JT Hats
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.

A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.

Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.

His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.

Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.

Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.



Earthquake Survival Guide | Kits, Tips and a Checklist

1 min read


Photo by dvidshub

California comes to mind first when we think of earthquakes, but Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, New York and much of the Midwest also run the risk of major quakes. The last time the New Madrid Fault running from Missouri to Illinois popped, the Mississippi River found a new channel and temporarily ran backwards. In California people often prepare for earthquakes; in the Midwest, people generally do not.

Surviving at Home

Much earthquake damage could be prevented by securing heavy items to strong parts of the building. Bookcases, water heaters, and other heavy fixtures should be bolted or strapped to the building frame.

Once the quake hits, the current official advice is to find shelter where you are. Locate a safe spot in every room and practice getting into it. Crawl under the nearest sturdy piece of furniture or into the nearest doorway and hang on.

When the ground stops shaking, if you’ve prepared an earthquake survival kit you’re ready for the aftermath. After an earthquake, you need tools. Earthquakes break gas lines, electrical wiring, water pipes and sewer mains. All utilities should be shut down immediately, so you’ll need wrenches to fit all the valves. The home survival kit should contain everything you need.

Surviving at Work

If the earthquake hits while you’re at work, reuniting with your family tops your to-do list for the day. A workplace emergency kit focuses on the essentials you’ll need for that.

Include cash, since credit cards won’t be of use if the power goes out. A hard hat and walking shoes gives basic protection for a foot journey, and a day pack or fanny pack with essentials like rain jacket, food packets, a lighter or matches, water purification tablets and a bottle of water equips you for a reasonably long trip.

Everyone should carry a serviceable pocket knife, but since most workplaces don’t allow that today the other option is to keep one in the car. Store the kit on a shelf in your locker or in a desk drawer, untouched until you really need it.

Cell networks might be overwhelmed with calls temporarily, but later on could put you in touch with faraway family members or emergency services. Re-charging cell phones would be a problem if you depend on grid power. Keeping a charger in your car for recharging the cell from the car battery works only as long as you stay with the car, but if you wind up on foot you’ll need another way. Solar chargers only work when the sun is out and you need many hours of good sunlight to rebuild a charge. Crank generators are compact, lightweight, and just a few minutes of cranking powers up the cell for a short phone call, even in the dark. Consider a combination device like the Ambient Weather WR-088, a blend of AM-FM and NOAA radio, flashlight and crank cell phone charger and small enough to keep at the desk or workplace locker.

Next Steps

External Resources

 

  • FEMA on Tsunami Preparation
JT Hats
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.

A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.

Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.

His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.

Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.

Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.



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