Preparedness Lessons Learned from the Recent California Blackouts

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People, on average, like to think that they are prepared for whatever life throws at them. If you are a concerned citizen who reads this type of article, you probably consider yourself sufficiently “prepped” for whatever cataclysmic event comes your way. Much of mainstream preparedness media focuses on being prepared for a “Big Event” like an electromagnetic pulse killing off all electronics, or a nuclear, biological, or chemical attack from a terrorist organization or rogue nation-state. This also includes massive natural disasters, such as a tsunami or hurricane which wipes out coastal metropolitan centers.

Many people think of disasters as world-ending catastrophes, rather than small-scale, short-term events.

But, realistically, we need to be most prepared for events that, although smaller in scale, can have very real and serious impacts on our lives and safety. A more mundane crisis that only affects a smaller geographical area or population can be just as devastating in the short term. I recently learned this lesson the hard way.

The California Blackouts

“Public safety power shutoff” was the official term used by the utility provider to describe this incident.

As a resident of California I’m used bad decision making by politicians and others. So, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), the state’s largest provider of electricity, announced they would be shutting off power to hundreds of thousands of customers this month. PG&E makes its case for this “Public Safety Power Shutoff” in the optimistic-sounding video below:

Ostensibly this was done to prevent the types of wildfires that ravage the state every fall and winter. Investigations have indicated that several of the major wildfires in 2017 and 2018 — including the Camp Fire, the most destructive in California’s history — may have been caused by faulty PG&E electric power lines and equipment failure. So, PG&E’s solution was to de-energize power lines so they couldn’t inadvertently start a fire.

In the article linked above, we interviewed a CA resident who narrowly escaped the Camp Fire in 2018.

Regardless of the reason, when I heard of the pending shutdown, I got concerned. I live in a good-sized suburb nestled between three major cities. In this sea of humanity, a blackout is a huge problem. Resources like food and gasoline disappear quickly as people empty the shelves at supermarkets and gas stations are drained of their precious dinosaur juice. Non-functioning traffic lights cause already congested streets to turn into complete gridlock. Cell service becomes spotty, even non-existent. In the short term, this can lead to shortages of essential items to residents. Longer-term effects can be price gouging of those items and civil unrest. It’s medieval times in the Golden State.

Outages could have affected any of more than 5 million customers, according to the company's web site.

I quickly realized I wasn’t sufficiently prepared for this situation. PG&E was forecasting blackouts lasting from 2 to 5 days. Adding to the difficulties was that the power provider couldn’t narrow down what parts of the state were going to be on the receiving end of a blackout or when it might occur.

Although I’ve given some consideration to emergency preparedness in the past, this was a wake-up call that I hadn’t given it enough. I wasn’t sure if I had enough food, water, gas and other items. However, there was one thing I was sure of — unlike many others in my state, I certainly wasn’t going to rely on the government to provide for my family’s needs. Here’s what I did in response, along with some lessons I came away with.

Act Fast

I did a quick assessment of what I already had around the house to decide what I needed to stock up on. I realized I had a lot of food, but most of it was refrigerated. I don’t have a backup power source for large appliances, so if the power went out and my fridge stopped working, my food would spoil. This was especially disconcerting to me because I had about twenty pounds of sausage from a pig I had harvested this summer which I didn’t want to see go to waste. I had coolers, but not enough ice. I wasn’t sure how accessible water would be or what its potability would be once our water provider was out of power, so that was a major concern as well. I quickly put together a list and headed out.

As soon as the supermarket opened, I loaded up on canned food, dry goods, water, ice, propane, and batteries. I then filled up the gas tanks in both of my cars. Surprisingly, despite feeling as though I was catastrophically late to the party, I didn’t have to wait in line at the market or the gas station. It wasn’t until after the power went out that people crowded those locations. Many were surprised to find out that gas stations were without power, resulting in pumps not operating. I may not have been fully prepared, but at least I wasn’t THAT unprepared.

Establish Short-Term and Long-Term Plans

History tells us that most power outages are short-duration events, not long-term ones. Based on what I knew of this situation, I felt no need to hang up concertina wire around the house and prepare for the end of days. I needed enough provisions to sustain my family for a week, at most.

Although some disasters lead to widespread chaos, this one thankfully did not.

That being said, I have a bug-out plan in place for a larger event like a catastrophic earthquake or some other major disaster. In retrospect, I was better prepared for the “big one” rather than a more-likely, short-term event in the comfort of my own home. A blackout isn’t as dramatic as some cataclysmic large-scale collapse of society. But it is a fairly common occurrence that, if it becomes a long-term problem, can have cataclysmic results. It doesn’t take much to disrupt our daily lives.

Decide to Stay or Go

A short-term crisis doesn’t necessarily trigger the need to relocate. In my case, the power shutdown didn’t require my family to bug out. I also wanted to stay home because I was concerned about my residence being vulnerable to break-ins, since my alarm system and cameras wouldn’t be functioning.

Be prepared to defend your residence against threats if your alarm system is compromised. Looting is a legitimate risk after any major disaster.

In 2017, when fires swept through towns in Northern California, large numbers of criminals showed up to break into the abandoned houses. I witnessed this first-hand when I deployed up there as part of a law enforcement response. Crooks from all over descended on the abandoned residences to steal whatever they could. Officers arrested many opportunists who showed up to take advantage of the situation. I’ve seen the same thing occur during other natural disasters I have deployed to, such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Factor this into your plan, but also remember that your safety is a much higher priority than protecting your property. Looted items are replaceable. Family members are not.

If you do choose to go to your bug-out location, do it as soon as possible. Highways become choke points as everyone takes the same roads to get where they are trying to go.

Don't Depend on Government Assistance

In the military and in law enforcement I have responded to locations after major hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. One consistent theme I have observed is that during the initial phase of a major disaster — the first two to three days — local, state and federal government is completely unprepared. Their plans for evacuation, resupply, medical treatment, and controlling civil disorder are woefully lacking. You are on your own, so plan for it.

In any disaster, self-sufficiency is always preferable to waiting for rescue.

For the “planned power outage” here, the state and local government put out super-helpful hints like “have an alternative way to open your garage door.” Many local politicians gave passionate speeches condemning the power supplier. While these words did very little to improve the situation, all the resultant hot air most likely resulted in an increased risk of fire.

Develop a Backup Plan for Electronics

Think of the last time the power went out in your house. Did you catch yourself trying to turn on a light, fire up the television, microwave a meal, or charge your cell phone? We rely on electricity for everything, and it's easy to take it for granted.

A small solar charger can be a life-saver if a short-term outage turns long-term.

Just prior to this event, my son and I had gone on a camping trip. This proved to be fortuitous. I had propane for our camp stove (the backup plan to my outdoor grill), batteries for lanterns and flashlights, and so on.

