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KC Eusebio on Electronic Hearing Protection

KC Eusebio on Electronic Hearing Protection

From Howard Leight

Since its introduction, the Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic earmuff has become a favored addition to the range bags of shooting enthusiasts throughout the world—including five-time World Speed-Shooting Champion, KC Eusebio.

“I first used Howard Leight hearing protection products when I was enlisted in the U.S. Army,” sais Eusebio, who began competitive shooting over 20 years ago at age 8. “And it’s still the brand I trust today. After shooting over a million rounds in my lifetime, I just want to say thank you to Howard Leight for helping keep my ears protected and my hearing safe!”

Protection

Featuring a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 22, Impact Sport is a versatile earmuff for most shooting situations and environments, including rifle, shotgun, handgun, hunting and tactical applications.

Amplification

Internal circuitry allows ambient and low-frequency sounds to be safely amplified up to four times to a peak of 82 dB, making it easy for wearers to hear range commands and conduct conversation, even in noisy environments. Amplification automatically reduces at 82 dB, attenuating hazardous impulse noises from gunfire. “Impact Sport’s adjustable amplification makes it a great hearing protection choice for competition, practicing at the range, or for hunting,” said Eusebio.

Slim, Lightweight and Comfortable Design

Impact Sport models feature a sleek, extremely low-profile earcup design with carefully engineered cutouts that facilitate the shouldering of a rifle or shotgun while maintaining clearance from the firearm stock. Lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear, Impact Sport models incorporate a padded headband with vertical height adjustments for a secure, non-slip fit. When not in use, the headband and earcups fold for easy, compact storage. “I trust Howard Leight to make reliable, long-lasting products,” KC said. “I know people who have used the same set of Impact Sports for the past ten years and they still perform great. Howard Leight sells replacement ear cushions, and you can even add Howard Leight Cool Pads to increase comfort on those hot summer days when it’s muggy and you’re sweating,” he adds.

Power Pluses

Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs are powered by two included AAA batteries, which can be expected to last for over 150 hours of use. “A lot of ranges don’t sell batteries, so Howard Leight includes them with their electronic muffs to make sure their products are ready to protect right out of the packaging,” said Eusebio. “I’ve had this particular set of Impact Sport muffs for about a year-and-a-half and haven’t had to change batteries yet. One of the coolest features is the four-hour automatic shutoff that preserves battery life. After a long day of shooting, the last thing you’re thinking of is having to turn them off, so they’ll shut down automatically after four hours. The next time you use them, simply turn them off and turn them back on and you’re good to go.”

Multiple Colors

Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic muffs come in multiple colors to complement the individual taste and style of any shooting sports enthusiast, including Black, OD Green, Teal, Purple, Pink, and – KC’s favorites – MultiCam, MultiCam Black and MultiCam Alpine. “In addition to just looking incredibly cool, MultiCam patterns bring the advantages of stealth and concealment to hunters and tactical operators who want to protect their hearing in the field without compromising their cover,” Eusebio said.

Starting in July, Impact Sport will also be available in three brand-new Honor Collection colors to celebrate and honor our nation’s first responders. The unique One Nation, Smoke and Real Blue colorways are sure to be appreciated by anyone who values our unique American freedoms.

And if you’re looking for tips on shooting eyewear, here are some from Howard Leight as well.

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N8 Tactical Introduces New FLEX IWB Mag Carrier

N8 Tactical Introduces New FLEX IWB Mag Carrier

Media Direct Creative

N8 Tactical, an innovative holster company with a mission to provide quality products with superior comfort for a comfortable carry all day, every day, now offers an IWB magazine carrier that adapts to multiple magazine sizes.

The FLEX IWB Mag Carrier combines function and comfort in a compact, easy to conceal platform. The unique features include a comfort backer, strong polymer clip and the ability to secure different magazines from—single-stack 1911s to double-stack compact handguns. This magazine carrier confidently changes with every concealed carry setup.

Built on a durable leather form, the FLEX IWB Mag Carrier comes with a three-layered, patented backer that provides full coverage of the carrier to maximize comfort and to eliminate pressure points. Contributing to the all-day-comfort wear, the FLEX IWB Mag Carrier includes a moisture-proof neoprene core between the leather backer and the soft suede backing (against the body). This protects the firearm from sweat and body oils while offering a compression cushion. 

Designed to accommodate multiple magazine sizes and styles, the FLEX IWB Mag Carrier keeps pace with your change in carry gun choices. Whether you have a Glock 17 and decide to switch to an XDM or want to switch from a Sig P365 to your Springfield Armory Hellcat, the FLEX IWB Mag Carrier has you covered. No more drawers full of mag carriers.

