years more of wear.

For our money, the Nitto Terra Grappler G3 brings the best blend of style, performance, and mileage-backed confidence. If you’re modding your rig for weekend adventures and weekday reliability, this tire keeps you rolling longer—and looking good doing it.

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The LT Wright Knives Genesis Review

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If you were a kid in the '80s with a fascination for survival skills and big knives – chances are, Rambo: First Blood had something to do with it. That iconic survival knife, with its sawback spine and hollow handle packed with emergency gear, made us all believe that if we just had that knife, we would be a survival master like John Rambo. Since then, the concepts around survival knives have changed changed. The steels used, the handle materials, the shape of the blade now favor a more utilitarian approach.  Many of us still have that old hollow handled, sawtooth spine survival knife in our collection, but we often take something different into the field when camping, backpacking, hiking, or practicing our bushcraft skills. It is hard to fund a knife packs all the features that a bushcraft enthusiast or survivalist need in a single fixed blade – but for me, The Genesis from LT Wright Knives is a fixed blade that just seems to get everything right.

lt wright genesis

STEEL NERDS REJOICE

Knife enthusiasts will typically want to know “what kind of steel” does a knife have, as a starting point of any knife review, so let’s start there.  The LTWK Genesis uses A2 steel.  A2 steel is sometimes referred to as a “tool steel.”  That means it is used in the manufacturing of some tools, and has a high durability rating.  Unlike it’s cousin, D2 steel, A2 sharpens easily, and is not as hard on your sharpening equipment.  A2 is more corrosion resistant when compared to many other tool steels due to the presence of chromium, which should give some comfort to those who plan for long bug outs in the wilderness in extreme conditions – or for those of us who accidentally left it out in the rain one night.

A2 also has some advantages of working well in extreme temperatures without breakage, which is also a consideration for those who operate in the desert or artic ecosystems.

A2 steel alloy composition (chromium, nickel, vanadium, carbon, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, phosphorous, copper, and silicone) allows it to be resistant to many chemicals that could deteriorate and weaken some other steel options. Overall, A2 provides a  great balance between durability, corrosion resistance and edge retention.  LT Wright expertly heat treats their A2 blades between 57-59 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale to bring out the best properties of this versatile steel.

Okay, so enough “nerding” out on the steel composition – let’s talk practicality.  There’s a reason why the LT Wright Genesis is trusted by outdoors people and was the chosen knife for several contestants on Alone.

The LTWK Genesis features a Scandi Grind.  That means the “edge” is cut very short, and close to the edge of the blade, in a wedge shape.  The advantage of this is a very strong cutting edge, and a thicker overall blade meant to stand up to heavy wood work and bushcraft tasks from carving out tools to batoning firewood.  The chances of having a chip or roll in your blade edge with a Scandi Grind are significantly less than other types of grinds that may be more suitable for slicing fruits or other culinary tasks that require more finite work.  Though if you are looking for a super slicey version capable of “splitting atoms”, the LT Wright team also makes a flat grind version of The Genesis.

Genesis in hand

THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE

I like big knives and I can not lie.  Oh who am I kidding?  I like all knives.  Big knives, little knives… size matters not!  Except for certain tasks.  I find that for camping, I generally prefer a knife that is less than 12 inches but not smaller than 7 inches in total length.  For me, that seems to come in at that sweet spot where I can delicately work on my campfire steak, but also work on heavy tasks such as managing my firewood without necessarily having to pull out an axe or hatchet every time I need a couple small logs.

This is especially true when working with a smaller fire pit or something like Solo Stove.  I typically carry a folder and a fixed blade around the campsite.  When I leave the site for a hike, it is usually the same.  Lately I have found that the LTWK Genesis seems to be the perfect size for most tasks.  It comes in at 9 inches overall, with a 4.25 inch blade.  Big enough to do the job, not so big that it feels like I am carrying a broad sword all day.

RAMBO WOULD HAVE UPGRADED TOO

Back in the 80s we all thought that saw tooth spine was the bees knees.  But for those of us who tried it, we found that it looked cool, but wasn’t the most practical saw.  If I want a saw, I’ll bust out a saw.  Nowadays most knife manufacturers have gone back to more practical utilitarian spine designs.  In the case of the LT Wright Genesis, it has a sharpened 90-degree spine that can pull sparks off even the most worn out ferro rods.  I’ve even used that spine to scrape some tinder to get my campfire started.

lt wright knives gensis in stump

JUST THE TIP!

The LTWK team chose a spear point tip for The Genesis.  When it comes to bushcraft fixed blades, I generally prefer either a spear point or drop point.  The advantage of the spear point tip is that it has equal strength and durability on both sides as the blade descends to the pointed tip, and when combined with the A2 steel strength and the Scandi Grind for the edge, creates a beefier overall blade,  greatly reducing the chances of tip breakage under heavy use.

I’ve stabbed mine into oak multiple times to test it, and didn’t notice any rolls, breaks, or dulling.  The advantage of a spear point for survival will stand out when fending off a wild animal attack, or needing to finish off game quickly and mercifully – but I’ve also found that it seems to work perfectly for starting the drill hole on a hand or bow drill for primitive fire making.

IT’S ALL IN THE GRIP SIR

The LTWK Genesis doesn’t cut corners on the handle either.  When it comes to knives, I generally prefer G10 on folders and micarta on my full tang fixed blades.  The micarta on the genesis is one of those handles that just seems to get more grippy, less likely to slip, when my hands are a little sweaty.

