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.
Emergency Survival Kit & Checklist for Home
1 min read
Below find our recommendations for a complete, long-term home emergency kit. After the list you’ll find a link for printing out a more compact, checklist version.
A note about FEMA
Why didn’t we just use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s list? You can read more about that here.
Water
Bottled water — one gallon per person per day
Backpacker’s water filter
Chlorine dioxide water treatment tablets
Aluminum foil
Plastic storage containers
Five gallon bucket with strong handle and tight-fitting lid for drinking water storage
Food
Canned or other non-perishable food — meals ready to eat or easily heated
Manual can opener
Disposable eating utensils
Camper’s mess kits
Personal Care
First-aid kit — including prescription medicines, antibiotic ointments and bandages
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Dust mask — several for every family member
Handwipes, toilet paper, and other hygienic supplies
Chamberpot
Infant formula and diapers for small children
Glasses or contact lenses with cleaning solution
Medicine dropper
Transportation
Bicycles
Bike tire repair kit
Hard hats
Clothing
Extra clothing — one set per person
Outerwear appropriate for the season
Walking shoes
Bedding
Pillows and blankets or sleeping bags
Tent — with enough floor space for the entire family. Seams should be sealed ahead of time.
Tools
Pocket knife — One for every family member old enough to handle one
Flashlights — one per person. Look for waterproof, LED, hand-rechargeable lights
Crescent wrench and pipe wrench — for shutting off utility valves
Fire extinguisher
Tarps or heavy plastic sheeting
A roll of heavy-duty trash bags
Backpacking stove with fuel
Duct tape
Electrician’s tape and stretch-activated plumber’s epoxy tape (optional)
Compass
Longnosed electrician’s pliers
Waterproof matches
Lighter
Candles
Lightsticks
Spark-generating permanent match (optional)
Signal flare
Emergency flashers or metal signal mirrors
Whistles
Carpenter’s hammer
Full-sized demolition crowbar
Japanese-style pruning saw
Fireman’s axe
Urban survival knife
Electronics
Battery- or crank-powered radio, TV or NOAA weather radio
Cell phone or CB radio with crank generator for charging. An old cell phone without a current service contract will still have the ability to make emergency 9-1-1 calls.
Extra batteries for all items
Other Items
Cash — enough for gas, food and hotels for several days
Games, books and/or toys for everyone
A leash or carrying container for the family pet
Local map
Needles and thread
Lots of paper and pens/pencils
Unscented chlorine bleach
Documents — insurance policies, important phone numbers, banking information, and proof of occupancy including a utility bill, lease or mortgage. Store in waterproof container.
Any emergency kit list is going to be long and a bit overwhelming. But assembling any kind of kit, even a minimal one, can be essential for your family’s survival in case of a disaster. Start small, gathering a short list of critical supplies in an easy-to-access area of the house. Then add to your kit over time. Once you’ve gotten started, you’ll find that a putting together a complete kit is within reach and will help you sleep better at night.
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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