As with all N8Tactical products, the FLEX IWB Mag Carrier comes with a Two-Week, Try it Free Guarantee, and a lifetime warranty.

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Bling for New Members of Gun Nation

Bling for New Members of Gun Nation

Increased firearm sales during the COVID-19 pandemic indicate there are more firearm owners than ever before, but the odds are good they were already buying and using quality products from the industry long before their first NICS background check. And there’s plenty of bling for new members of Gun Nation.

Daniel Defense’s announcement four years ago that it had entered into partnership with Oakley is a prime example. The Oakley SI models in popular Daniel Defense cerakote colors—including Mil-Spec + and Daniel Defense Tornado with a small, laser-etched “DD” in the corner of the lens—are aimed directly at the mainstream market, although new members of Gun Nation need eyewear. Eye protection is mandatory when shooting, although the seven fashionable models will undoubtedly find their way onto the faces of people who’ll never own a gun.

Remington is an example of the historic trend. During World War I it geared up to produce half of the ammunition used by all the allies, manufactured 100,000 Rolling Blocks for the French, churned out 2,000 Pattern 1914 “American Enfields” a day, built Mosin-Nagants for the Russians, 1911s for the Doughboys and more. Adding machinery and personnel takes loans, but after the Armistice, orders were cancelled. Payments and payroll were still due, though, so its plants kept things going by assembling the world’s first working typewriter (here’s more on the history of Remington). Some of the most rare and collectible antiques often wear a firearm name—Winchester skates and FN bicycles, for example. Winchester’s history is an interesting one, too.

The firearm industry has grown to an annual economic impact of $52.1 billion and employs nearly 312,000 people. Sales continue to skyrocket, and new members of Gun Nation might as well have gear that flies their favorite colors.   

When Smith & Wesson announced the creation of a new division it provided a peek at some long-term plans—and the focus isn’t in licensing the name to another company. “Since I became CEO in late 2011, our focus has centered on expanding our leadership position in the market for consumer and professional firearms,” said Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer James Debney. “As we continued to deliver on that objective, we also maintained our plans to expand, when the time was right, into other related markets, such as the rugged outdoor market, which we believe resonates strongly with our core firearm consumer. Our highly accretive acquisition of Battenfeld Technologies Inc. in December 2014 turned those intentions into reality, establishing our Accessories Division and providing our entry into the firearm-related and outdoor lifestyle accessories business.”

Vista Outdoors is taking a slightly different road, although the destination is the same. It completed the acquisition of BRG Sports Inc.’s Action Sports division, which includes the market-leading brands Bell and Giro, and C-Preme and Blackburn, roughly five years ago.

“The newly acquired brands strengthen our ability to provide a broad suite of innovative, high-quality products to specialty outdoor shops, wholesalers and leading product retailers,” then Vista Outdoor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark DeYoung said. “…[T]he Action Sports brands position Vista Outdoor as the leader in cycling and snow sports equipment in North America and Europe.”

There’s plenty of bling for new members of gun nation, and much of it dives into more mainstream markets. For your vehicle, you’ll find Remington lug nuts. Leupold launched a performance eyewear line this year. SIG Sauer bottle openers, LaRue Tactical has trailer hitch covers and Magpul offers phone cases.

Add coolers, floor mats and just about everything under the sun. If you took home your first firearm during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ll soon discover there’s no shortage of bling for new members of Gun Nation.

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Remington R2Mi Bolt Action Rifle

Remington R2Mi Bolt Action Rifle

From Remington

From its match-grade chamber out, the Remington R2Mi rifle is built to shatter all previous expectations for long-range accuracy. A free- floated barrel, with 1:15-inch twist and 8-groove rifling is perfectly suited for harnessing sub-MOA accuracy from the .50 BMG. And its left-hand operated, right-hand eject bolt-action and 10-round box magazine, ensure comfortable cycling with no need for the shooter to adjust position. The R2Mi rifle is also one of the simplest .50-caliber rifles to assemble and maintain. Its upper receiver locks to the lower receiver with two integral pins, and its full-length Picatinny rail accommodates a wide range of optics.