Camping is a good dry run for prepping. The location my son and I had camped at was pretty austere so if you didn’t bring it with you then you had to do without it. The Coleman two-burner stove is excellent for preparing all kinds of meals. I have both battery- and propane-powered lamps which became essential for keeping the house illuminated. We have a Yeti cooler which, when stocked with ice, keeps food preserved for days — just the thing for my precious pork! My camping kit includes seemingly unimportant items like single-serve packets of condiments (ketchup, mayo, mustard) and freeze dried coffee. These aren’t essential to survival, but they’re sure nice to have and make the lean times a little more bearable.

Knowing how to use topo maps and a compass is an essential for when Google Maps goes offline.

I had charged all the portable electronics. I also made sure not rely on them too much, since I knew cell service might be down. If there are important items like maps or other documents that can only be accessed over the internet, make sure you plan accordingly by printing them out.

Closing Thoughts

So, how did it all turn out? Surprisingly, my neighborhood was spared from the outages. There were roving blackouts in surrounding counties, so fires were supposedly prevented, or PG&E made their point, whatever the case may be. But, as is often the case with disaster preparedness, we thankfully didn't experience the worst-case scenario we prepared for.

Being prepared for no lights also means being prepared for no alarms, and potentially no cell service.

In this particular instance we had been forewarned about the blackouts. When a weather event or natural disaster causes one, which is more often the case, you won’t have the advantage of knowing it is coming. As if to underscore this point, while I was working on this article, we were hit with a 4.6 magnitude earthquake. For those not living on the Left Coast, that’s a small one, just enough to rattle the windows and knock items off the shelves of stores. Overall, little to no damage was done. However, it served as yet another reminder that you can’t predict when the next disaster will arrive.

Even if your preparations lead to self-righteous neighbors calling you paranoid after a potential disaster fizzles out, it’s always better to be prepared. More importantly, I now have the necessary supplies on hand to survive a short-term disaster — supplies I should have had in the first place.

About the Author

Nick Perna is a Sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California. He has spent much of his career as a gang and narcotics investigator. He served as a member of a Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT Team for over fifteen years. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a Master’s Degree from the University Of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online publications on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics, and issues related to veterans.

Infographic: A Quick Guide to Seasonal Edibles

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Unless you're a hardcore foodie, you might roll your eyes when someone starts talking about locally-grown organic seasonal heirloom produce. It's easy to assume these things only matter if you're chasing exquisite flavor or trying to sound sophisticated, but they're actually very relevant from an emergency preparedness standpoint — delicious taste is a nice bonus. If your goal is to become self-sufficient, you shouldn't rely on buying whatever produce is on sale at the grocery store. You should be working towards harvesting seasonal fruits and veggies that are locally-grown in your own backyard garden.

The following infographic by April Swiger offers a basic overview of some of the most common seasonal edibles that might be found in a backyard garden. For year-round produce availability, plant a few of your favorite items from each section — just be sure to confirm that they're viable in your climate and soil conditions first. Click here to download a full-size version of this graphic.

Even if you haven't gotten into gardening yet or don't have the time or space to cultivate crops, this guide can be used to select the freshest and most ripe ingredients from your local farmer's market or grocery store. If a disaster occurs, supply chains to exotic, out-of-season, imported produce will be the first to be interrupted, so this infographic provides some items that should be more reliably-stocked in each time of year. There's even a financial element to this information — seasonal produce involves less overhead cost, so it's usually inexpensive.

The USDA Seasonal Produce Guide (linked below) is an excellent source for more info.

For a more in-depth look at seasonal edibles, check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Seasonal Produce Guide. This is an extremely helpful resource — just click on any fruit or veggie on the list for nutritional facts, recipe suggestions, storage recommendations, and educational documents.

Video: Making a Fire Steel from an Old File

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Redundancy is critical to many aspects of survival, and fire-starting is one of the best examples of its value. It only takes one instance of being unable to stay warm, cook food, or boil water because you couldn't start a fire to learn this lesson. Maybe your lighter ran out of fuel, your ferro rod wouldn't ignite damp tinder, your matches fizzled in the wind, or you couldn't find any flint or sparking rocks to strike your fire steel — but if you have several of these options, you'll have much better odds of making one work. Integrating multiple fire-starters into your survival kit is a wise move.

A high-carbon steel file works well as a striker for flint or other sparking rocks.

The classic fire steel is one tool that's often overlooked as a relic of the past. It has been used for centuries to generate sparks by striking flint, chert, quartz, agate, or other hard rocks. But even though it's old, it's not irrelevant. The flint and steel method is a great backup to other fire-starting techniques, especially since the necessary rocks are readily available in a variety of environments. For the steel, many bushcraft aficionados will use the spine of a high-carbon knife, or a dedicated striker on a necklace or keychain.

David West shows off the tools used to make this fire steel in the video below.

We recently saw a video from YouTuber David West that demonstrates how to make a fire steel from a $1 file from a flea market. West cuts the file to his desired size, grinds down the edges and tang, and drills a hole for a cobra stitch paracord lanyard. He then demonstrates its use with chert and some char cloth made from an old T-shirt.

Since the faces of the file are still abrasive, this tool has a secondary function as a sharpener for knives, axes, and other tools. It's also a cool-looking (and inexpensive) item to add to your EDC gear or gift to a friend. Either way, if you've got access to an angle grinder and power drill, this will make for a fun DIY project.

RECOILtv: Real-World Training at The Tactical Games

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If you're looking to improve your self-defense skills and physical fitness, high-intensity shooting competitions are a great way to do both at the same time. It's exhausting to run, jump, and climb with weapons, ammo, and full tactical gear, and that exertion leads to an increased heart rate that mimics what you'd experience in a real-world defensive situation. This adds an important element of realism to training, because you probably won't end up facing an attacker downrange of your comfy bench at the shooting range. The Tactical Games is a multi-stage competition that amplifies the challenge to the extreme, placing a heavy emphasis on shooting skills, physical fitness, and mental acuity.

RECOIL team members attended one of the most recent iterations of The Tactical Games at the Government Training Institute (GTI) in Barnwell, South Carolina. As contributor Ashley Spurlin explains, “This facility is one of the most unique shooting competition venues you're ever going to see in the country… This is a decommissioned nuclear facility — it's full of tunnels, it's full of dark places, it's full of ten-story buildings and stairs. It's really going to test you both mentally and physically.”

Iain Harrison is no stranger to shooting competitions, having won Top Shot Season 1 and participated in countless other events as Editor of RECOIL. Despite this, he attests to the substantial challenge of The Tactical Games in the following video from RECOILtv. Check out the full episode below, and for more information on the event, go to TheTacticalGames.com.