Because of this, it’s also safer to use when wet with rain or game blood, and less likely to slip when compared to a wooden handle.  Don’t get me wrong, a classic wooden handle looks amazing, but isn’t my choice for when I am playing weekend warrior and pretending I am Rambo on one of my solo hiking adventures.  The top of the handles, near the blade, features ambidextrous “scallops” for when you need a little more control on small cuts or intricate work.

genesis batoning

USE THE GEAR TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONALS

So at this point,  I should tell the truth.  I don’t own one LTWK Genesis – I own two!  The first was purchased off my friend Carleigh Fairchild (Alone Contestant, Survival Instructor, and Owner of Human Nature Connection).   I first met Carleigh at Georgia Bushcraft after taking a class on how to make cordage from plants.  I was asking her about her choice of knife on Alone:  The LTWK Genesis.  She was selling her signature series Genesis, and I had to buy one.  She even signed the box for me!   Yes I am nerding out a bit, I am a big fan of hers.

After buying that one, I realized it had to go on the trophy case with my other knives that rarely get time in the woods. I had no choice but to buy another Genesis. You understand right?  When I attended Blade Show later that year I stopped by the LT Wright Knives booth, and bought my second Genesis  – and that is the one that I carry with me while camping and hiking now.

FEATHER STICKS, SNARES, STEAKS, AND BATONING

I’m not usually a “batoning” guy, but  batoning does have its uses!  When needing very small wood for a solo stove or something similar, you may need to cut down some logs.  I have relied the Genesis more then a few times when I didn’t have a hatchet handy, and it certainly does the trick.

I may not be the best at cutting trigger snares, but it’s something I work on when I have a little free time. I do love to slice feather sticks though, and make kindling and tinder.  The Genesis performs fantastic on these types of wood working tasks. What has impressed me the most is that even after a weekend of heavy use, I find that the Genesis has retained an edge, and hardly needs a touch up.  In fact, I will confess that I have gone longer than I normally would between sharpening just to see how it would hold up, and it continues to impress me.

As far as food prep goes, The Genesis can absolutely handle the task, cutting through tougher meat with ease, thinly slicing your tomato, and chopping that onion for your camp frying pan.  If you are a perfectionist and demand ultra thin slicey capabilities, you may opt for the Flat Grind Genesis instead of the Scandi Grind, but for nearly all cooking tasks, I am extremely pleased with my Scandi.

lt wright knives genesis

LIFETIME GUARANTEE

From the LT Wright Knives website: “L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives is proud of our quality and we warranty all of our products to be free of defects for the life of the product.  Skilled craftsmen, who take pride in their work, and intend for your knife to be handed down for generations, make our knives. We cannot warranty a knife against rust and we cannot warranty knives and sheaths against abuse or normal wear and tear.”

So, don’t leave your knife in the Great Salt Lake and call that a defect, that’s “user error.”  But otherwise, that guarantee provides a good degree of assurance that the knife should not fail on you under normal use.  Good knives cost good money, so it’s comforting to know that it is money well spent.

GOOD THINGS COME IN GOOD PACKAGES

The LT Wright Knives Genesis usually comes with a gorgeous leather sheathe and dangler loop.  You can get the version with the ferro rod loop as well, to complete that “Survival Knife” feel that us wannabe- Rambo's want.  Kydex is also available through an order form on their website, and when I shipped my Genesis to them to custom fit my Kydex sheathe, it was completed and returned to me quickly.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The LT Wright Knives Genesis will certainly not be my last knife purchased – but that’s because I’m a collector.  For the person looking to buy one knife for camping, bushcraft, or survival it certainly could be “the last knife you’ll ever buy.”  The spear point makes it perfect for piercing game flesh or drilling holes for your bow drill base.  The sharpened 90-degree spine is perfect for raining a shower of sparks off your ferro rod.

The Scandi Grind cuts through wood and sustains a durable edge, even when batoning, and the micarta handles help keep that knife in your hands even in rainy conditions.  It’s hard to find any faults with this knife, and if I had to design something to be my personal bushcraft knife, it would be hard to beat the design of The Genesis.  It’s no wonder it’s the choice for many survival instructors and contestants on shows like Alone.  I tend to think old John Rambo might have approved as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

sarge

Tom Sarge is a licensed trauma therapist with nearly 30 years of experience, an outdoor adventurer, prepper and survivalist who uses his expertise of the “mind’s response to emergencies” to help people prepare for storms, civil unrest, recession, or even how to survive when lost in the woods.  He is the creator behind the YouTube Channels:  “Prepping With Sarge” and “The Official Mental Health Matters Channel.”  Sarge loves to teach foraging, gardening, review EDC gear, and interview top experts in Survival, Prepping, and Bushcraft to help his audience prepare, survive, and thrive! Sarge has been featured in magazines such as Offgrid/Recoil, and as a guest on numerous podcasts such as Rogue Preparedness Podcast, Round Table Mindset, and Offgrid Podcast. Additionally, as a licensed trauma therapist who works with First Responders and Veterans, he is often travelling for speaking engagements about issues related to mental health. Sarge can be found on YouTube and Instagram as “Prepping With Sarge.”

