An early weekend of ice fishing on Minnesota’s famed Upper Red Lake came to a scary halt on Monday, Nov. 28 when a large chunk of ice broke off and stranded an estimated 200 ice fishermen and women. The anglers have since been rescued, thanks to emergency responders, nearby resorts, and one small ice bridge.

According to a press release, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Department started receiving calls at approximately 11:34 a.m. from distressed anglers who realized the ice chunk was drifting away from shore on the southeastern part of the lake. By the time emergency responders arrived to the scene, an estimated 30 yards of water stood between the ice chunk and dry land on one side.

Rescue teams used drones to assess the situation. Beltrami County Emergency Management also used an emergency alert system that sent a message to every cell phone on the ice chunk, warning unknowing anglers of the situation and giving latitude and longitude coordinates for the evacuation point. Nearby ice fishing resort JR’s Corner Access provided an ice bridge long enough to span the narrowest part of the crack and every angler evacuated the ice chunk by 2:37 p.m. According to Kelliher Fire and Rescue chief Rick Thayer, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers airboated about a dozen anglers on the easternmost part of the sheet to safety, but every other angler used the bridge.

“Any time during early ice season, changes in weather conditions can change fishing conditions very quickly, and it’s happened quite frequently the last few years with that body of water,” Thayer tells Outdoor Life. “Typically when the wind switches to the south like it did yesterday, it tends to push the ice away from itself because there are still open spots of water out in the middle of the lake.”

JR’s Corner Access tries to stay on top of conditions and prepare for situations just like this one.

“Part of our job is monitoring and looking at cracks and watching the [ice] and making sure we have bridges ready when needed,” Adam Studniski of JR’s Corner Access told BBC.

In the aftermath of the rescue, there’s been plenty of online criticism.

“Send a bill to the resort that let them on the lake and to each individual person on the ice. Maybe….just maybe they will actually think in the future,” one Facebook comment reads. “They put a lot of people in danger today and cost a lot of money to rescue them.”

Thayer commends the resorts for staying on top of ice conditions to the best of their abilities.

“The resorts do a very decent job of keeping up to date with what ice conditions are, but any time you step onto a frozen body of water, those conditions can change. Where it looks like there’s two inches of ice there could be eight inches of ice, and then 100 more yards you’re on a spot that’s just skimmed over but it looks like good ice.”

JR’s Corner Access will remain closed through the end of Tuesday, Nov. 29. In the meantime, the rescued anglers remain thankful for their safety. It will be an especially memorable day for Andy LaBarge and Lydia Thole, a couple who got engaged while out on the ice, according to Northern News Now.

“Andy had tied my ring on a lure and put it on my bobber line and I came back in and he’s like ‘Oh you got a fish,'” Thole recounted. “So I reel it up and he’s on a knee, and I said ‘Oh my god!'”

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public to stay safe and alert to ice conditions.

“[We remind] those who are thinking of heading on the ice that early season ice is very unpredictable,” the press release says. “Extreme caution should be used when heading on the ice and to check the thickness frequently to ensure an adequate amount of ice.”

In addition to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office and Kelliher Fire and Rescue, other responding groups included Red Lake Nation Fire, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota State Patrol, Blackduck Ambulance, and the Lake of the Woods Sheriff’s Office.

The post 200 Minnesota Ice Fishermen Rescued from Half-Frozen Lake appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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The U.S. Coast Guard’s 8th District Heartland unit hauled three stranded fishermen out of the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, Oct. 9 after a family member alerted USCG New Orleans watchstanders that the group hadn’t returned home the night prior. The men had been floating in the ocean for 28 hours after their 24-foot boat sank on Saturday, Oct. 8 around 10 a.m. When a USCG response boat arrived to the scene, crewmembers “witnessed two of the boaters fending off sharks,” a press release from USCG 8th District Heartland says.

The two boaters fighting the sharks suffered severe lacerations to their hands and one of the three boaters was also showing signs of hypothermia, although it is unclear if the boater with hypothermia was one of the men battling sharks. The two boaters were pulled from their precarious situation before it was too late. All three three boaters were flown to University Medical Center in New Orleans and are now reportedly in stable condition.

An aircrew first located the stranded men after searching a chunk of the Gulf “roughly the size of Rhode Island,” Lieutenant Commander Kevin Keefe, a Sector New Orleans Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, says.

“If the family member had not notified the Coast Guard, and if these three boaters were not wearing life jackets, this could’ve been a completely different outcome,” Keefe says. “We appreciate the assistance of the boating public, who were instrumental in helping identify possible areas where these boaters could have been operating before the vessel became in distress.”

The men were found about 25 miles off the coast of Empire, Louisiana, an unincorporated community in the southeastern part of the state where the Mississippi River channels toward the Gulf. One of the three had floated almost a half-mile away from the other two, who were clinging to a cooler, NBC TODAY reports.

“They just happened to be floating around and…his cell phone got cell phone service,” Keefe told TODAY. The boater sent a screenshot of his location on Google Maps. Using rough geographic features, the rescue team was able to hone in on their exact location.

“It’s difficult for us to describe how lucky they were that all these things happened in their favor,” Keefe says.

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Hurricane Ian slammed into the Florida coast on Wednesday, generating catastrophic storm surges that flooded the southwestern part of the state. The Category 4 storm made landfall near Fort Myers, where record-high surges up to 12 feet swept away vehicles, inundated homes, and carried sharks onto city streets. Yes. Sharks.

There has been plenty of dramatic footage released from the submerged Sunshine State over the last 24 hours, including boats parked in backyards and eerie images of a de-watered Tampa Bay. But this video showing a shark swimming up the streets of Fort Myers might be the most surreal.