Gear Up Issue 34

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Kelty Big Shady

DIMENSIONS (OPENED)
14 by 10.8 by 10.8 feet

MSRP
$250

URL
kelty.com

NOTES
Anyone who’s ever spent time at a picnic or farmer’s market will be familiar with pop-up canopies. But most only provide decent shade when the sun is high in the sky. That’s why the Big Shady is far more effective at blocking out the elements. Once erected, it kinda looks like a humongous flying squirrel that’s trying to shield you from the rain. That’s our odd way of saying it does a fantastic job of blocking out sun, rain, and wind from different angles. Peak height is 90 inches while the 151-square-foot floor area can house a foldable table and six chairs. Its fly is made of 68-denier polyester while the main pole is aluminum and the secondary poles are steel. While its 13-pound weight doesn’t make it a likely candidate for your bug-out gear, it can stow away in your off-road truck or see good use during a camping trip.

SIG SAUER P365 Air Pistol

POWER SOURCE
CO2

MSRP
$100

URL
www.sigsauer.com/store

NOTES
One hundred bucks for a P365? Yep, we’re not joking. Of course, we’re talking about the BB version, and not the powder-burning model. Then, why get it? This air gun replicates its popular 9mm predecessor, allowing you to practice your concealed carry tactics safely at home or in a combatives class without freaking out your friends or loved ones. It’s also useful for dry-fire drills. This doppelganger weighs 12.8 ounces and is 5.75 inches long with a 3.25-inch barrel — a close approximation of its firearm counterpart. Powered by a CO2 cartridge, it features realistic blowback action, holds a 12-round magazine, and fires a 4.5mm premium steel BB up to 295 feet per second.

Prometheus Design Werx SHADO Pack 24L

COLORS
All Terrain Brown, Universal Field Gray

MSRP
$198

URL
prometheusdesignwerx.com

NOTES
There are daypacks and then there’s the latest iteration of the SHADO Pack. Prometheus Design Werx is now offering it in a 24L (1,465ci) capacity with upgraded features, quality materials, and top-of-the-line production. Where to begin? Firstly, its usability. Its dual-zipper-opening design gives you not only access to two main compartments but also helps you organize your goods in a logical manner. There’s a section for either a hydration bladder or dedicated EDC items, multiple zippered mesh pocket organizers, a three-stage modular belt, dual loops for ice axes, and so much more. The SHADO features materials like 500-denier Cordura, YKK reverse coil zippers, and custom-milled 500-denier nylon/spandex. It’s a wilderness-grade daypack that can handle everything from EDC duties to the rigors of an outdoor adventure.

Zenbivy Flex Mattress

SIZES
72 by 20 inches; 77 by 25 inches; 80 by 30 inches

MSRP
$89

URL
zenbivy.com

NOTES
With the temperature dropping, it’s time to get your body off the ground when sleeping under the stars. While a winter-rated sleeping bag might be enough for you, it can’t hurt to consider some extra layers if you have the cargo capacity. The Zenbivy Flex Mattress can provide that extra layer of insulation from the cold earth, as well as some surprising comfort in a convenient package. It has a four-way stretch fabric made of 50-denier polyester knit that flexes with your shape and movements. Meanwhile, it’s urethane open-cell foam self-inflates the mattress to life once the large one-way valve hole is opened. Once it’s almost full, pop in the valve and top it off with a few breaths. To deflate, just flip the valve and the air stays out. Well-made and easy to use, the Flex Mattress lets you rest comfortably and warmly.

Danner Women’s Pub Garden Chelsea

SIZES
5.5 through 10

MSRP
$180

URL
danner.com

NOTES
So, you wanna get your spouse into prepping? Here’s some advice: Start slowly, start incrementally, but most of all start with something she’ll look good in. No really. Take the Women’s Pub Garden Chelsea. These are waterproof footwear with a slip-resistant outsole and the technical performance of workwear but disguised as casual Chelsea boots fit for a lady’s night out. The upper is made from durable water-resistant premium leather, and the Danner Dry technology provides a 100-percent waterproof barrier that lets moisture out but prevents water from getting in. Inside, the OrthoLite footbed keeps things cushy while also allowing for air circulation and heat dissipation. Outside, the multi-directional lugs are made of an oil-and-slip-resistant compound for maximum traction. It’s the kind of footwear that lets her look and feel good but also helps her take care of business if SHTF in the concrete jungle.

DMOS Collective Delta Shovel

WEIGHT
3.5 pounds (aluminum); 6 pounds (steel)

MSRP
$199

URL
dmoscollective.com

NOTES
Whether you’re a soldier, a survivalist, or snow-savvy driver, there’s a good chance you have an entrenching tool (e-tool). And there’s a good chance it’s almost nothing like the DMOS Collective Delta Shovel. This brilliant feat of engineering gives you (among other benefits) a 3mm-thick aluminum blade that’s 11 inches wide — almost twice as wide as a traditional e-tool. Its three-position connector lets you transform it into a hoe or collapse it completely for stowing. Above that is the three-part telescoping anodized aluminum shaft, which can extend to 51 inches — providing more length and leverage than most foldable shovels. The Delta is available with a cold-rolled steel blade for the same price, though that version clocks in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces. Whether you’re digging a foxhole, a poop hole, or a way to get your tires unstuck, the Delta Shovel can work wonders while in use and collapse to a manageable size when not in action.

Kershaw Knives Antic

OAL
5.5 inches

MSRP
$33

URL
kershawknives.com

NOTES
Don’t get us wrong. We love a big burly blade to carry into the woods with us. But sometimes a smaller knife goes a longer way — especially if you pound pavement far more often than you do tent stakes. That’s why the Antic piqued our interest. This little folding knife features an integrated pry tip, screwdriver, and bottle opener — along with a 1.75-inch 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade (small enough that it’s legal in most regions). In the closed position, it’s only 3.75 inches long (taking up minimal pocket real estate) and weighs just barely over 3 ounces. This compact multi-tool is easy to carry, easy to use, and easy on the wallet.

NeatIce Bag

DIMENSIONS (WHEN FULL)
15 by 9 by 6 inches

MSRP
$30

URL
neatice.com

NOTES
After a backyard barbecue, long road trip, or a weekend of camping, your cooler will no doubt look more like a swampy mix of water, wet food packages, and a ripped plastic bag that your frozen cubes came in. Not only is that a pain to deal with but also kinda unhygienic — especially if there’s still unconsumed food that you’d like to eat later. Fortunately, the NeatIce Bag offers a solution. This easy-to-use sack keeps your ice separate from your chow and drinks while keeping everything cold. Made of 420-denier nylon and lined with microbial-resistant TPU, the zippered bag is strong, BPA free, and potable-water safe. That means when the 10 pounds of ice it holds melts, you can use the included 10-inch drain hose to pour yourself a cup of cool water.