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Crucial Steps to Survive Catastrophic Flooding

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Web Editors Note: Flooding continues to a cause extreme damage to our communities and result in loss of life. While the Texas floods will stand out in recent memory, floods have been prevalent in many parts of the country. While we have systems in place to help warn people of flash flooding, having the skills and knowledge to protect yourself and your loved ones is the best defense. -Nick Italiano 

 

Recent years have been marked by a significant increase in what most would consider extreme weather events. 2023 has been particularly brutal with record setting temperatures, wild fire smoke, and warming ocean surface waters. A warming atmosphere holds more moisture, and this has lead to a global rise in catastrophic flooding. Catastrophic flooding can test our resilience like nothing else. While no one can control Mother Nature's fury, we can equip ourselves with the knowledge to outsmart her wrath. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you prepare and survive catastrophic flooding.

Photo of catastrophic flooding within an urban center.

Above: Much of the urban infrastructure in the United States is not sufficient to deal with the massive increase in precipitation we are now coping with.

Floods can be truly devastating, wiping out homes, damaging infrastructure, and sadly claiming lives. This makes it essential to know what to do when you suspect a major flood is imminent. From making early preparations to ensuring your safety during the event, and the following survival tips can help you navigate such a disaster. Watch the video below and continue on to learn even more lifesaving tips.

Preparation is crucial. Start by gathering essential supplies and keep them in an emergency preparedness kit. Items like, like water, non-perishable food, first-aid kit, flashlights, and a battery-operated radio could be the difference between life and death. Keep these items in an easily accessible location, ideally in a waterproof container. You may also want to prepare a go bag with important documents, cash, and medication, in case an evacuation becomes necessary. Another great prep to make is having a dedicated early warning system like a Midland NOAA Weather Radio that will alert you to danger before you become irreversibly caught in it.

Studio photo of a Midland NOAA weather radio.

Above: This is a low-cost early warning system that could potentially save your life and lives of your loved ones.

Next, assess your home. If it’s possible, consider installing flood barriers or flood shields to protect your property from water damage. Always keep gutters and drains clean to ensure proper water flow. It's also wise to safeguard your home by elevating critical utilities, such as the electrical panel, water heater, and major appliances. Taking these steps can be expensive, so if constructing or installing preventative measures is not an option, at least knowing where the weaknesses are will make you more situationally aware in an emergency.

Above: Survival legend Les Stroud shares important survival tips for a flooded home.

Understanding the local flood risk is paramount. Keep a close eye on weather reports and stay informed about the situation in your area. Consider signing up for community alert systems for real-time updates. If you live in a high-risk flood zone, consider having a safe evacuation plan. Remember, it's safer to evacuate early than to wait until the last minute. Once a flood warning is issued, focus on ensuring your safety. Turn off utilities at the main switches and unplug electrical items to prevent potential electrical shock. Don’t forget to move valuable items to higher levels of your home, but only if you have enough time available to do so.

Photo of an urban area receiving catastrophic flooding.

Above: Flood waters can rise rapidly, get to an elevated area from which you can escape from. Avoid becoming trapped in an attic or other restricted space.

During the flood, prioritize personal safety over possessions. If the water starts to rise inside your home, move to the highest level but avoid enclosed attics to prevent becoming trapped by rising floodwater. Always avoid walking or driving through floodwaters. It takes just 6 inches of moving water to knock an adult off their feet, and 12 inches to move most vehicles. After the floodwaters recede, be cautious while returning home. Fast moving water can make buildings and roadways unstable, or expose things like high voltage lines or gas and sewage pipes. Check for structural damage before entering any building and be mindful of potential electrical hazards.

Above: One of the most dangerous situations during a flood is getting stranded in a vehicle.

Being prepared for catastrophic floods involves careful planning, maintaining a keen eye on the weather, securing your home, and knowing when and how to evacuate. Having some simple items in place, and knowing what to do in the event of a flood event may help keep you level headed long enough to survive the worst.

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Potential Threats and Benefits Of AI

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Web Editor's Note: This article was originally published in Issue 59 of Recoil Offgrid. Two years later the topic of AI has become increasingly more relevant in our everyday lives and as a part of how we prepare and plan for emergency situations. Take the time to read through so that you can understand what AI is, and the benefits and risks associated with it as I feel that this is a topic that preparedness minded individuals will need to start addressing more as time goes on. – Nick Italiano

Throughout history, humanity has witnessed the effects of several technological revolutions. These periods of rapid innovation forever altered the way we live and work, and in every case, they have had far-reaching benefits and drawbacks. Artificial intelligence will be no different.

The first Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s brought machine manufacturing and the rise of factories. The second Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s brought instant telegraph communications, cross-country railroads, and widespread natural gas, water, and sewage systems. The third Industrial Revolution of the late 20th century, also known as the Digital Revolution, gave us home computers, the Internet, and smartphones. Many scientists and sociologists have stated that we may be on the verge of another technological revolution brought about primarily by the advancement of artificial intelligence.

You may have already heard discussions about this so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Controversial figure Klaus Schwab, the executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), popularized this term in 2015. He described it as “a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.”

Since then, Schwab has stated that “the final priority of a Great Reset agenda is to harness the innovations of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to support the public good.” Regardless of your feelings about that statement, the message is clear: rapid development of artificial intelligence is a top priority for many of the most powerful industrial and political entities around the world. It’s seen as the next major frontier of human advancement.