Key Features

  • Bolt action: left bolt / right port, for faster cycling of action
  • Lothar Walther barrel free-floated within vented hand guard
  • Lower receiver machined from T6-6061 aluminum billet
  • MIL-STD 1913 rail on receiver and vented hand guard
  • Hard anodized type 3 green finish on aluminum parts (Mil-Spec)
  • Manganese phosphate finish on steel parts
  • Equipped with AAC muzzle brake to accept Cyclops silencer
  • Steel bipod with folding legs
  • Disassembles like an AR-type rifle for cleaning and maintenance
  • Ships in custom Pelican Storm Case with two 10-round magazines, bipod, hearing and eye protection and cable lock
ModelCaliberOrder #Mag CapacityBarrel LengthTwist RateOverall LengthBarrel FinishMSRP
R2Mi50 BMG869201030”1:1557”Manganese Phosphate$4,599.00
MSRP is $4,599

And, for the new gun owners who joined our ranks during the COVID-19 pandemic, here’s a brief history of Remington—one of the industry’s finest.

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Zeiss Conquest V4 Riflescopes for 2020

Zeiss Conquest V4 Riflescopes for 2020

From Zeiss

New for 2020, Zeiss has enhanced many of their ZEISS Conquest V4 riflescope models. These enhancements include optimized engraving, 10 yards to infinity side parallax adjustment, variable step reticle illumination, two new reticle designs, and reticle subtension indicators at the magnification settings. Select configurations will also incorporate ZEISS’ all-new External Locking Windage Turret with windage limiter adjustment. The new options will be available at your authorized Zeiss retailer beginning late May 2020.

“We can now share the good news and the new products,” said Kyle Brown, director of marketing/product for Carl Zeiss LLC. “These new riflescopes are going to make a whole lot of hunters and shooters smile from ear-to-ear. Packed with features well above their price class, they deliver exceptional performance in a lighter-weight package. The new configurations support the long-range hunter and shooter more than ever. Regardless of just how challenging that shot is, the new riflescopes will help you deliver precise and accurate hits on the most challenging of targets.”

What’s the difference between a wire and etched-glass reticle?

Zeiss will offer a total of 22 unique scope configurations within the Zeiss Conquest V4 riflescope portfolio. There are five models available—all with 30mm main tubes: 3-12×44 mm, 3-12×56 mm, 4-16×44 mm, 4-16×50 mm, and 6-24×50 mm. All models deliver 90 percent light transmission, offer a large amount of elevation adjustment, and all are designed to handle up to 1,500 g-force of recoil. Lightweight and heavy duty, these riflescopes deliver confidence in the toughest conditions. The various riflescope choices will service many hunting and shooting applications that are typically encountered in the field and on the range.

Select models of Conquest V4 riflescopes will be available with the all-new, and industry-leading, Zeiss External Locking Windage Turret (ELWT) feature, with a windage limiter. This innovative option allows for easy-to-see reference numbers, immediate turret engagement, confirmed settings, and high levels of functionality for the windage adjustment while in the field. The ELWT adds tremendous value to the shooting experience—whether long-range shooting and hunting.

For the utmost in accuracy, repeatability, and extreme precision, Zeiss will also debut two new Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticles. The ZMOAi-20 and the ZBi illuminated reticles are Minute of Angle (MOA) based smart reticle designs. Each incorporate fast and easy reference marks along the main horizontal and vertical lines of the reticle. They both offer 0.12 MOA reticle subtensions to serve both long-range hunters and precision shooters alike. The ZBi is a Christmas tree style reticle with minimum reference marks, especially designed for open terrain hunting. The ZMOAi-20 is primarily designed as a long-range shooting reticle that can also double-up for hunting in open terrain or over larger farm fields surrounded by heavy tree lines. These new SFP reticles have one MOA hash marks and support windage holds for aiming correction. When the reticles are combined with the all-new ELWT, the Zeiss Ballistic Stop, and legendary ZEISS optics, they create a package that delivers the payload at any range, in any condition. The ZEISS Conquest V4 represents the very best of best-in-class.

Outdoor Life also presented an award to the company for its Victory SF 32 binocs.

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Winchester, the Official Ammunition of SCTP

Winchester, the Official Ammunition of SCTP

From the Scholastic Clay Target Program

At a time when supporting the youth shooting sports could not be more important, Winchester continues as the official ammunition of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), showing a strong commitment to thousands of young athletes and coaches around the country.

“Youth shooting sports participation through the SCTP has exploded over the past decade thanks to the organization’s tremendous leadership and coaches and parents who are dedicated to the program,” said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammunition. “We are extremely proud to align our legendary brand with SCTP and provide extensive support that will continue to strengthen their mission.”