Infographic: The Rise in Smartphone Security Threats

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A few decades ago, the idea of carrying a powerful, internet- and GPS-connected computer in your pocket would have seemed like the stuff of science fiction. However, smartphones have now become so ubiquitous that it's unusual if you don't carry one. They offer incredible convenience as an all-in-one tool for communication, navigation, mobile banking, social networking, and entertainment, but this power is increasingly being leveraged against us by cybercriminals. Smartphone security threats such as malware apps, phishing attacks, and connection to unsecured WiFi networks can turn our most-used piece of tech into a serious problem.

Smartphones have many valuable everyday applications, but this power comes with inherent risks.

Since October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, this is a timely reminder that digital security isn't only relevant to your desktop or laptop computers. It's especially relevant to the computer that resides in your pocket.

The following infographic from Scalefusion MDM collects data from cybersecurity companies such as Kaspersky, McAfee, and Check Point to illustrate the growing trend of mobile security threats. Specifically, Check Point's 2019 mid-year report says that there has been a 50% increase in mobile device cyberattacks compared to 2018. For an especially sobering illustration of the seriousness of the problem, refer to the company's Live Cyber Threat Map, which tracks cyberattack victims and perpetrators in real-time.

A screenshot of the Live Cyber Threat Map, showing tens of millions of attacks detected each day.

Take a look at the Scalefusion infographic below for an overview of common mobile device threats, or click here to download the full-size version.

MDM means Mobile Device Management, a type of business-oriented software that allows an IT department to centrally manage employees' mobile devices. MTD is Mobile Threat Defense, software specifically designed to enhance security on those devices. Unless you own a business or work in IT, you can skip the last third of this graphic, since it applies to enterprise-level software. However, the first two-thirds are very relevant to our awareness of individual device security.

We'll close with some additional reading on the top 5 mobile security threats mentioned above:

  • Anubis banking trojan — able to “take screenshots, record audio, send, receive, and delete SMS messages, steal contact lists and account credentials” and more.
  • Gustuff Android banking trojan — “targets include known banks such as Bank of America, Bank of Scotland, J.P.Morgan, Wells Fargo, Capital One, TD Bank, and PNC Bank”
  • Triada Android malware — “extremely hard to detect” and “one of the most advanced mobile Trojans [Kaspersky's] malware analysts have ever encountered”
  • Lotoor hacking tool — a family of malware offshoots that “exploit vulnerabilities in order to gain root privileges on compromised Android devices”
  • Hiddad malware — infects the Android system folder and installs hidden adware, generating revenue for the attackers

Driving the 2020 Can-Am Defender UTV

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We recently had the opportunity to test drive the 2020 Can-Am Defender Limited, Defender PRO HD10 and its 6×6 version through the trails of Mountain Home, Texas. YO Ranch Headquarters provided a picturesque backdrop to Can-Am’s three-day media event. Driving through the dirt trails and rocky terrain beside the perfectly awkward loping of the resident giraffes transported us away from Hill Country and into a Sub-Saharan African overland adventure — the perfect setting to test out UTVs.

Can-Am brought three separate models of the 2020 Defender — The Defender Limited, The Defender Pro HD10 and the Defender 6×6 DPS HD10. Over the course of three days, we got an inside look into Can-Am’s theory behind their latest changes, as well as an opportunity to put them to the test.

What's New for 2020?

In a flooded UTV market, the details set companies apart. This has never been truer than with Can-Am’s 2020 upgrades and options. Every improvement was a purposeful response to its customer base, with each version designed to meet the interests of different customer groups.

Of the many changes Can-Am introduced in 2020, we focused on these practical upgrades:

Removable Grill
Goodbye air compressors, sticks, and your girlfriend’s small hands. The 2020 version of all Defenders comes with a removable grill that enables you to clear debris, mud, and grass which might otherwise block the airflow and lead to overheating. It's always nice to see companies making it easier to maintain vehicles in the field, because you're rarely going to have a clean shop full of tools when something goes wrong.

Increased Ground Clearance
In many small off-road vehicles, there never seems to be enough ground clearance when you’re traversing through rocks and rutted terrain. Can-Am responded by not only increasing the ground clearance of its Defender models (12-inches for the Defender Limited; 13-inches for the Defender HD10), but also added an arched double A-arm front suspension. The end result is less bottoming-out and scraping as you drive over rough trails.

More Utility
With a massive 6ft by 4.5ft bed and a payload of 1,000lbs, the Defender HD10 is an incredibly capable utility vehicle. If you need more space, the sides can be easily removed to quickly turn the cargo box into a flatbed. Additionally, the PRO HD10 can tow 2,500lbs, while the 6×6 DPS HD10 can tow a staggering 3,000lbs. With a width of just 64 inches, this UTV can go where most trucks cannot. (Note: Airtight Cab with HVAC: Can-Am’s HVAC with industry-first automatic mode provides both heat and air conditioning through their strategically placed eight-vent, air-filtered system. Only available in the Defender Limited, the HVAC system is complemented by an airtight cab. Hitting the dusty trails, you’ll have to remind yourself you’re sitting in a UTV, not a truck cab.

With these new details fresh in our minds, we were ready to test the vehicles on the trail.

The Defender 6×6

We first jumped in the new Defender 6×6 DPS HD10. By far our favorite of the three based on capability and ruggedness, this thing is a beast. The first thing we noticed was how smooth the ride is for a utility vehicle. We barely noticed the divots, ruts and rocks the six tires soared through. We were even more impressed with its maneuverability — despite its long wheelbase and six wheels we were able to take sharp corners like a pro.

Of course, this vehicle really shines traversing rocky terrain and steep inclines. Always in 4-wheel drive, a quick flip of a switch sends this into 6-wheel drive and easily up hillsides. More tires means more contact patch on the ground, which translates to less loss of traction on slippery terrain.

The Defender PRO HD10

Next, we jumped into its cousin, the PRO HD10. We utilized the 83.6 gallons of new space located under the cargo box to hold our bags. After a quick lesson on how to use the new 4.5-inch digital display to switch out of ECO mode and into the more powerful WORK mode, we were back on the trails.

An incredible machine, this UTV is best suited for those who do not require the extra towing capacity or off-road capability of the 6×6. Additionally, the PRO HD10 comes with “Turf” mode that provides traction without ripping up your lawn.

The Defender Limited

We saved this vehicle for last. We claimed it was to compare the performance on a shorter wheelbase, but, in reality, we wanted the enclosed cab with air conditioning for our Texas-hot afternoon ride. Without the AC blasting, we would have questioned whether the UTV was on; the thicker firewalls on the 2020 model greatly decreased noise pollution.