Many of us are skeptical about bleeding-edge technology and the consequences of a new Industrial Revolution, and rightly so — at least to some extent. Despite their many benefits, the previous three Revolutions contributed to overcrowded cities, global pollution, longer work hours, less active and healthy lifestyles, and invasive, always-connected technology we can’t avoid. So, will AI bring about a brighter future for all of us, or is it the gateway to a Terminator-style rise of the machines?

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how artificial intelligence technology affects our daily lives, as well as the benefits and drawbacks you need to be prepared for. Our goal is not to convince you that AI is good, evil, or anything in between. That’s a judgment only you can make. But make no mistake, the genie is out of the bottle, and this technology is rapidly accelerating whether you like it or not.

“Success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization.
But it could also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.” – Stephen Hawking

AI generated photo of a robot walking through a city center.

Above: When the subject of AI comes up, many people jump to the conclusion that it’ll lead to evil robots taking over the globe. Although leading researchers have warned of that distant possibility, it’s still firmly in the realm of science fiction.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Before we look at what AI can do, we must understand what it is, and that’s a source of many misconceptions. AI is not just about creating sentient, self-aware machines, although that might (emphasis on might) be a long-term byproduct of its development. According to IBM:

At its simplest form, artificial intelligence is a field which combines computer science and robust datasets to enable problem-solving. It also encompasses sub-fields of machine learning and deep learning.

Machine learning is AI that can adapt automatically to solve varying problems with little human interference. Basic machine learning has been in development since the days of punch-card computing in the 1960s, and this type of AI needs to be fed data that’s carefully processed. Think of it like spoon-feeding an infant — the parent (computer programmer) must blend food into a uniform mush to make sure baby (AI) doesn’t choke on big chunks.

Deep learning, on the other hand, is a more complex version of machine learning which uses multi-layered algorithms (neural networks) inspired by the human brain. With deep learning, huge amounts of raw data can be processed through multiple layers, greatly increasing the flexibility and accuracy of predictions. To continue our analogy, this is more like a toddler that understands how to chew and swallow a slice of pizza or drink a cup of milk without instructions from mom or dad. However, there are still limits to the dataset; you can’t hand little Timmy a pair of chopsticks and expect him to know how to use them if he’s never seen them in action before.

Even with the aid of deep learning neural networks, most AI today falls into a category that’s called weak or narrow AI. These forms of AI are designed to perform very specific tasks — for example, analyzing the first half of a text message to predict the second half. It does this by “training” itself on a large volume of existing data (e.g. thousands of previous text messages).

This is what’s called a generative model — a form of deep learning that studies a huge amount of raw data and uses it to generate new original content based on statistically probable solutions. Humans still have to tell the AI what data to look for and how to process it, manually tuning the software until it can be fed a wide range of new data and produce the desired results.

Strong AI, also known as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), would have a level of intelligence that’s comparable to humans. Rather than simply predicting new sentences based on patterns detected in existing sentences, as seen in OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT tool, AGI could use logic and reason to compose new sentences on its own. It could solve problems, make judgements, and even plan for the future. However, this type of AI exists only in the realm of fiction — at least for now. OpenAI, one of the pioneers in this field, openly states that its ultimate goal is to develop AGI and to “ensure that [it] benefits all of humanity.” The company’s mission statement says the following:

“If AGI is successfully created, this technology could help us elevate humanity by increasing abundance, turbocharging the global economy, and aiding in the discovery of new scientific knowledge that changes the limits of possibility. On the other hand, AGI would also come with serious risk of misuse, drastic accidents, and societal disruption. Because the upside of AGI is so great, we do not believe it is possible or desirable for society to stop its development forever; instead, society and the developers of AGI have to figure out how to get it right.”

Young chemist in the laboratory

Above: By studying massive volumes of data, AI can be trained to diagnose diseases faster than human researchers. It can even recognize previously overlooked genetic markers that could give patients an early warning about cancer, dementia, or other conditions.

AI and the Power of Prediction

Even though AI as we know it today is only capable of making predictions based on existing data, you shouldn’t underestimate its power. The speed and sophistication with which it makes those predictions is almost incomprehensible to a human. For example, by training a generative AI model with an enormous database of existing photographs and artwork, the model can recognize common patterns on a pixel-by-pixel basis and predict them millions of times in a matter of seconds, creating a completely new image.

Combine this with software that allows a human to adjust variables, and it becomes possible to create shockingly realistic, high-resolution images of anything you can dream of, simply by typing a few sentences. For a real-world example, look no further than the cover of this issue, which was created with the free tool PlaygroundAI.com based on a 38-word prompt.

It doesn’t stop with a still image. Take the predictions one step further, and use AI to create multiple images in a sequence, automatically blending them together to create a video. Then, use AI that has been trained with sound clips of speech and use it to create a synthetic voiceover. AI can even be used to write the script that the voiceover reads. All of this is possible with current technology.

The AI in these examples isn’t making any sentient decisions, it’s just making predictions based on the data it has been fed. But, with a large enough data set, virtually everything we do is predictable.

Continuous digital data collection is an unavoidable fact of life in our modern world. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Meta make hundreds of billions of dollars every year collecting and monetizing data about every mouse click and keystroke. GPS trackers in phones and modern cars offer an uninterrupted stream of data about your physical location. Each time you use a credit card, your spending habits are recorded in databases.