Led by over 3,500 coaches, more than 18,000 young athletes compete through SCTP, which is part of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), an educational-athletic organization that exists to introduce school-age youths to the shooting sports and to facilitate their continued involvement.

Winchester also stakes claim as the official ammunition of the SCTP International Team, which is comprised of the top 15 SCTP youth shooters across the country in the international disciplines.

“The overall support provided by Winchester Ammunition is unprecedented and certainly appreciated,” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP national executive director. “Our athletes and coaches on the SCTP International Team are excited to have the Winchester Ammunition brand and products as part of the team’s events. We greatly value the support of Winchester Ammunition and depend on it in order to continue reaching youth and recruiting them into the shooting sports.”

Winchester worked with SCTP in 2020 to create a new discounted shotshell purchase program, available only to SCTP Teams. Teams that would like to participate in future purchase programs should contact their SCTP representative or watch for upcoming announcements through SCTP communications. Watch for this and other very exciting offers coming your way this summer through SCTP membership

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Safariland 7TS Series Holsters for Red Dot Optics

Safariland 7TS Series Holsters for Red Dot Optics

From Safariland

Safariland has announced its popular 7TS series holsters specifically designed to fit and protect handguns with red-dot optics are now available to order. The new models are designated 7TS RDS, and current fits include the Glock 17, 19, 34, 45 and 47 MOS handguns.

“Red dot optics continue to gain strength in the marketplace, as evidenced by the high demand of our initial SafariLaminate models. And now, we have combined the virtually indestructible qualities of our 7TS holster materials with a protective hood design for red-dot optics, creating the new industry standard. These are sure to gain popularity very quickly,” said James Dawson, duty gear category director for Safariland.

Safariland’s 7TS RDS holsters are constructed from durable SafariSeven material, a proprietary DuPont nylon blend that enables precision manufacturing while retaining exceptional durability in temperature extremes, allowing these reliably performing holsters to be practically impervious to the elements. Further, they require little maintenance to keep them functioning and looking good, and they are completely non-abrasive to firearm finishes. [Here’s an in-depth look at polymers in firearm products.]

The protective hood design on these models protect the red dot optic from damage and the elements. The pivoting hood automatically rotates forward to open as the user releases the ALS retention lever via the thumb upon the draw. The handgun is then secured in the holster automatically upon reholstering. This best-in-class patented, intuitive internal locking device offers one of the most secure retention capabilities available today.

Seventeen model variations are now available for duty, tactical, and concealment carry, including the top-selling 7360RDS ALS/SLS Level III Retention Duty Holster. Models include:

• Duty: 7360RDS, 7362RDS, 7365RDS, 7390RDS, 7392RDS, 7395RDS

• Tactical: 7304RDS, 7305RDS, 7354RDS, 7355RDS, 7384RDS, 7385RDS

• Concealment: 7367RDS, 7376RDS, 7377RDS, 7378RDS, 7379RDS

The 7TS RDS models for the Glock 17MOS, 19MOS, 34MOS, 45MOS and 47MOS (also compatible with non-MOS models) are available in SafariSeven Plain Black or FDE Brown finishes for an MSRP ranging from $123.50 to $270.50.

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What Fashionable 50-Cals are Wearing

What Fashionable 50-Cals are Wearing

From SureFire

SureFire, manufacturer of illumination tools and tactical products, is proud to announce the release of the SF3P-50BMG-M2HB and SF3P-50BMG-M2A1 flash hiders, designed specifically for use with M2 .50-caliber machine guns.
 
Muzzle flash is the bane of any infantryman. It provides a clear target indicator for the enemy to know your position and return fire. SureFire SF3P-50BMG flash hiders are engineered to reduce flash signature by an astounding 99.7 percent, concealing the shooter’s position and increasing warfighter survivability.

In addition, they help preserve night-adapted vision and prevent the disruption of Night Vision Devices. Their robust design easily withstands the violence of .50 BMG, requires no modification to the weapon system and has no detrimental effect on weapon reliability. With models for standard non-threaded barrels (SF3P-50BMG-M2HB) and threaded barrels (SF3P-50BMG-M2A1), these flash hiders are tools no Ma Deuce should be without.

Constructed of U.S. mill-certified bar stock and machined to the most precise tolerances, the SF3P-M2HB utilizes a sleeve that mounts to the weapon system. A heat-treated chromoly coupler provides maximum attachment strength for secure attachment to the non-threaded barrel of the M2HB. DLC and nitride coatings ensure corrosion resistance and long service life. The SF3P-M2A1 is the ideal flash hider for the M2A1 weapon platform. Its high-precision single-point cut threads quickly and easily thread to the weapon’s barrel, and its DLC coating provides maximum protection against harsh environmental conditions and facilitates cleaning after extreme use.