Additionally, the fully sealed cab not only kept the temperature cool, but prevented all dust from entering. This is a game changer in the UTV market.

Conclusion

In the past, UTV customers often had to determine if they were going to sacrifice comfort for capability or utility for luxury. With the new Can-Am Defender family, you really don’t have to choose. Depending on your needs, whether you’re looking to haul firewood through narrow two-track trails, tie down fence posts on a flat bed, find your perfect backwoods hunting spot, or load a bug-out vehicle that can go anywhere, the Can-Am Defender offers a configuration that fits your needs.

For more information on the 2020 Can-Am Defender, go to Can-Am.BRP.com.

CRKT Provoke Karambit – A Self-Defense Instructor’s Review

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We first saw the CRKT Provoke at SHOT Show early this year, and were immediately interested by its unconventional “kinematic” design. Check out our first impressions in our original web article, if you haven't already read it. Long story short, it's one of the coolest folding knife mechanisms we've seen in quite a while. We also appreciate the quality D2 steel and the clever hidden pocket clip. However, we were left wondering about its real-world practicality.

Combatives instructor Patrick Vuong recently posted a video review of the knife on the Tiga Tactics YouTube channel. Vuong is an avid knife collector, having reviewed dozens of them for OFFGRID and RECOIL's Unusual Suspects column over the years. He's also a practitioner of the Filipino martial art Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, which frequently involves edged weapons such as the traditional karambit. Given this background, he's able to shed some light on the Provoke's functionality as an every-day carry knife and as a defensive weapon.

Vuong's point about the offset placement of the ring is one we've never specifically considered, but we've certainly noticed that some knife handle rings feel more natural than others. It's definitely a good point to keep in mind if you ever plan to purchase a karambit or any other knife with a finger ring. And although the CRKT Provoke has some pros and cons, it's good to hear that it's not all show.

What if You’re Locked Up Abroad?

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Illustrations by Robert Bruner

The air in the jail was hot, humid, and foul beyond words. You were separated from your friends and shoved in a cramped concrete holding cell. There were no beds or chairs. The space just had three rough walls, a low ceiling, a filthy floor, and a row of rusty bars bearing a locked door in the middle. There wasn’t even a toilet in the cell, just a hole in the floor near the back corner of the room. You thought this was likely to be the source of the stench that filled your nostrils, nearly making you retch; but this wasn’t the most worrisome thing in the room.

Three local men were also in the cell with you. The expressions on their faces were varied. One man looked at you with a vacant expression and another stared at you with utter contempt. The third man, however, was the most unsettling. He looked at you hungrily, as if his jailors had just provided him with a treat. He muttered something to the contemptuous-looking man in a language you didn’t understand. There was some nodding, as if an agreement had been made, and then they both started to move slowly toward you.

For this installment of RECOIL OFFGRID’s “What If?” column, we are taken out of our normal surroundings and thrust into a situation that’s beyond our control. It’s a place where almost everything is stacked against us, and it’s an unfamiliar landscape where our normal rights, protections, and freedoms do not apply. We’ll look at some of the precautionary measures you should take before you travel overseas. We’ll also look at some of the resources that are available to U.S. citizens abroad, and things to do at the first sign of trouble. Finally, we’ll talk about some ways to preserve your sanity in a situation that looks hopeless. You’re going to need a good lawyer … if you ever make it to a courtroom at all.

The Scenario

Situation type
Traveling for vacation

Your Crew
You and a few friends

Location
Southeast Asia

Season
Fall

Weather
Humid; high 90 degrees F, low 63 degrees F

The Setup: You and a few friends take a trip to a Southeast-Asian country for some rest and relaxation. You plan to spend your days relaxing on the beach, enjoying the local bars and cuisine, fishing, and spending a few carefree days with your pals. There are a total of four of you, but you have only a marginal understanding of the local language, culture, laws, and key facilities such as the American embassy. Although this country is generally considered friendly toward Americans, you also know there’s a significant local criminal element that dabbles in everything from kidnapping to petty theft, as well as known terrorist groups who have a history of operating in the area. If something goes sideways, the ability to get help is questionable.

The Complication: You head out one night to a bar in the tourist-friendly downtown so you can hopefully comingle with some fellow Americans and English-speakers. You sit down at a table to have a few drinks with your friends. As a friend of yours is bringing drinks over to your table, he inadvertently bumps into one of the patrons and spills a drink on him. He appears to be local and is offended, because he’s dressed better than most who are at this bar. After some hard looks from this individual and a few curt words in another language, your friend does his best to apologize profusely and offer him a drink as a peace offering. The individual scoffs and returns to his table occupied by three other well-dressed locals. Your friend returns to your table and seems to brush off the incident as a misunderstanding and you all continue with the night under the assumption that the worst is over.

You occasionally look over at the table of other individuals who continue to stare at your table with looks of contempt on their faces. Although you only know some of the local language, you can definitely make out that they’re talking about you as you overhear them using common slurs that you know refer to foreigners. After about 30 minutes, your friend returns to the bar for another round. In a seemingly unprovoked manner, another man from the table of locals gets up, walks up behind your friend standing at the bar, and slams a beer bottle into the back of his head. It doesn’t take long for everyone else at the bar to take notice. Now the sh*t’s hit the fan. Your other friends get up to quell the situation, which provokes the rest of the table full of individuals who were staring at you to rush the bar and begin shoving and swinging at your friends. Your friends struggle to defend themselves as customers flee the bar. In a few short minutes, the local police have entered the bar and are blowing whistles to calm the situation.

Your friends are immediately handcuffed, and so are the locals who started the fight. You can’t understand what the locals are saying to the police, but as you sit at the table dumbfounded that this is going on, an officer grabs you and immediately puts you in handcuffs. Here, you’re in a foreign country with probably little to no “rights” as you know them. It’s your word against the locals — assuming you can manage to communicate with the officers. You know your friends didn’t provoke this fight. You’re all brought outside and put into the backs of police cars, where you’re whisked off to the local jail — you already know it’s the stuff nightmares are made of. The conditions are terrible, and you’re aware that many people have been incarcerated in this country indefinitely without even having a trial. What do you do? Who can you call? Do you have any rights whatsoever? The language barrier proves an even greater obstacle to navigate. What steps can you take to explain the situation believably and receive assistance from family, the State Department, or anyone else who can help you get free?

International Media Correspondent Miles Vining’s Approach

Getting arrested or detained in a foreign country will ruin anyone’s day. As responsible world travelers, we need to understand the extent of the situations we’ll be putting ourselves into.