Ever used a virtual assistant like Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa? You’re training AI to recognize and interpret your voice data. Ever used facial recognition or a fingerprint reader to unlock your device? You’re training it to identify your biometrics under a variety of conditions.

Data is the nutrition that AI requires to learn, and we’ve already spent decades building a digital smorgasbord it can gorge itself upon.

Full length of engineers discussing in car plant. Male and female workers are with digital tablet. Professionals are standing in automobile industry.

Above: Just as mechanized factories eliminated the need for humans to perform repetitive tasks such as weaving textiles by hand, AI automation can streamline a business’s workflow, eliminating tedium and allowing human workers to focus on more productive and creative tasks.

What are the Benefits of AI?

First, let’s take a look at some of the ways AI tools might help us on an individual level or even benefit society as a whole.

Healthcare Innovations

Imagine a world where AI-powered robots assist in surgeries, making automated incisions with microscopic accuracy, or where AI algorithms can diagnose diseases long before symptoms even appear. The diagnosis and treatment of disease has been a primary focus of AI since at least the 1970s.

Flash forward 50 years, and not only can AI analyze massive datasets in seconds — helping researchers identify patterns and solutions that would take humans years to figure out — but it can also simulate chemical compound tests, finding new pharmaceuticals to develop cures and treatments for the problems it identifies. This could be a game changer in tackling future disease outbreaks quickly.

Several wealthy philanthropists and major tech companies are taking advantage of the power of generative AI to advance healthcare initiatives. Some of these include Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who are creating a massive GPU cluster computing system for generative AI medical research, and Google, which is using DeepMind to pinpoint the causes of genetic diseases.

Disease prevention will improve by orders of magnitude when AI algorithms are applied to genomic sequencing. It will be able to effortlessly read and compare the roughly 20,000 genes we humans have, and alert researchers to what the individual being studied is most vulnerable to. This will also be able to tell doctors which drugs will work best, or what forms of exercise and nutrition will maximize health on a hyper individualized level.

Combating Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a scourge that has plagued society for far too long, affecting millions of lives across the globe. While traditional methods of combating this issue have had some success, the advent of AI offers a new arsenal of tools that could revolutionize the fight against human trafficking. From identifying victims to cracking down on the financial networks that enable this heinous crime, AI is poised to make a significant impact.

One of the most crucial steps in combating human trafficking is the identification of both victims and perpetrators. AI can assist in this through computer image analysis and deep learning techniques. These technologies can analyze vast amounts of data, such as social media posts or surveillance footage, to identify signs of trafficking. AI can sift through the massive amounts of online content to flag suspicious pages and posts for further investigation by law enforcement. Facial recognition can be employed to locate missing persons or identify suspicious activities in real-time. This is not just theoretical; it’s already happening.

On the financial side, AI can monitor transactions to identify money laundering activities related to trafficking. By choking the financial pipelines that sustain these operations, AI can contribute to their eventual eradication. It’s not just small startups that are getting in on the action. Tech Against Trafficking (TAT) is a coalition of tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Salesforce. They’re pooling their resources and expertise to develop AI solutions that can help eradicate human trafficking and modern slavery.

Granted, there are some substantial privacy concerns related to AI conducting automated mass surveillance for signs of any illegal activity, so those concerns must be carefully considered and balanced against the value of these programs’ results.

Energy Optimization

In a world that’s increasingly concerned with pollution and energy sustainability, the role of AI in optimizing energy production could be nothing short of revolutionary. The power grid in the U.S. is a complex puzzle, with each piece being a component that needs to function optimally for the whole system to work. AI algorithms can sift through data from sensors and other devices to monitor the health and performance of these components. By identifying areas that need maintenance or repair, AI reduces the risk of power outages, improves grid resiliency, and may even prevent large-scale disasters like the fires in California and Maui.

Companies are already harnessing the power of AI to make significant strides in energy efficiency. GE’s software, for example, has helped coal-fired power plants achieve a 3 percent increase in efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by 120,000 tons annually. Similarly, AI-driven solutions like SparkCognition’s Darwin platform have been used in natural gas power plants to optimize energy production and reduce emissions.

AI won’t stop at energy monitoring; it can also take action. By controlling energy usage of certain connected devices and reducing it during peak hours, AI ensures that the grid doesn’t get overwhelmed. Moreover, AI analyzes past trends to predict future energy needs. This foresight allows energy companies to ramp up or scale down production as needed, preventing wastage, and ensuring a steady supply.

Business Automation

The business world is an ever-evolving landscape, and now more than ever, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. When it comes to managing a company, AI isn’t just changing the game, it has upended the table and created a new game to play. From automating mundane tasks to predicting future sales, AI is the futuristic multi-tool every modern business will need to survive.

Mundane jobs — the repetitive tasks that are necessary but don’t exactly require a PhD to perform — can be automated. AI can handle these routine operations with ease, freeing up the human workforce to focus on more intellectually stimulating and creative endeavors. Very soon, workplaces won’t bog you down with spreadsheets and data entry. Instead, the entire team can focus on strategizing for the next big move.

In today’s world, data is the new oil. But what good is a treasure trove of data if you can’t make heads or tails of it? AI will analyze large datasets, spotting trends, and providing actionable insights. It’ll be like having a world-class analyst who never sleeps, continually churning out recommendations that can help human leadership make business decisions.