@Gutfeldfox somehow a shark ended up in a Fort Myers neighborhood during Hurricane Ian.. 😬 pic.twitter.com/l3WbzgNQHj

— Brad Habuda (@BradHabuda) September 28, 2022

Twitter user Brad Habuda uploaded the footage around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and it’s racked up more than 11 million views since then. The 10-second-long clip shows two raging rivers where a neighborhood intersection would normally be. A shark is swimming in the middle of the smaller stream with its dorsal fin and tail exposed, and after thrashing its way up the roadway for a few seconds, it appears to turn around and head back toward the main underwater boulevard.

Wildlife displacement is typical during major hurricanes, especially in the low-lying regions of southwest Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warned Floridians before Ian made landfall that there was potential for alligators, manatees, snakes, and other animals to move inland during the storm. The agency did not mention sharks in their warning, however, which is a testament to just how powerful this hurricane was.

Although Ian was downgraded to a Category 1 tropical storm on Thursday morning, it was approaching Category 5 status as it neared the Florida Coast on Wednesday. Aside from the record levels of flooding it caused, the hurricane generated 150-mph winds that wreaked havoc on local communities and cut power to roughly 2.5 million people. Thousands of residents became trapped in their homes, and some were unable to evacuate in time as causeways were destroyed and bridges were blocked off.

One of the storm’s first fatalities was a man who drowned in Deltona, according to NBC News. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told reporters this morning that the total number of fatalities is already in the hundreds, but he explained that they still haven’t been able to assess the full extent of the damage.

Read Next: Watch: Fisherman Rescued by Coast Guard Helicopter Crew Amid a Tropical Storm

“While I don’t have confirmed numbers,” Marceno said, “I definitely know fatalities are in the hundreds. There are thousands of people that are waiting to be rescued.”

Officials have already confirmed that Hurricane Ian is one of the five strongest hurricanes to ever hit the Florida coast, according to Tampa Bay 10 News. President Biden approved a disaster declaration for Florida on Thursday morning, which will direct federal resources to support response and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the storm.

The post Watch: As Hurricane Ian Batters Florida, Sharks Are Swimming in the Streets of Fort Myers appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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So you’re ready to invest in a solar charger. The first thing to know is that a solar charger is really two products: a solar panel and a power bank. The former turns the power of the sun into electricity, while the latter stores that electricity for you to use at a later time (such as the evening or nighttime). To help you choose the best solar charger setup for your needs, I tested a sample of models from some of the top names in solar power. 

• Best for Overlanding: Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro
• Best Value: Anker 625 Solar Panel and the Anker 555 PowerHouse
• Best for Backpackers: Goal Zero Nomad 10 and Venture 35
• Best for Smartphones: BioLite SolarPanel 5+
• Best Handheld: 4PATRIOTS Portable Solar Power Bank

Best for Overlanding: Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro

Jackery

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Why It Made the Cut 

This impressive setup powered a 1002Wh battery in two hours—that’s enough juice to charge your laptop over twelve times.

Key Features

• Max power output: 1000W (120V) from the AC port
• Weight: 57.4 pounds (25.4 pounds for the Explorer 1000 Pro and 8 pounds each for the four SolarSaga 200)
• Ports: Three AC, two USB-C, two USB-A, car port
• Also available as a package with the Solar Generator 1000 Pro and two SolarSaga 80 units
• Warranty: Five years

Pros

• Exceptionally fast charging time
• Intuitive setup
• Enough power for most home electronics

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy (though not especially bulky)
• Lots of cords

Product Description

There is a lot to unpack with the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro. First is the battery itself, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro, and its AC and car charging cables, along with two cable adapters (these were not needed during my testing of this unit). This is over 25 pounds, making it transportable, but not something that you’d want to lug more than a hundred feet or so at a time. Next is the four SolarSaga panels (8 pounds each), each with its own carrying case and a cable that connects back to the two DC ports on the Explorer 1000 Pro. If you’re seeing a math problem here, that’s correct: You’ll also need two of the Jackery Solar Panel Connectors, which, strangely, are not included in the purchase price. Two of these can be used to double the number of panels you can connect to the Explorer 1000 Pro. 

Setting up and taking down this many panels takes some time, but I was impressed by how easy and intuitive it was. That’s because Jackery streamlined the number of ports on each unit, making it that much clearer what cable connects to what unit in what port. 

During testing (direct sunlight on a lightly hazy day), the Explorer 1000 Pro went from 1 percent battery up to 100 percent in about two hours, registering an input of just over 650W until it got to the end of charging, where it dropped to about half that. 

The Explorer 1000 Pro has a max outpeak of 1000W (peaking at 2000W), which is enough juice to power many modern refrigerators. But given that its battery life is only 1002Wh, it can’t provide that kind of power output for long unless it’s also being supplied with fresh juice from the solar panel setup at the same time. For some, this won’t be an issue, as they’ll simply be using the battery to channel power to their other devices during the day while it’s charging, and then using the battery at night to power more low-key items like the best camping fans or maybe one high-energy device like a portable fridge. 

While there might at first glance appear to be a disconnect between the charging time capabilities of this setup and its battery life, it’s worth keeping in mind that conditions are not always optimal. One of the things that has impressed me most about these units is the panels ability to generate electricity in lowlight conditions. Even in complete shade—dusk fast approaching—the Explorer 1000 pro would show a 6W input from just one panel. For overlanders with high energy needs or camper vans that want to power some of their setup from a more sustainable generator, this is an excellent choice that won’t take up an excessive amount of space in your rig. 

Best Value: Anker 625 Solar Panel and the Anker 555 PowerHouse

Anker

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Why It Made the Cut

Thoughtful features on this powerful duo, including an integrated sundial and the ability to charge from USB-C, make this a great value for anyone that isn’t relying on solar alone for their power needs.