Preparation

Having a background of the threat environment we’re entering is critical, and something we shouldn’t let our guard down on, even on vacation. Find out what local problems are common in the area you’re visiting. What are some of the more frequent crimes against foreigners in your vacation destination? What kinds of valuables do local thieves like to target? What scams are being employed? You can find answers to these in forums, social media groups, and news articles, but more importantly, try to get a feel for these when you’re on the ground — talk to locals and other foreigners. Many locals will claim their part of the country is crime-free, as they don’t want to discourage guests in their country. But if you can establish a rapport with them, they should tell you more about what the crimes, threats, and scams are in the area.

An important part of traveling is to bring our passports, but we can’t always rely on having them in our possession. Maybe they’ll be stolen and sold on the black market. Maybe we’ll give them to a law enforcement official and end up conveniently “lost” behind a desk. Either way, we cannot depend on this material object.

We need to make copies, preferably in color, and keep them waterproofed. Printing a high-definition image of your passport on paper and laminating it so you can keep it folded in your pocket would work well, but just having a paper copy in a small sealable plastic baggie works fine too. This copy shouldn’t be kept with your actual passport or your wallet. Remember, we’re operating on the assumption that both your wallet and your passport are gone. Having a digital copy on your phone is a good move too, but accessing it in a jail cell might be tough. If it’s hosted online, then you could access it through an internet connection given the opportunity to jump on a borrowed cell phone.

Establishing your identity is important when being held in detention, because you’ll have to prove a need to contact the U.S. embassy or nearby consulate. U.S. embassies and consulates will have a 24/7 duty officer which is usually one of the employees that rotates into that position. Before you travel, find the local emergency contact number for this role. This isn’t the general embassy contact number that’ll usually come up on the specific U.S. Embassy’s website, but is usually listed under an emergency contact page online. If you cannot find it, give the embassy a call beforehand and ask for the phone number directly. Another good set of numbers to have are options for English speakers in the country’s law enforcement. For example, Thailand and Vietnam have designated tourist police divisions designed to work with foreigners and have English-speaking officers on staff.

Having these phone numbers on hand, listed in your phone, and/or printed along with your passport copy is essential. If you’re only allowed one limited phone call from a prison, a U.S. State Department official or an English-speaking law enforcement officer in that country is the person you want to talk to. The State Department can notify your family in the United States, possibly pay you a visit, maybe even recommend local lawyers that you might be able to work with. An English-speaking law enforcement officer might be able to smooth things out with the police that are holding you.

Any time you travel, it’s always a good tactic to routinely check in with family or friends back home every day, even if it’s just a casual greeting and update on current events. Don’t give in to the temptation to post this publicly on social media along with some amazing beach photos. This could open up the possibility of thieves (or “friends” of yours with unsavory accomplices) targeting your residence in the States for a break-in because you aren’t home. Another point to consider is to develop a low-key alert plan with someone you trust. For example, something you can say or do if you’re in detention or maybe even kidnapped, without raising the attention of your abductors. This method has to be simple but effective and easy to remember. Maybe your family has never owned cats, but you send a message asking how your new kittens are getting along with each other. Just something to quietly let them know that not all is well and instruct them to get in touch with the U.S. embassy in that country.

There are a number of items that would be great to bring with you overseas in terms of a personal EDC kit. In regards to being detained, we have to remind ourselves that we might be separated from everything in our pockets, or even our clothes themselves, as they could be switched out for prison uniforms.

That being said, a few items certainly cannot hurt. In terms of self-defense, I always have a short, durable flashlight with me. I can use this to possibly blind an attacker, establish my presence without escalating a situation, or as a blunt-force striking tool. The beauty of a small metal flashlight is that I can have a self-defense weapon of opportunity almost anywhere, inside a plane, in a cinema, etc. A physical notebook and pen are useful for writing down important information if my phone goes dead.

It’s always a good idea to purchase an international cell phone service plan in the United States before traveling. It’s an even better idea to buy a local SIM card in the countries you visit. Not only is it going to be cheaper than overseas service, but it’ll most likely be more efficient for the local environment. Realize that the Third World depends much more on data than calling or text; this is why WhatsApp is so popular. But before you do this, check the countries’ networks to see if they are CDMA or GSM, and whether or not your own phone is unlocked for international use. Many times, I travel with two cell phones, an iPhone as my primary and an Android model as my secondary. If charging cables don’t fit or are unavailable, or maybe my phone gets stolen or broken in a scuffle, I still have a backup means of communication.

On Site

We generally have this impression of indigenous Southeast Asian peoples being very conservative, kind, and maybe even shy in the eyes of Western social norms. But like anywhere in the West, locations of social interaction such as nightclubs, bars, and popular restaurants will have their fair share of troublemakers and scammers. Look up videos of “Walking Street Pattaya” for examples of these scenes. We need to be vigilant as to the social environment around us and what could possibly escalate into a situation beyond our control. If we’re going to be drinking, we must be watching our consumption and understand that while intoxicated, we’re raising the possibility of a confrontation.

Different cultures bring all sorts of intricacies that can take many years of local immersion to comprehend. You don’t have the time, education, or experience to begin to understand these. Instead, what I’ve found is that if you genuinely feel something is off or probably wouldn’t fly in the States, then it probably is the same elsewhere, within a few degrees of magnitude. Listen to your instincts and watch what the locals do in response to a crisis happening. Don’t be the drunk tourist trying to mediate a situation or even escalate it. Play things conservatively and swallow your pride.

Think about what you’re wearing and what’s in your EDC kit in terms of how it could be perceived locally, either by a civilian who might confront you about it, or by a law enforcement officer who’s on the fence when looking at your case. Wearing a Grunt Style T-shirt with an oversized American flag printed on the right shoulder might not be the best attire in a country where hundreds of thousands of people were killed in a period of heavy U.S. intervention. Likewise, having some odd EDC survival gadget might also be looked upon with scrutiny by a law enforcement official searching your personal belongings. If they suspect you of being a spy or a criminal, this could serve as confirmation in their eyes.

Crisis

Let’s come to terms with one very important reality. You’re not James Bond, and you aren’t going to clandestinely sneak yourself out of a jail, slit some guard’s throat with your fold-out credit card knife, and make it to the extraction submarine waiting in the harbor. You’re an American citizen on holiday in Southeast Asia, now being detained by local police forces on suspicion of whatever it is they want to charge you with.

Our first priority should be proving our identity to the arresting officials and getting in touch with our diplomatic representatives in the local country. Our embassy isn’t an instant “get out of jail” card, nor can diplomats from the State Department even represent us in a court of law. But it can get information back to our families in the United States and at the same time might allow for some facetime with a State Department official who can explain some of the laws and various options we might have. Hopefully, we either still have our passport, our waterproofed color copy, or at least a digital version. Then, we should be able to call that emergency duty officer at the embassy obligated to answer at all times of the day and night.