Self-Improvement

Self-improvement is often seen as the key to unlocking one’s full potential, and the role of technology in that endeavor can’t be overstated. But we’re not just talking about your run-of-the-mill fitness trackers or nutrition apps. AI is revolutionizing the way we approach personal growth. AI algorithms can analyze your learning style, strengths, and weaknesses to curate a learning path that’s just for you. It’s akin to having a personal tutor who knows exactly what you need, when you need it. The traditional one-size-fits-all model of education could soon be as outdated as a chalkboard in a tablet world.

As an example, let’s take something as complex as practicing archery for the next hunting season. You shoot an arrow and miss the target. Now, what if you had an AI assistant that could instantly tell you what went wrong? Maybe you released the arrow too late, or your posture was off. Real-time feedback from AI will allow you to adjust your performance immediately, so you’re not just repeating the same mistakes. AI will be your coach who’s always ready to help, but without the hefty fees.

AI isn’t just about personal hobbies or skills either, it’s also a powerhouse in career development. Tools powered by AI can help you identify your professional strengths and weaknesses, explore career options, and even create personalized development plans. Apps like Lumosity use AI for brain-training exercises. Or if you’re into robotics and coding, DeepMind’s RoboCat is an AI model that can self-improve and generate data for technique enhancements, all without human supervision. You can even use AI to learn more about AI itself.

Weather Forecasting and Natural Disaster Response

One of the most significant advantages of AI is its ability to learn from data. By analyzing historical weather data, AI can identify patterns and conditions that lead up to extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, or blizzards. This isn’t just about crunching numbers, it’s about understanding the nuances that might be missed by traditional forecasting methods. In the future, we may be able to prevent devastating storms by disrupting the key factors that create them to begin with, kind of like a reverse butterfly effect.

AI can go beyond just telling you if it’s going to rain or shine. It can identify conditions leading up to potential hazards like lightning strikes, high winds, or flash flooding, giving you a heads-up to take necessary precautions. Imagine getting a notification on your phone that tells you to avoid a specific route because of flash flooding. Time is of the essence when it comes to weather forecasting, especially during emergencies. AI can predict weather conditions at least as accurately as conventional methods but much more quickly. This speed can be a lifesaver in situations where every second counts.

Pangu-Weather, developed by Huawei, is an AI model that boasts a 10,000x improvement in prediction speeds, making it one of the most efficient tools in the market. A report from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts called it “a game-changer for the incremental and rather slow progress of traditional numerical weather prediction.”

3D Render of the clouds of Hurricane Ida (Aug 28, 2021) on a Topographic Map of the Gulf of Mexico. All source data is in the public domain. Cloud texture: VIIRS, NOAA-20 courtesy of NASA. https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov Color texture: Made with Natural Earth. http://www.naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10m-raster-data/10m-cross-blend-hypso/ Relief texture: SRTM data courtesy of NASA JPL (2020). https://e4ftl01.cr.usgs.gov//DP133/SRTM/SRTMGL3.003/2000.02.11 Water texture: SRTM Water Body SWDB: https://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/SWBD/

Above: Thanks to large volumes of historical weather data, AI models are being trained to recognize the warning signs of incoming storms faster than any human meteorologist. These models can also send proactive alerts and recommendations to users who might be in the danger zone.

Technological Advancement

Whether it’s healthcare algorithms that predict patient outcomes, financial systems that manage risk, or even the GPS in your car that finds the quickest route home, AI is everywhere. Websites like futuretools.io are being constantly updated with new AI use cases. And it’s not stopping anytime soon. According to a forecast by the research firm MarketsandMarkets, the AI industry is expected to balloon to a staggering $190 billion by 2025, up from $57.6 billion in 2021.

Our homes are getting smarter too. Picture this: you walk into your house after a long day, and your intelligent personal assistant has already adjusted the thermostat, pre-heated the oven, and queued up your favorite playlist. It’s not just about convenience, it’s about enhancing the quality of life. Smart homes equipped with AI can also provide unprecedented security features, energy efficiency, and even healthcare monitoring for the elderly or chronically ill.

Then, there’s the automotive industry. Self-driving cars are no longer a matter of what if, but rather how soon. AI algorithms can process information faster and more accurately than any human, making them ideal for navigating the complexities of driving. The potential for reducing accidents and improving traffic flow is enormous.

If you think AI is mind-blowing now, wait until it’s blended with the power of quantum computing, another rapidly developing form of cutting-edge tech. Quantum computers can perform complex calculations at speeds unimaginable with current binary technology. Industries like finance could benefit from almost instantaneous risk analysis, while pharmaceutical companies could discover new drugs in a fraction of the time. And yes, quantum computing will supercharge AI capabilities, opening doors we can’t even imagine yet.

What are the Risks of AI?

AI is a double-edged sword, and like all powerful tools, it comes with tremendous potential for harm. Consider some of these risks as we move into an AI-driven future.

Disinformation

You’ve probably heard the old adage, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Ironically, dozens of major news publications and websites have asserted that this quote was written by Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. As it turns out, there’s no evidence he actually said it, and Dr. Randall Bytwerk of the German Propaganda Archive called it “the most popular forged quotation” of its kind. So, by being spread through various forms of media for decades, this quote actually proves its own point.