Key Features 

• Max power output: 1000W (110V) from the AC port
• Weight: 40.8 pounds (29.8 pounds for the 555 PowerHouse and 11 pounds for the 625 Solar Panel) 
• Ports: Six AC, three USB-C, two USB-A, car charger
• Units sold separately
• Warranty: Five years

Pros

• Impressive solar power output for its size and cost
• Able to charge the power station via a USB-C cable
• Largest power station in my test

Cons

• Panel is less stable than others I tested
• Power station has a max input of 200W
• 110V max output is just below the needs of many major electronics

Product Description

I was already a fan of the Anker 625 Solar Panel from my test of the best solar panels for camping, so it made sense to pair it with one of Anker’s power stations. The Anker 555 PowerHouse may be the younger sibling of the 757 PowerHouse (a 1224Wh beast), but, at 1024Wh, it was still the largest power station I looked at. While, at first glance, this is a similar unit to the slightly smaller Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro, there are some important differences that are worth noting. 

First off, it has a power-saving mode so that the unit stops sending power to your devices once they are fully charged (useful, if you are powering something overnight). Next, there were three USB-C ports (compared to the two on the Jackery unit). As USB-C continues to become the norm in charging cables, there will be a greater demand for these ports compared to the USB-A and even AC ports (especially if you are primarily using your power bank to power electronics). I also appreciated that there was an option to charge the Anker 555 PowerHouse directly from one of the USB-C ports (especially given that I’ve already misplaced the DC wall charging cable the unit came with). Between phones and laptops, these cables are fairly interchangeable at this point, making it easier to recharge your unit on the fly. It could also be charged (via a wall unit or solar panel) using a DC7909 cable—the most common power input cable I’ve seen while reviewing these products. 

Strangely, the Anker 625 Solar Panel does not charge via a DC7909 cable, but rather the less common XT port (which is directly compatible with their 757 unit). Anker provides an adapter so that it works with the 555 PowerHouse, but the more small pieces like that you have floating around, the more likely it is that something will go missing over time. As mentioned in my earlier review, this panel is one of the easiest to optimize the positioning of, using the integrated sundial and three kickstand legs—in fact, during testing, I set this panel up first (where it achieved 89W—not bad for a 100W panel on a hazy day) and then positioned the rest to match its angle and direction. I still would have been able to achieve the impressive power output seen with the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro without this assist, but it would have taken more fiddling, moving the panel into position, checking the input on the power station, and then adjusting: rinse, wash, repeat. 

While ultimately this pairing isn’t strong enough for individuals who expect to deplete a 1024W power station on a daily basis, it does provide plenty of oomph for those looking to extend the life of their power station without investing thousands of dollars into a larger setup. 

Best for Backpackers: Goal Zero Nomad 10 and Venture 35

Goal Zero

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Why It Made the Cut

This lightweight yet powerful Goal Zero combo could easily keep two backpackers’ phones charged while in the backcountry. 

Key Features 

• Max power output: 18W from the USB-C port
• Weight: 1.7 pounds (0.6 pounds for the Venture 35 and 1.1 pounds for the Nomad 10) 
• Ports: One USB-C, two USB-A
• Units sold separately
• Warranty: Two years

Pros

• Lightweight
• Low profile
• Affordable
• Choose from different size solar panels and chargers depending on your power needs

Cons

• Needs the better part of a day to fully charge via sun
• Solar panel only supports USB-A

Product Description

While price and power are the two biggest considerations for overlanding, car camping, and prepping, when you’re carrying everything you’ll need on your back, another consideration comes to the fore: weight. While there are several all-in-one options available that prioritize either the solar part of solar chargers or the charger (power bank) part, the best way to maximize your available power in the backcountry is to purchase the solar panel and power bank separately.

Goal Zero products are great for backpackers and backpack hunters because they offer a wide range of power capabilities, everything from a single 5W Nomad 5 solar panel (12.7 ounces) and lipstick-tube-sized 12Wh Flip 12 charger (2.5 ounces) up to the 20W Nomad 20 (2.3 pounds) and 71Wh Venture 75 (20.4 ounces). But my favorite combo is the 10W Nomad 10, paired with the 35Wh Venture 35. 

With this setup, you can top off your power bank while sipping coffee in the morning or setting up camp in the evening—no need to have a solar panel hanging off the back of your pack all day—and still have plenty of power for the next day. 

Best All-in-One: BioLite SolarPanel 5+

BioLite

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Why It Made the Cut

This low-profile solar panel features a built-in battery large enough to recharge your smartphone after the sun sets. 

Key Features

• Max power output: 5W
• Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Ports: USB-A
• Also available in SolarPanel 10+
• Warranty: One year

Pros

• 8Wh battery is integrated into the panel
• Affordable
• Small and lightweight
• Integrated sundial and adjustable kickstand

Cons

• Slow charging time 
• Performs poorly in even slightly cloudy weather

Product Description

Of the units I looked at with an integrated battery pack and solar panel, I was most impressed by the BioLite Solar Panel 5+. While not as powerful as comparatively priced battery packs, some individuals (especially those who live in reliably sunny climes) will appreciate the flexibility and on the-go-charging capabilities.

While the max output of the BioLite Solar Panel 5+ is only 5 watts, it’s enough to get your smartphone going again. I also liked that it featured an adjustable kickstand and an integrated sundial, which I used to optimize the positioning of the panel during testing. Though it took the BioLite Solar 5+ 22 minutes to charge my phone 5 percent, it was fairly cloudy when I originally tested this model. The BioLite’s onboard 3,200 mAh battery can also be charged via a micro USB port, and was found after several months of testing to still hold a full charge. 

Best Handheld: 4PATRIOTS Portable Solar Power Bank

4PATRIOTS

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Why It Made the Cut

While none of the handheld units I tested lived up to the “solar” part of “solar charger,” they did at least function as reasonable power banks. 