The company also released a new Scout Light Pro in January work taking a look at.

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Mega-Gun Companies

Mega-Gun Companies

Mega-gun companies are here, spawning new appendages that draw on strength in their corporate DNA to supplement, strengthen and improve the performance of each limb. All began small, but continue to grow at a furious rate.

The species has been around for years so you can come out from under the covers. Without knowing it, you’ve reaped the benefits of the competition-driven organisms with every visit to the gun store, where new and improved products regularly appear, distribution is streamlined and prices remain stable, despite Wall Street’s roller coaster.

They’re a product of slow and methodical growth, with long-term tactics planned to such an extreme that they often seem to move at glacial speed. The best time to catch a glimpse is when firearm industry sales are scalding hot, like now.

SIG Sauer

SIG Sauer, for example, has a legacy of producing fine guns that stretches back into the 19th century, when a trio of Swiss businessmen founded a wagon company overlooking the Rhine River. Nearly 10 years later, it dabbled with and landed a government firearm contract.

The adaptable, arguably genetic, attitude served the company well as it came to American shores in 1985, launched the SIG Sauer Academy and captured law enforcement and military contracts. Today, “…nearly one in three law enforcement professionals use SIG Sauer firearms,” according to the company website. “We are proud that many elite military and government forces including the U.S. Navy SEALs, the Federal Air Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard carry SIG Sauer firearms,” said Ron Cohen, President and CEO of the firm.

SIG Sauer’s growth pedal is floored right now. In 2015 the company officially launched an ammunition line it built from scratch. “It’s just not the way we do it,” Bud Fini, SIG Sauer Vice President of Marketing said when asked if it wouldn’t have been easier to just purchase an established company. “We build it and design it from the ground up. We don’t want someone else’s business, we want SIG business.”  

The effort was three years in the making. “We brought Dan Powers on board in 2012 to begin managing the design phase of the bullet that would become the V-Crown,” Fini said. Sales are so brisk that SIG Sauer is in negotiations with Jacksonville, AR, to purchase a facility for production there, and it’s little wonder with Powers—a well-known industry veteran who designed and patented a frangible bullet—calling the shots.  

SIG’s suppressor lineup also rolled out in 2015, and there’s no ignoring its new Electro Optics, which harness the talents of 12 engineers and another industry pro, Andy York. “We have more engineers on staff than our top competitors combined,” Fini said. Then there’s the identical weight and manual-of-arms Air Gun line.

The growth is good news for the economy. Roughly 98 percent of everything from the company is produced in America, but by the end of 2016, “….every product will be made here in the United States,” according to Fini. When Cohen took over, he had 75 employees. “Everybody else has exported jobs,” Fini added, explaining SIG Sauer now has more than one thousand staff members in its main, New Hampshire, facility alone.

Ruger, Hornady, S&W

Ruger’s also no stranger to expansion, although it’s the most calculated in doing so among major makers. Its unique investment-casting process was once churning out golf clubs. So it comes as no surprise the company recently unveiled a .22-caliber suppressor—the Silent-SR, designed and produced by the company—and ARX Ammunition, licensed and produced by PolyCase Ammunition.

Reloading supplies and ammunition may be Hornady’s best known fodder, but it also offers safe and vault security devices, including the very popular RAPiD Safes. And, Smith & Wesson’s long-established handcuff line isn’t exclusively restraining criminals.

Acquisitional Growth

Mega-gun companies don’t always grow organically, though. Remington joined the ranks through the acquisition of DPMS Panther Arms, Marlin, Bushmaster, AAC, Barnes Bullets and many more. Another variation on the theme was born when Vista Outdoor retained Federal Premium, Bushnell, Blackhawk, CCI, etc., after it split from ATK.

It may sound ominous, but the growth of a “species” so driven to increase efficiency and improve design in an effort to gain market share means lower prices for shooters and better products. That doesn’t signal the end of small, one-man businesses, either. Quality is always in demand. Keep producing it long enough, enthusiasts take note and things begin to grow.  

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Heed expert advice when it comes to disaster prepping

Heed expert advice when it comes to disaster prepping

Photo courtesy of FEMA

Whether it’s Mother Nature’s wrath or a manmade catastrophe, disasters are always unscheduled, usually unexpected and, by definition, life threatening. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example and highlights the reason you should heed expert advice when it comes to disaster prepping.