Throughout your ordeal, your biggest asset is going to be your attitude and your code of conduct in dealing with law enforcement. Realize you’re in a situation beyond your control. What little there is you can control (asking for a phone call, requesting to speak to higher leadership, improving prison conditions) might completely depend on how you act and appear to the officials in charge. If you play the role as an arrogant, loud, insulting foreigner who couldn’t care less about local rules, then you’ll get treated as such. More importantly, in many of the respect-driven, conservative, and hierarchical societies that make up Southeast Asia, people tend to shut down when it comes to emotional temper tantrums. If you’re patient, respectful, and ask politely, officials will almost certainly respond in kind.

Unfortunately, in much of Southeast Asia, living with corruption is a part of daily life for the indigenous population. Understanding this, it’s dangerous territory to recommend that foreigners should simply bribe their way out of a sticky situation, as this is compounding one crime on top of another. Potentially offering a bribe to local law enforcement personnel is a personal choice that an individual has to make based on their own conscience. If the decision to offer a bribe is made, then it must be done so very tactfully. Southeast Asian police officers often don’t see bribes as themselves breaking the law so much as them being able to provide more for their families from their meager salaries. Of course, if you’re already in detention, officers could simply take your money and not do anything to help.

Law enforcement always wants to probe for information. As a foreigner, the scrutiny can be greatly amplified. Local cops have seen their fair share of foreign drug smugglers, scam artists, pedophiles on the run, and mafia types (Pattaya in Thailand is practically owned by the Russian mob), so another foreigner in trouble could be one or all of the above. Some might even suspect you to be a spy. To counter all of this, you need to be completely honest about everything. Don’t try to hide some fact because it’s embarrassing or makes you squeamish. If they suspect you of some foul play, then a single lie could be their smoking gun find. This advice goes with any interaction with law enforcement, but only state what you know happened during the incident. Do not be conjecturing, fishing for clues, or otherwise filling in gaps.

Facts and Figures

As a snapshot of foreigner-related or targeted crime, here are some stats by the Thai Tourist Police in January 2019: https://www.tatnews.org/2019/01/thai-tourist-police-release-statistics-highlighting-crackdown-on-illegal-activities/.

State Department Assistance During an Arrest

Using Thailand as an example, here’s what U.S. representatives are legally obligated to do in the event of an arrest: https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/arrest-of-a-u-s-citizen/.

Survival Expert Tim MacWelch’s Approach

Preparation

It’s a dangerous mistake to skip the steps in preparing for a trip to a foreign country with a known criminal element and a different language. Any prospective vacation of mine would involve a lot of preparation.

Starting with my supplies, there are a few items I always like to carry on my person while traveling. The simplest everyday carry items include my mobile phone, some cash for emergencies, and practical clothing. These would be clothing and footwear selections that offer good movement, some protection and some defensive/offensive capability. For example, sturdy boots aren’t very breathable or comfortable for a hot and humid climate, but certain footwear works better for kicking bad guys than those goofy sandals and flip-flops the other tourists are wearing. I’d also want to carry a light source, like a small inconspicuous flashlight. And since traditional defensive tools like firearms, knives, and pepper spray are forbidden in so many places, a leather belt with a heavy buckle and a discreet tactical pen may be the best I can do while in transit. The belt buckle can act as a flail and the pen can add an extra jolt when striking.

Another facet to my preparation is research. A travel guidebook is an excellent resource to study, even before I make the decision to book a trip to another country. These books can give us some remarkable details about the destination, as well as dos and don’ts to observe. I’d also want to know about the crime in the area, particularly against travelers. Is it a high kidnapping area? Is it risky to use cabs for transport? Where are the “no-go” areas? It’s also smart to learn a few basic words and phrases in the local languages. “Yes,” “no,” “please,” “thank you,” “hello,” and “goodbye” can go a long way in a strange land. Simple phrases like “stop that,” “where’s the bathroom?,” “I’m sorry,” “how much does this cost?,” and “what’s your name?” are even more valuable.

Learning a little bit of the local language is a step few travelers bother to do, but it’s not only useful — it can create a much warmer reaction from local people. Prior research of the country’s customs and general laws can start paying off for me. For example, I’d want to know about major local holidays, as these will certainly affect my ease of travel. I’d also need to know the things considered rude or offensive, that an American might never recognize. Finally, I’d need to know the most common things that would be legal at home, but illegal when I’m abroad. For example, insulting the royal family of Thailand is punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison per incident. In 2011, an American named Joe Gordon spent nearly a year in prison after being arrested for a blog article he had posted prior to visiting Thailand.

And let’s not forget about communicating with our friends and family back home. I’d choose a person who I’d check in with on a regular schedule. They should have my itinerary, the hotel phone number and address, and some kind of instructions on what to do if I missed one or more check-in calls. Check the U.S. State Department website (www.state.gov) as part of your research it’s loaded with helpful advice, travel advisories, and warnings about the country you intend to visit. It can also direct you to embassy and consulate websites, which provide addresses and phone numbers for these vital resources.

Take down the information, especially the separate emergency and non-emergency phone numbers for the embassy and consulate in the area. These American outposts are ready to help in the event of a death, serious illness, violent crime against, or the arrest of an American citizen. Ask for American Citizen Services when contacting the embassy or consulate. ACS is the office that’d assist us in our jailhouse scenario.

On Site

Once checked into the hotel, I’d call home and then call the local U.S. embassy or consulate to inform them of our group’s arrival in the county, how long we’re planning to stay, where we’re staying, and how we can be reached. This information puts our names on their desks, which is helpful in the event that we have legal issues. It’s also important in an emergency situation where Americans would need to be evacuated from the country.

I’d also set up our hotel room for emergencies. Stocking some food and water (in tamper-evident containers) is a great start, and I’d learn the layout of the hotel. Whether we head to the hotel bar or out on the town, we’d make a plan to stick together. I always strive to sit against a wall, toward the back of any eating or drinking establishment. This allows me to watch the door for better situational awareness. I’d also encourage a bathroom buddy plan, where no one heads off to the bathroom alone (this is a good place to get jumped). I’d keep an eye on the crowd, and most of us don’t need a translator to understand the universal language of dirty looks.

If I began to suspect any problems with the locals (particularly a problem that could escalate), we’d simply leave the bar and go somewhere else. In some parts of the world, it’s easier to use the “gray man” tactic, attempting to blend into the background and avoid calling attention to yourself. This may not be possible when I’m a head taller than most of the local people and bearing the wrong complexion, but it’s still important to avoid bringing unwanted attention onto myself. For that reason, I wouldn’t bring valuables such as jewelry and watches on the trip.