Key Features

• Max power output: 5W
• Weight: 10 ounces
• Ports: USB-A, micro USB
• Warranty: One year

Pros

• The least expensive unit I looked at performed about as well as the others in my test
• Low profile that would work well in a glove box

Cons

• Solar panel provides negligible power

Product Description

While the power output to price ratio of solar panels has plummeted in recent years, an effective setup is still an investment. Even if all you’re looking to do is charge your phone with solar, $100 or more is not an uncommon price tag. So it’s no wonder that power banks with solar panels slapped on the back, which are often a quarter of that price tag, have become so popular. To find out how effective they are, I called in four of the most popular models from 4PATRIOTS, Solvolt, Blavor, and Hiluckey. 

The good news is that all four of these are effective power banks. So if you’ve charged one in your wall outlet and tossed it into your glove box, it should still have plenty of juice. The bad news is that the solar panels on these units seem to be largely decorative—even after leaving these in the sun for multiple days, I was not able to achieve anywhere near a full charge (most were still working on the first bar of charging). There are a few reasons this could be the case. The first is that the battery pack itself could be overheating in the sun. It’s easy enough to keep the BioLite Solar Panel 5+ and the Goal Zero combo batteries in the shade of the panel; however, the handheld units are getting a full blast of sunlight. Another reason could be that the solar panels are just too small and/or not high quality enough to do what the unit is designed to do. So if you’re wondering, “Do solar phone chargers really work?”—the answer appears to be not really. Consider one of the best power banks for camping instead.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Solar Charger

Intended Purpose

Your power needs are going to be dramatically different if you’re looking for a backup power supply for your phone versus keeping the heat on during a days-long blackout. Before you purchase something, first compare the voltage/ampere requirements of your device (typically found in small print on the back) to what the power bank can offer. (Using an online calculator can help fill the gaps if some of this information is missing.) Power banks that produce less voltage/amps than you need will either malfunction or simply not work at all for that purpose. 

Power Bank Capacity

The power banks I looked at as part of this review varied in size from 8Wh (which will power your smartphone once) all the way up to 1024Wh (which could power your phone over 25 times). There were also considerable differences in their voltage capabilities, from 5V (slow charge times for your phone, but doable) all the way up to 120V (which is sufficient for many heavy duty electronics like modern refrigerators). 

Maximum Solar Panel Output

There is a huge difference in the quality and power (and size) of solar panels at different price points. The smallest solar panels I looked at—the “solar chargers” for sale on Amazon only—produced so little power (if any at all) to be virtually unusable, while some of the larger and more powerful setups could charge up the largest power bank in a couple of hours. If you have a specific purpose in mind, consider what your needs and budget are before committing to a purchase.

FAQs

Methodology

I considered a number of criteria in evaluating the best solar chargers, including: 

Battery Life: I evaluated the power banks over the course of several months, charging and recharging the units multiples times, checking to see if power was lost when not in use, and whether the stated power bank size matched the capabilities of the unit.

Solar Output: After testing, it’s clear that some so-called solar chargers are really power banks with decorative solar panels on the back. Others are capable of delivering such an impressive amount of electricity that they could be used both for power generation while traveling and in the event of a blackout.

Price: Since there is an unusually wide range of price points for solar chargers, I took into consideration what provides the best value for individuals looking to engage in different activities. 

Portability: All units were carried for a minimum of fifty yards, and set up by a single person, to assess how easy they were to handle. 

Functionality: I looked at how easy (or difficult) a unit was to set up initially, and then how well they worked to power my devices over a period of several months.  

Final Thoughts

The best solar charger for your needs depends on a number of factors, including your budget, your power needs, and the available sunlight in the region. After using several models over the course of several months, I provided the above recommendations based on ease of use, intended function, and power bank size.  

The post The Best Solar Chargers of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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An injured fisherman was rescued by a helicopter crew with the U.S. Coast Guard 7^th District on Sunday, Sept. 4. The 50-year-old man had gotten stranded on a rock pile off Dog Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and he was caught in heavy seas as Tropical Storm Earl battered the rocks with high winds and large waves. The USCG recorded multiple videos of the rescue and shared the footage on social media.

#Impressive Watch this video of an MH-60T Jayhawk aircrew rescuing a spear fisherman in distress near Dog Island #USVirginIslands captured by the responding ⁦@USCG⁩ rescue boat crew! #BravoZulu

⁦@govhouseusvi⁩ ⁦@USVInews⁩

Read more: https://t.co/J5ITSW33v1 pic.twitter.com/eMzV1klBPV

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 5, 2022

According to the Coast Guard’s report of the incident, the man was fishing with a friend aboard his 26-foot boat on Sunday morning. Sometime before 8 a.m., the man got out of the boat to spearfish around the rocks off Dog Island. Around that same time, Tropical Storm Earl was gaining strength in the Caribbean and moving west-by-northwest toward the island. The tropical storm brought high winds up to 65 miles per hour and six-foot waves, which quickly overcame and injured the man on the rock pile.

Watching from the boat nearby, his friend called 911 and spoke with emergency responders in St. Thomas, who relayed the distress call to the USCG. The Coast Guard sent out a 33-foot boat from St. Thomas along with an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen in nearby Puerto Rico.

At first, the boat’s rescue crew tried to get a line to the injured fisherman, but the large waves crashing on the rocks prevented the vessel from getting close enough to reach him. The USCG helicopter moved in and sent down a rescue swimmer, who used a harness to hoist the survivor up from the rocks. The helicopter crew then transported the injured fisherman to St. Thomas, and he was eventually transferred to the Schneider Regional Medical Center for treatment.

“This was a challenging case in a tropical storm with heavy seas, gusty winds, and low visibility, but this is what the Coast Guard trains for,” said USCG aircraft commander Lt. Shea Smith. “Fortunately, the survivor was able to hang on until we could arrive and we are all glad that he is safe.”