Mother Nature targets anyone she wants in a blink of an eye, and her ability to do so has been proudly on display this year. Hurricane season’s already warming up and tornadoes have claimed lives. Add terrorist plots, manmade catastrophes and opportunistic criminals who recognize when law enforcement coverage is thin, and it’s obvious relying on immediate help from authorities—even during the COVID-19 pandemic—can be a fatal error. FEMA admits on its Preparedness Myths Debunked web page, “It may also be several days before they can reach your area. As such, we must all embrace our personal responsibility to be prepared.”

Next Time Soon

Did you have the basics on hand before the COVID-19 pandemic struck? What happens if things escalate and the power goes out, cell phone coverage drops or water supply gets questionable?

Toilet paper is still scarce and there’s a meat shortage looming during this pandemic, so it’s too late to stock up right now. But this will not be the last “sporty” situation in 2020 and there are more coming.

Rather than pretending my dozen years of search & rescue experience makes me the ultimate authority—unlike some of the Internet’s armchair quarterbacks—the information provided in this blog comes from the folks who’ve responded to an understand urban emergencies. Their potentially lifesaving information is budget friendly, a refreshing reason to heed expert advice when it comes to disaster prepping.

I will, however, start with one free tip that I’ve seen come to the rescue of the dozens of outdoorsmen I’ve helped pluck off cliffs and return from the wilderness. No one disagrees on this point.

Power if the Mind

Your most powerful tool is a survival mindset and willingness to take responsibility in the situation. Bring that weapon to the “party” and the odds greatly increase you’ll not only survive but thrive in the chaos. It’s free, although likely tough to maintain right now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Polish that attitude to a fine finish, just in case there’s accuracy in the prediction that mankind’s “Darkest Winter” is approaching.

Do not surrender. You can and will survive. Put your mind to it and do so long before the next crisis knocks on the door.

Comms

Readers with families face an added problem in a disaster. Depending on when fate strikes, a spouse could be miles away at work or children at school.

You may have made it home, but if you’re unable to ascertain whether your child is safe, there’s going to be a serious temptation to brave the danger to locate him—possibly getting hurt or killed. Cell phones are the modern answer, but tornados topple cell towers, the power goes out, batteries die and circuits get so overloaded that nearly all attempts to call won’t go through. That’s precisely what happened on 9/11 and part of the reason phone service largely went black right after the Boston Marathon Bombing.

FEMA’s Ready.gov website has some handy tips, including, “Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.” It doesn’t have as wide of a data footprint as phone calls, which also frees space for others nearby to get through to 911. As an added advantage, it will continue trying to punch that message through until it finally gives you an error message. It’s so effective that before Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New York, officials issued a reminder to text during the storm. If that doesn’t work, try sending an e-mail from your phone.  

If possible, keep a cell phone charger in your vehicle, and carry a backup battery. Program a loved one’s number into the phone under the name ICE (In Case of Emergency), which lets first responders know that’s the person you prefer to have contacted. As for your landline, according to the Federal Communications System, “If you have traditional telephone service, it may work during electric power outages—but you may need to use a ‘corded’ phone.”

In addition, Ready.gov recommends you, “Identify a contact such as a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.”

Three Steps to Success

FEMA recommends a three-step program in your preparedness: Get informed, make a plan, and build a kit. Ready.gov provides free publications on its website, with some designed expressly for children.

Among the items it recommends you include in a basic kit are a battery-powered radio (avoid watching live videos as events unfold on your phone or you’re taking up emergency-call bandwidth), manual can opener, flashlights and three gallons of water per person. Of course non-perishable food items to last through the crisis are a critical ingredient.  

Fill up your vehicle’s gas tank long before a hurricane makes landfall and don’t forget about your pets. They need to eat and drink too, and all that begging just adds to the stress.

It’s not rocket science and the basics don’t require a huge investment. It does, however, mean you’ll maintain items like batteries in flashlights, check regularly and rotate food in the pantry while keeping some extra, just in case.

If you’re itching to finally get out of the house after shelter-in-place orders are listed, do so with caution. Criminals know there’s an overwhelming urge to escape the house—if only for a day trip. Law enforcement has some timely tips to avoid becoming a different kind of victim once COVID-19 eases.

The fine folks at FEMA didn’t foresee the need for masks and stockpiles of toilet paper. However, the wisdom they share is sound, free and for our safety, we should always heed expert advice when it comes to disaster prepping.

Here are more tips from NOAA and my review of a Midland radio to help you stay informed when the lights go out.