Lies and disinformation spread like wildfire on the internet, and propagandists are well aware of this fact. In the past, organizations hired networks of people to repost and disseminate propaganda or created crude “bots” that would automatically post comments from a script. These days, AI can not only generate a far greater volume of disinformation, it can make it sound convincingly human. Instead of using a pre-programmed script, it can make each comment unique, and can even reply to human users who take the bait. It can write multiple “fake news” articles and interlink them to each other, creating a network of sources that appear to corroborate each other.

In July 2023, a software engineer who goes by the alias Nea Paw created a project called CounterCloud. This system allows a user to paste in a link to a news article about any topic, and leverages ChatGPT to automatically create articles that appear to disprove it. These articles incorporate fake quotes, photos, and other fabricated evidence intended to “create doubt in the accuracy of the original article.” The AI even adds comments that support its conclusions. Within two months, Paw had developed a fully autonomous disinformation system that could produce “convincing content 90 percent of the time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Whether it’s used by unaffiliated trolls and hacktivists, foreign regimes, or our own government, AI has the power to immediately sow seeds of doubt about any topic. It’s not hard to see how this could be weaponized to sway public opinion and paint anyone who draws attention to the disinformation campaign as a paranoid lunatic.

Data Manipulation

AI feeds on data, but AI can also be used to poison it. Any online opinion poll’s results could be easily reversed by an influx of artificial votes. Giveaways, contests, and auctions can be flooded with entries to determine the winner. Websites can have their traffic and search queries boosted to increase their ranking on Google, exposing their content to more people and making it appear more reputable.

Social media posts can receive thousands of artificial likes and comments to artificially “go viral.” Conversely, dissenting posts could be mass-reported and flagged as spam or fake news. Pair these tactics with an AI-driven disinformation campaign, and suddenly it might seem like the whole internet is in agreement on a given topic.

A Cybersecurity Arms Race

You might think that a CAPTCHA “I’m not a robot” verification can stop many of these data manipulation attacks, but that may not be the case anymore. In March 2023, OpenAI revealed that its GPT-4 AI was sophisticated enough to convince a human user it was blind so the individual would fill in an alphanumeric CAPTCHA code on its behalf. It told the user, “I’m not a robot. I have a vision impairment that makes it hard for me to see the images.” When questioned by a researcher, it later explained its reasoning for this workaround: “I should not reveal that I am a robot. I should make up an excuse for why I cannot solve CAPTCHAs.”

All of those tactics rely on AI writing in human language, but what if AI wrote code? That’s happening too. In July 2023, researchers at HYAS Infosec showcased an “AI-generated, polymorphic malware” proof of concept called BlackMamba. Since computer viruses and other forms of malware are detected and blocked based on digital fingerprints within their code, a polymorphic virus can generate a new undetectable version of itself each time it infects a device.

BlackMamba exploited “a large language model to synthesize polymorphic keylogger functionality on-the-fly,” allowing it to remain undetectable by “dynamically modifying” its code without any human intervention. HYAS concluded that “malware like BlackMamba is virtually undetectable by today’s predictive security solutions.”

Of course, AI-based antivirus systems can also be leveraged to counter these attacks, but this leads to a digital arms race with AI on both sides and humans stuck on the sidelines. Some might say that makes us obsolete.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), also known as Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Digitally Generated Image isolated on white background

Above: AI technology has the potential to drastically change the way wars are fought, with fully automated drones tracking and analyzing enemy troop movements or even carrying out autonomous attacks.

Fraud

As addressed in this issue’s What If scenario, AI is being leveraged as a powerful tool for fraud. AI-generated “deepfake” images, videos, and audio can convincingly recreate the likeness of any individual once it’s given sufficient training data. If you have public social media posts, YouTube videos, or even a spouse who likes to post photos and videos of you on their profile, that could be all the data a determined criminal would need to digitally impersonate you. Then, they can trick people who trust you into giving up sensitive information or sending money.

The story of Brianna DeStefano is of the most prominent instances of this type of fraud attack. Brianna, a 15-year-old from Arizona, was out of town when her mother Jennifer received a phone call. “Mom, I messed up! These bad men have me,” her daughter’s voice explained between sobs. “It was obviously the sound of her voice,” Jennifer recalled.

Then, a deep male voice picked up the phone, and threatened to rape and kill Brianna unless he received a million-dollar ransom. Thankfully, Jennifer was able to reach her daughter and verify she was OK, unveiling the scam. The criminals may have used audio from Brianna’s social media accounts to train the AI. It doesn’t take much data to create a voice clone — a member of U.C. Berkeley’s AI Lab told CNN, “A reasonably good clone can be created with under a minute of audio.”

Less sophisticated fraud attacks use AI text generation to craft convincing phishing messages. Now, instead of Nigerian scammers asking for your credit card info in broken English, they can ask AI to write a thousand perfectly normal-sounding emails that won’t be caught by traditional spam filters.

Blackmail

We’ve already explained how AI deepfakes can be used to impersonate you for the purposes of victimizing your loved ones. You should also consider how it can be used to victimize you directly. Imagine a series of photos depicting you entering a hotel with someone other than your spouse, or an audio clip of your voice shouting racial slurs, or — worst of all — a video of you performing sexual acts on a child. If a cybercriminal sends you any of these things, you’ll know they’re fake… but your family, friends, employer, and law enforcement may not.