Read Next: Coast Guard Rescues Shark-Bit Fisherman in the Bahamas, Credits Tourniquet for Helping Save His Life

Earl was upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Tuesday night, according to the New York Times, making it the second hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic season. Hurricane Earl was moving north toward Bermuda and traveling at approximately six miles per hour as of Wednesday morning. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center expect it to strengthen into a major hurricane by Thursday.

The post Watch: Fisherman Rescued by Coast Guard Helicopter Crew Amid a Tropical Storm appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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A series of severe storm systems moving through the mid-Atlantic created a few terrifying weather events in Maryland this past week. In two videos captured by residents, a large waterspout-turned-tornado hit Smith Island, a community of roughly 260 people—many of them fishermen and boaters—tearing apart several houses and injuring one person. 

The waterspout came onshore on Smith Island in Somerset County, Maryland, and caused significant damage, according to a tweet from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. The storms also caused power outages for nearly 50,000 people across the state.

In the first video posted by Daniel Somers, the waterspout forms in the Chesapeake Bay, whirling around just off the coast of Smith Island. As the spout moves toward land, the video shows the whirling mass moving onshore and tearing through a house a few miles away.

In a second, more frightening video, Katherine Taylor-Donaway documented the waterspout forming out in the channel and recorded it as it approaches her house. As the video continues, the spout turns and makes a direct line toward the recorder, as onlookers scatter for safety. 

“Look how big that is,” says Taylor-Donaway. “That is a huge waterspout.”

The spout slowly moves across the channel, traveling across several islands in the process. As it moves toward the recorder, the video shows the immense size of the funnel as scattered lightning strikes in the distance.

“It’s just come across the island,” says Taylor-Donaway. “It’s getting ready to hit the channel.” 

The waterspout continues getting louder and louder in the video. When the massive swirling mass of water finally comes on land, the onlookers realize that it isn’t stopping and seek cover. Before the video cuts out, the video shows the spout tearing through the house next door.  Taylor-Donaway confirmed in the comments of her video that everyone in her party was okay.

The only injury was an 88-year-old woman in one of the houses hit by the waterspout turned tornado when it reached land. The woman suffered minor injuries, and emergency services safely transferred her to a local hospital, according to The Washington Post.  

Weather officials will investigate the waterspout over the coming days, hoping to determine the cause of the destructive phenomenon.

On Thursday, severe storms also barreled through Washington D.C. During the storms, intense lightning struck outside the White House, killing three and injuring another. On Friday, the same storm systems continued to move through the region, with severe thunderstorms and flash flood warnings issued in Baltimore and other parts of Maryland.

How to Survive a Waterspout

There are two types of waterspouts, according to the NOAA: tornadic and fair-weather waterspouts. The spout that hit Smith Island resembles a tornadic waterspout, a rare event in the region. (Tornadic waterspouts are more common in places such as the Gulf of Mexico.)

Fair weather waterspouts are “usually a less dangerous phenomena” and common over South Florida’s coastal waters in warmer months. These types of waterspouts will frequently form in calmer conditions and light wind conditions, often at the base of large cumulous clouds. As a result, they don’t move much.

NOAA warns that some waterspouts can be just as dangerous as tornadoes, and the National Weather Service typically issues a tornado warning they move ashore. The best way to avoid a waterspout, advises NOAA, is to move “at a 90-degree angle to its apparent movement.”

To minimize the chance of getting close to a waterspout, NOAA recommends listening for marine warnings broadcast by NOAA Weather Radio and to keep an eye on cumulous clouds in the summer while on the water. Thunderstorms over the ocean can create tornadic waterspouts year-round. Finally, never try to navigate through a waterspout. Although spouts are typically weaker than tornados, they can still cause serious injury and damage to boats.

The post Videos Show Waterspout Making Landfall, Destroying Buildings on a Maryland Island appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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The U.S. Coast Guard rescued seven people via helicopter on Saturday after their boat was struck by lightning. The five women and two men onboard were participating in a fishing tournament, and they were approximately 100 miles offshore of Clearwater, Florida, when the lightning strike disabled their 39-foot vessel.

One of the passengers captured a video on their cellphone that shows the exact moment the lightning hit. The video footage, which was released by the USCG on its Facebook page, also shows several of the individuals being hoisted up to the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter in a rescue basket.

After the strike disabled the boat and left the group stranded in open water, they activated their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. The USCG District Seven Command Center received the EPIRB alert and dispatched a helicopter immediately. The seven individuals were promptly rescued and brought to the air station, where they were cleared of any medical issues and reunited with family.

The Coast Guard credited the individuals for being prepared for the situation with all the appropriate emergency gear.

“Fortunately, the boaters in this case were well prepared with all the necessary equipment including an EPIRB, flares, and a marine VHF radio to ensure a quick and efficient rescue,” said Coast Guard pilot Lt. David McKinley. McKinley added that lightning storms are “routinely encountered” off the coast of Florida and pose a significant hazard to boaters.

The Risk of Lightning Strikes in Florida Waters

Of all the weather-related risks that outdoorsmen and women face on a regular basis, lightning might seem like one of the least concerning. After all, the odds of a person being struck by lightning in a given year are less than one in a million, according to the Center for Disease Control.

That statistic only relates to people on land, however, and the chances of a boat being struck by lightning increase tenfold—from one in a million to one in 1,000—according to claims filed by BoatUS Marine Insurance.

If you’re a boater in Florida waters, the risk of getting struck by lightning goes up even more, to roughly three in 1,000, according to BoatUS. The Sunshine State is actually the lightning capital of the United States, and it leads the nation in terms of lightning-caused fatalities—with an average of seven per year. (A comparatively low number of deaths were recorded in 2021, with only four people in the state dying from direct lightning strikes.)