Crisis

Despite our best efforts to avoid trouble, sometimes trouble has a way of finding us. In the event that some local inhabitants decide to give me and my friends a pummeling, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to talk my way out if it with a limited vocabulary. I’d attempt to circle up our group and stave them off until the authorities arrive. Despite our instincts to beat these attackers to death with our beer mugs, it really looks bad if we’re “winning” when the cops finally bust in. Some of the non-combatants may explain to the LEOs we didn’t start the fight and were just trying to defend ourselves. Ideally, we’d have a few bumps and bruises and be told to go back to our hotel by the officers. But let’s say that didn’t work. I certainly wouldn’t want to have anything that could be construed as a weapon or drugs on my person at the time of my arrest. Once placed in custody, I’d keep saying I’m an American citizen, and they’re required to inform the local embassy if they detain me (which is usually true). We wouldn’t resist arrest. I wouldn’t expect my “one phone call” like you’d get here in the U.S., but my communication plan with my contact back home would have them calling the hospital and police station if I missed my check-in by 12 hours (or some other preset time period).

After the arrest, it may be made clear that those who are holding me are operating by the book, or they may have a looser interpretation of the rules. I’d have to cautiously broach the subject of paying my “fine” to be released. All the while, I’d have to determine whether a bribe would solve my problems or add to them. However, without access to a translator, the chance to buy my way out from the authorities may never happen, and if the local PD that took us are crooked — we probably wouldn’t have our wallets anymore to offer a cash bribe in the first place.

As a final thought for our article, I’d like to address the one thing that you may be able to control in a situation that is completely beyond your control — your thoughts. It’s really hard to control other people, the things they do, and the situations that occur, but with the proper mindset and control, you may be able to stay in charge of your own thoughts. This could be a sanity-saver and lifesaver in both short-term and long-term survival settings. Your thoughts control your attitude, which in turn affects your emotions and experience. So, if I was stuck in a squalid foreign prison and had no idea when I might be released, I’d do everything possible to keep my thoughts positive and be there for my friends.

Conclusion

Despite our tumultuous history in the region, Southeast Asia is one of the safest places for American tourists to spend time on vacation. Hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world spend weeks and even months in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and more recently, Burma as it has opened up to the public. These countries truly are a fantastic combination of awesome people, breathtaking sights, delicious food, and unforgettable experiences. Don’t let the tales of a few taint a possible visit to the region. But on the same token, be smart and prepared about the possibilities of being the victim of criminal activity or ending up in a jail cell, no matter where your travels take you. Understand the situations you’re in and the consequences of acting rashly or making poor decisions. Ultimately, realize your biggest asset in a complex and chaotic dilemma is going to be a clear mind and a successful attitude.

The laws and customs of other countries can be completely different than those back home, and unfortunately, ignorance of a law or custom is rarely a valid excuse for breaking those rules. To further compound our problems, the local authorities may take an above-average interest in the activities and missteps of outsiders. These law keepers may range from being suspicious of travelers to being downright hostile to foreign citizens. Before you buy that plane ticket, take the time to do your research to determine if your destination might be a high-risk area or a place notorious for incarcerating foreigners. The ass you save may be your own.

Meet Our Panel

Tim MacWelch

Tim MacWelch has been a survival instructor for more than 20 years, training people from all walks of life, including members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the State Department, DOD, and DOJ personnel. He’s a frequent public speaker for preparedness groups and events. He’s also the author of three New York Times-bestselling survival books, and the new Ultimate Bushcraft Survival Manual. When he’s not teaching survival or writing about it, MacWelch lives a self-reliant lifestyle with his family in Virginia. Check out his wide range of hands-on training courses that are open to the public at www.advancedsurvivaltraining.com.

Miles Vining

Miles Vining spent his childhood and teenage years growing up in Thailand, Burma, and Malaysia, returning to the region after his service in the Marines to work with an international relief group that works in conflict zones in Iraq, Syria, and Sudan. He also worked in digital media with a local Afghan company in Kabul. Beyond RECOIL, his work has appeared in Small Arms Review, The Firearm Blog, the TFB TV YouTube channel, and Strife Blog. Currently, he’s the editor of Silah Report, an online resource group focused on researching historical and contemporary small arms and light weapons from the Middle East and Central Asian regions. Learn more at www.silahreport.com.

Distance from Disaster – The HAZMAT Rule of Thumb

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When a disaster strikes, one of the most important variables to consider is distance. Understanding how far you are from the epicenter of the danger will allow you to make immediate decisions about next steps, whether that's to stay where you are or to evacuate immediately to a safer location. This is especially critical in incidents where hazardous materials may be involved — for example, an industrial accident or a terrorist attack. These events may spread dangerous chemical, biological, or radiological contamination that's invisible to the naked eye, and if you're too close, you could be exposed. The HAZMAT rule of thumb can help you quickly gauge if it's time to bug out.

Photo: Koalabaerchen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

In The First Responder's Field Guide to Hazmat & Terrorism Emergency Response, author Jill Levy explains how this rule of thumb can serve as a gauge of evacuation distance:

“If you're not sure of the appropriate distance, back out and err on the side of safety. Consider, too, the old “rule of thumb.” If you've backed out to the recommended distance but can see the incident beyond your outstretched thumb, you may still be too close.”

Photo: Flickr.com/DieselDemon | CC BY 2.0

Although this applies to many HAZMAT incidents, it's not universal. Internet rumors have spread claiming that this rule applies to the mushroom cloud from a nuclear explosion, but that's false. Multiple experts have attested that the heat, blinding light, pressure blast, and fallout from an actual nuclear explosion can still be dangerous even if the cloud appears smaller than your outstretched thumb. If it's visible at all, you're in big trouble. Unlike dirty bombs, which use conventional explosives to scatter radioactive materials over a smaller radius, the danger radius of an A-bomb or H-bomb can reach for dozens of miles.

Despite rumors on social media, Vault Boy wasn't using the rule of thumb to gauge a nuclear threat.

Part of the alleged nuclear application of this rule traces back to a 2013 Reddit comment. The comment author implied that Vault Boy, the mascot for the popular Fallout video game series, was giving the thumbs-up gesture to check the size of a mushroom cloud. However, producer Brian Fargo quashed these rumors in a Twitter post, explaining that Vault Boy isn't using the thumbs-up test — he “simply has a positive attitude.”

Although the rule of thumb is not relevant to nuclear blasts, it can help you gauge your distance from more conventional HAZMAT threats. To maximize its effectiveness, use it in tandem with another memorable HAZMAT rule, the three U's:

  • Upwind
  • Upstream
  • Uphill

If you can cover your view of an incident with your thumb, and wind, water, and gravity aren't carrying contaminants towards you, it's probably safe enough to take a moment to consider what to do next. In any other case, it might be wise to start moving away ASAP.