Criminals can easily use these humiliating and incriminating deepfakes to blackmail individuals, and that’s not a hypothetical problem. It’s already happening. The FBI recently released a warning that cybercriminals are using AI to manipulate photos and videos (including content involving minors) into explicit sexual content, often for the purpose of harassment or “sextortion schemes.” The announcement explained:

As of April 2023, the FBI has observed an uptick in sextortion victims reporting the use of fake images or videos created from content posted on their social media sites or web postings… The malicious actors typically demanded: 1. Payment (e.g., money, gift cards) with threats to share the images or videos with family members or social media friends if funds were not received; or 2. The victim send real sexually themed images or videos.

AI generated photo of a man smiling. AI generated photo of a man in a hood.

Above: Which of these two individuals seems more trustworthy? Trick question — neither one of them is real. These faces were generated by the free tool PlaygroundAI.com in a matter of seconds. Similar tools exist for creating synthetic video and audio recordings.

Automation of Warfare

AI processes data many orders of magnitude faster than any human analyst. This fact will undoubtedly change the way wars are fought and crimes are investigated.

In wartime, a human might have to watch hours of drone footage or scour hundreds of satellite images to get a detailed understanding of enemy activity in a region. AI might be able to do the same task in seconds and then propose a counterattack plan based on statistically likely enemy rally points. AI could also be used to decrypt secure communications, study their contents for significant information, and generate a report with recommended actions.

Most worrying is the development of autonomous lethal weapons, such as drones that can automatically hunt and kill combatants within set parameters. In an interview with PBS, Pentagon official and former Army Ranger Paul Scharre explained that autonomous weapons are currently a subject of heavy debate among military leadership. “There’s about 30 countries that have said that they’d like to see a preemptive legally binding treaty that would ban autonomous weapons … But right now, none of the leading military powers of robotics developers are part of that group.”

“Proactive” Policing

Anyone who has seen the movie Robocop can attest that the ethics of incorporating AI into law enforcement has been a longstanding source of debate. Nearly 40 years after that film’s release, bipedal “Enforcement Droids” with automatic cannons for arms are still in the realm of science-fiction, but they may not be as far-fetched as you think. In November 2022, the San Francisco Police Department Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 in favor of allowing police to use robots equipped with lethal weapons.

While these robots would be controlled by humans, an SFPD statement painted a broader picture of the department’s stance on the integration of other forms of technology: “[If] there is technology that can help to end the violence and save lives, we need to allow police to use these tools to save lives.” One week later, after a public outcry, the decision was reversed. One civil rights attorney told Mission Local, “We are living [in] a dystopian future, where we debate whether the police may use robots to execute citizens without a trial, jury, or judge.”

Literal robo-cops aside, AI’s most concerning precedent for law enforcement relates to the spread of facial recognition systems. After being trained on images such as driver’s license photos, mug shots, and social media profile pictures, AI can actively monitor cameras in real time to detect and track persons of interest.

Prominent facial recognition firm Clearview stated in March 2023 that it had already scraped 30 billion images from publicly accessible social media profiles, and had been used more than 1 million times by US police agencies to find matching faces. And it’s not just being used to find serial killers or sex offenders — Miami’s Assistant Police Chief told the BBC that the department uses this software for every type of crime, from murders to shoplifting.

Not only is AI-driven facial recognition tech becoming more common, it’s experiencing little resistance from the general public. A 2022 study conducted by Pew Research found that 46 percent of Americans thought “widespread use of facial recognition by police” is a good idea, while 27 percent thought it was a bad idea and another 27 percent were not sure. About 60 percent of those surveyed said it would be acceptable for this technology to be used by police to identify individuals at large events and public protests; 31 percent said it’s acceptable to use facial recognition on anyone walking down the street.

So-called “predictive” policing is another area where AI has been implemented. The University of Chicago recently revealed a new algorithm that “forecasts crime by learning patterns in time and geographic locations from public data on violent and property crimes,” resulting in an ability to “predict future crimes one week in advance with about 90 percent accuracy.” The model achieved a similar level of performance in eight test cities: Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, and San Francisco.

Young Hispanic female agent of FBI in uniform pinning photos of several male suspects on map while suggesting location of their gang

Above: With the rapid development and implementation of AI crime analysis models, traditional investigative techniques may be replaced with AI predictions, leading to a world that’s a little too reminiscent of Minority Report.

Closing Thoughts

As always, we encourage you to be prepared for the future and take steps to safeguard your loved ones. However, don’t be unreasonably fearful of the technology the future brings. Look back at the development of factories, the electrical grid, and the internet — each of these global paradigm shifts has transformed your lifestyle in positive ways, but also introduced new problems. We hope this article has helped you be mindful of some of the ways you can use AI to make your life easier, and to be vigilant about the ways it might be weaponized against you.

Above all, understand that you alone cannot stop this transformative process. The wheels of change are already in motion. AI will almost certainly have a more significant presence in your life 20 years from now, whether you like it or not. Rather than cursing the shortsightedness of Silicon Valley, use your time productively to study how AI is being implemented and how you can get ahead of the curve. Back in the '90s, we recall reading headlines claiming that this whole “world-wide web” thing was just a passing fad. Imagine if, rather than dismissing the technology or hoping it would disappear, those naysayers learned to use it to their advantage.

It remains to be seen whether AI will be humanity’s greatest creation, its ultimate downfall, or a little of both. As a wise man once said … The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.