Read Next: Watch: California Fishermen Save Two Teenagers from Drowning in Monterey Bay

Interestingly, the other Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi fall right behind Florida in terms of lightning strikes per square mile. This means that anyone operating a boat in the Gulf of Mexico should be prepared to encounter an electrical storm while out on the water.

How to Stay Safe on the Water During a Lightning Storm

There are a number of precautions that boaters can take to avoid lightning in the first place, such as religiously checking weather reports and learning how to read the weather themselves. But since electrical storms can be unpredictable, you should still know what to do if you get caught in one.

Trying to outrun the storm is never a good idea, so if you’re in a protected area and you can drop anchor quickly before the storm hits, go for it. If you must stay at the helm for any reason, wearing rubber gloves is a good way to insulate yourself from the metal steering wheel. (Some boaters even opt to steer with a wooden spoon or some other non-conductive object.)

Stowing fishing rods, lowering outriggers, and staying away from other tall objects (like masts and antennas) are obvious priorities. Getting to the lowest point in the boat comes next, and if the boat is big enough to have an enclosed cabin, that is going to be the safest place to wait out a storm. Removing all jewelry and staying away from metallic objects is critical, and it’s never a bad idea to throw on a life jacket while you hunker down.

If lightning does make a direct hit, it will likely fry your electronics, which could render your boat inoperable. Even a near strike can disable your onboard navigation and communication systems. If you have handheld electronics, however—such as a handheld VHF radio or GPS unit—you can protect these by placing them in a microwave or tin box, or even by wrapping them in tin foil. Using these makeshift Faraday cages means that even if you find yourself dead in the water after a strike, you still might be able to call for help.

There are plenty of other tips for staying safe while boating in a lightning storm, and Boating magazine has published a list of 29 strategies for this exact scenario. The keys, however, are to familiarize yourself with your surroundings, know your vessel and its capabilities, and always carry the appropriate emergency gear onboard.

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The deadly tornadoes that struck the Mid-South late Friday night killed dozens of people and affected thousands more, with at least 64 deaths confirmed in Western Kentucky and more than 100 people still missing. While there were fewer fatalities in Tennessee, a tornado that hit Reelfoot Lake killed two out-of-state duck hunters who were staying at a lodge on the lake. A third duck hunter, Jamie Antonio Hall, is still missing.

Hall had traveled with seven others from his home in Florida to Tiptonville, Tennessee, to stay at the Cedar Point Resort on the south shore of Reelfoot Lake. Hall, his brother Steve Gunn, and Gunn’s son all went to bed a few hours before the storms reached Lake County, according to the Jackson Sun. The five other members of their group gathered in the resort’s clubhouse to watch the storm. That night, a tornado tore through the area, flattening buildings and knocking over trees along Reelfoot Lake. 

“We’re from Florida, so we’re used to staying put during a hurricane,” Hall’s daughter, Ashleigh Hall, told the Sun. “But tornadoes are different, and they didn’t expect a tornado to hit the hotel as directly as it did.”

On Saturday morning, the bodies of Gunn and his 12-year-old son were recovered from the wreckage at Cypress Point and later identified at the morgue by a member of their party. A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Gunn family, with $22,210 raised for Mrs. Blaine Gunn as of Monday. A Facebook post mentioned that Hall’s surviving family members evacuated to the Dyersburg storm shelter after their “hotel just washed right away in the storm and tornadoes.” 

Jamie Hall, however, is still missing. He’s in his 40s, and Ashleigh described her dad as “a heavy-set middle-aged Black man, and he was wearing his camouflage duck-hunting gear on Friday.” She also reposted several Facebook photos Monday afternoon, asking anyone in the Lake County or Samburg area to share this post or contact her if they see Jamie Hall.

“My dad is out there,” she wrote in a previous post, “and I will do any and everything to find him.”

The post Two Duck Hunters Died in a Tornado That Hit Reelfoot Lake, Family Still Missing Third Hunter appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Ask a hundred outdoor enthusiasts to write up a shopping list for a wilderness survival kit and you’ll get a hundred different lists. The same is true for preppers building disaster preparedness kits or picking which EDC gear to carry. We all like different products and worry about different scenarios (and there are specialized survival kits for a variety of perilous situations). Individually, we all have different skill sets and budgets. What we do have in common are the same needs. We all need shelter, water, and food every day. In an emergency, first aid, lighting, signaling, and navigation equipment are often a necessity as well.

The simplest “survival priorities” list (shelter, water, fire, and food) can help us build a kit for many situations (especially in the backcountry), but the more refined “10 essentials” list will give us the tools for all types of scenarios. The original list of the “10 essentials” was created by Seattle-based group called the Mountaineers in the 1930s. This simple list of supplies would help a mountain climber during an accident or emergency, and it provided a support system if someone had to spend an unexpected night in the outdoors (or stay out there even longer). In recent years, the group has revamped the list to focus on systems, rather than specific pieces of gear.

The original list had some indispensable items on it, like a compass, matches, knife, and food. Today’s system-based list, however, doesn’t limit you to 10 separate items. As I detail these different builds, I will look at some popular items for wilderness survival kits, disaster preparedness kits, budget kits, and kits for the little ones to carry. Whatever you pack, just make sure it contains the most critical elements for survival: hydration, emergency shelter, first aid, navigation, fire, and signaling.

1. Navigation

A simple compass and a map can make “getting turned around” into a minor inconvenience and prevent a major emergency.

Disaster Kit: A paper map can be a vital tool when you need to bug out, especially if your smartphone is down. With so many people trusting their pathfinding to a functional mobile device, few people carry a map in their vehicle anymore or think to include one in their disaster supplies. But there’s no better way to find alternate routes than to look at an old-fashioned (up to date) street map.

Wilderness Kit: Spring for a GPS unit if it’s within your budget. These remarkable gadgets can help you get back to the trailhead or parking lot, and find spots that are hard to locate.

Budget Kit: Treating yourself to an inexpensive baseplate compass and a local topographical map won’t break the bank, and they’ll give you the basic tools to avoid getting lost in the wild. Don’t be a cheapskate. Buy a map that’s waterproof. I’ve heard horror stories of people printing their own maps at home then watching them melt into mush after a few rain drops fall.

Kid’s Kit: A simple compass (and knowing ho to use it) can allow a kid to travel in a straight line and retrace their path. They’re also fun to play with. If your kiddo is old enough to understand some basic math, you can even teach them to shoot azimuths and back azimuths on the off chance they get separated from you and lost.

2. Protection

Threats come in many different forms, and so do the supplies that protect you and your family.

Disaster Kit: Dust masks, safety glasses, gloves and other protective equipment can help with your PPE needs in a disaster survival kit. Your favorite “every day carry” weapons can also be lumped into this category.

Wilderness Kit: Your environment will dictate the necessary protection you’ll need. UV blocking sunglasses can mean the difference between seeing clearly and suffering from a painful case of “snow blindness” when sun and snow are both present. You may also want sunscreen, bug repellent, bug netting and many other items could be required, including a proper backcountry firearm.

Budget Kit: Hit the dollar store if you’re short on funds and treat yourself to sunscreen, a rain poncho, and any other protective gear they might have. You will get what you pay for, so keep that in mind. As for weapons, a cheap knife is better than none at all.

Kid’s Kit: Chapstick? Yes. Weapons? Probably not. Protective supplies and equipment in a kid’s survival kit should be pretty tame. Keep it simple, and don’t allow them to carry anything that might be harmful like DEET bug spray.

3. Insulation

Cold weather is a deadly foe, and protecting ourselves from it is as simple as adding insulation around our bodies.

Disaster Kit: When stocking a “car kit” or 72-hour kit for winter travel, sleeping bags and blankets offer vital insulation.

Wilderness Kit: Mom always told us to take a jacket or bring a coat. If you wouldn’t listen to her then, listen to me now. Bring a jacket or a coat—always. The weather can change unexpectedly in wild places and you need to be ready with insulating warmth.

Budget Kit: Space blankets aren’t exactly warm and snug, and they can’t match the warmth of a down parka. Still, they do offer insulation against the cold and are affordable.

Kid’s Kit: You didn’t want to carry a coat when you were a kid. Don’t count on your kid’s carrying one either. Tuck a space blanket into their kit. Hand and foot warmers are also ideal for kids, just make sure they are in a waterproof container.

4. Lighting

The definitive advantage of a light is it can signal your location and show that you are in need of help.

Disaster Kit: Candles offer a little heat and cast a warm glow across a room. They also have a long track record, being used for household lighting for at least 5,000 years. Here’s the problem. They can also burn your house down. In a crisis, you’ll be better off with flame-free light sources. LED lights don’t suck as much battery life as others and newer models are brighter than ever. Don’t forget to stock up on extra batteries as well. Lithium batteries are the most expensive, but also last the longest and will perform in extreme cold or heat. The same cannot be said for alkalines and rechargeables.

Wilderness Kit: I prefer headlamps for many tasks, since the light is directed right where you are looking and you still have both hands free.

Budget Kit: Cheap flashlights and chemical light sticks can do the job on a budget.

Kid’s Kit: A dependable little flashlight is a good choice for a responsible kid. Then again, you may just have to give them a “glow stick” (chem light) and hope they don’t crack it as soon as your back is turned. Make sure they are no longer obsessed with putting everything in their mouths. You don’t want them biting into a glow stick.

Read Next: 10 Ways to Die in the Backcountry

5. First-Aid Supplies

If you’re having a bad day and need to break out a survival kit, chances are good that someone has been hurt and is in need of medical attention. Even though some first-aid supplies can be improvised in the field, it’s better to have a dedicated kit.

Disaster Kit: Expect the worst when building or enhancing your disaster medicine kit. Since you’re probably not carrying it on your back, a few heavier (yet valuable) items can be included. A great book on disaster medicine, like “The Survival Medicine Handbook” by Dr. Joseph Alton should be included.

Wilderness Kit: You might be on your own for a while in a wilderness emergency, so carrying a well-stocked first-aid kit is a necessity. One popular pick on Amazon right now is the Swiss Safe 2-in-1 first aid kit. This 120-piece medical kit has a pocket-sized bonus kit that is modular. Don’t be shy about purchasing a ready-made kit from your favorite outdoor store and then modifying it. Add a tourniquet and other supplies to deal with major bleeds and traumatic injuries. Include some common over-the-counter medicines as well.

Budget Kit: You can buy an affordable first-aid kit for as little as $10 at big box stores, just remember that you get what you pay for in most cases. Add more supplies to this basic kit as finances allow.

Kid’s Kit: Depending on the age, maturity, and the first-aid training that your child has received, you should custom build their medical module. For the very young (or the overly experimental child), limit the supplies they can use to get into trouble. A few band-aids, some gauze, and tape will work. For more responsible kids, beef up their kit accordingly.

6. Fire Building

Fire is your friend in a wide range of circumstances. I recommend carrying three ignition sources and some reliable fuel in all types of survival kits.

Disaster Kit: There’s some irony when including fire starting supplies in a disaster preparedness kit, especially if the disaster you are facing is a wildfire. Regardless, you’ll still want matches or lighters in your kit to light candles, stoves, etc.

Wilderness Kit: The colder and wetter the environment, the better your fire building module should be. Start with lighters, waterproof matches and spark rods. Add in commercially available fuel products, like UST’s WetFire Cubes or some cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly and you’ve got the beginnings of a solid kit. Add in other materials that are familiar favorites, for example, magnifying or Fresnel lenses for sunny locations.

Budget Kit: While a few fire making gadgets are expensive, most are not. A good butane lighter can be had for $1 or less. Free matches from the convenience store and free lint from your clothes dryer are also great budget kit items for your fire building module – and they don’t cost a dime.

Kid’s Kit: Responsible kids can have the same fire starting supplies that the grownups carry.

7. Repair Kit and Tools

Did the sole come off your boot or your hydration bladder burst? Repairs that might be simple at home are not so simple in the backcountry, unless you brought along specialized tools and materials. Duct tape and dental floss are standard, but there are many more fine products that can help you with repairs and camp chores.

Disaster Kit: This could be your everyday tool kit you carry in the truck, packed up and ready to go. It could also be some special kit you’ve built for disasters. In addition to the repair items you’d take into the wilderness, add in some things that would make a difference in a disaster. Hammers, nails, and a pry bar will all come in handy. Hand saws, wrenches, and screwdrivers are equally valuable.

Wilderness Kit: If you can’t fix your broken gear in the middle of nowhere, who will? Mending your gear can save the day, but you’ll need the right tools and materials to do the job. Super glue, duct tape, various threads and cords, needles, safety pins, wire, and other mending supplies are great, as are sharp knives, razor blades, and multi-purpose tools.

Budget Kit: Cheap duct tape isn’t usually very good, but it’s better than none. The same can be said for affordably priced multi-tools and Swiss Army knife knockoffs.

Kid’s Kit: Being a big fan of the original “MacGyver” television show, I was beyond thrilled when I received a beautiful Wenger Swiss Army knife as a birthday gift in my teens. If your kid’s are well taught in knife and tool safety, then treat them to a multi-tool and the same repair supplies that you would carry. If not, a little duct tape and cordage will give them some repair options without giving them too many opportunities to hurt themselves.

8. Nutrition

Since most of us eat several times a day, and our bodies tend to run best when fed, food should be a high priority for every kit.

Disaster Kit: No-cook foods with a long shelf life are great choices. Think MREs and canned goods you can buy at the grocery store. You can also start canning at home.

Wilderness Kit: In some places, the only food you are guaranteed is the food you bring with you. Carrying emergency rations is a great idea, but don’t forget to bring the gear that can help you acquire more calories in the wild. A Jetboil and freeze-dried food pouches are a fine idea. A lightweight survival fishing kit is also smart to bring along and can help you catch fish in the right environment.

Budget Kit: Some hooks and line don’t cost very much, but having food ready to eat is a better strategy. Trail mix and jerky are age-old camp foods that taste great. Canned goods are also an affordable option. In environments where they won’t freeze and burst, a few cans of higher calorie food won’t break the bank.

Kid’s Kit: To keep them from eating through the food at the first opportunity, pack something that they would eat, but make it something they would pick last if given the choice.

9. Hydration

Supplying your own water can be a daunting task, particularly in a dry climate. Be ready by bringing extra water and the supplies to disinfect and carry water that you find in your travels.

Disaster Kit: FEMA recommends you have three gallons of water per person in a disaster readiness kits. This a great start, but it’s only a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of water we are accustomed to wasting every day. Consider stocking more water than that for your household, and purchasing water filters to supply you with more water when the jugs run dry.

Wilderness Kit: In addition to carrying plenty of water, small water filters are a great option for hydration in the wild. Disinfection tablets are always an option, but these take time to do their work. The new MSR Trailshot water filter is a pocket sized device that is feather light and offers safe water immediately. All you have to do is squeeze the pump bulb.

Budget Kit: Boiling has always been a great strategy for disinfecting water, and that doesn’t have to change. An inexpensive metal pot can be your boiling vessel for both the backyard and the backcountry.

Kid’s Kit: This can be a tough one. Improper use of disinfection tablets and other water procurement supplies can be just as bad as having no supplies. Water bottles with built-in filters may be the best choice for many kids. Children can simply scoop up available water in the bottle and drink through the filter.

10. Emergency shelter

Shelter can serve many needs, blocking the harsh sun, stiff winds, and driving rain.

Disaster Kit: Since you’re probably spending your time in a vehicle or building in a disaster, your shelter needs are lesser than someone stuck in the wild. Rain ponchos, plastic sheeting and duct tape can serve you well in several tough disaster situations.

Wilderness Kit: Bivy sacks and even tiny tents work well in wild places.

Budget Kit: When funds are low, don’t skimp in this department. Plastic tube tents are affordable enough. Inexpensive tarps can also serve as shelters. These may only cost a few dollars when you catch them on sale.

Kid’s Kit: Since most kids are smaller than their parents, and smaller frames cool down quicker than large bodies, emergency shelter is an area where we can’t afford to cut corners in a kids’ survival kit. Give them several space blankets or an emergency bivy sack, along with a small poncho. The blanket can help to keep them warm and the poncho can block wind and rain. These items should all be brightly colored to assist SAR crews and make the kids easier to spot. Don’t take chances by giving the little folks camouflage space blankets or ponchos. Kids are hard enough to spot on without camo.

11. The Missing Piece

With the majority of your needs met, it’s time to fill one last empty spot. The “10 Essential Systems” list doesn’t talk about signaling or communication, which is paramount in a rescue situation.

Signaling and communication are the areas in which we can assist with our own rescue. Sure, the flashlight could signal your position at night, but you’ll need more. Audible signaling can be achieved with a whistle, which will work day or night to summon a rescue party. Signal mirrors can also help us to get noticed by rescuers. All of these items are cheap, kid-friendly and suitable for all survival kits. For those with a little extra cash, a personal locator beacon may be a smart investment. This product is essentially a panic button that sends a signal to a satellite, summoning local help through emergency services in the region and providing your coordinates. You could also spring for some two-way radios or a satellite phone to call for help more effectively. Your fully-charged mobile phone could also save the day.

The post 11 Specialized Survival Kits You Can Build to Live Through Any Disaster appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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COVID-19 is here, and we must stay away from each other. Those of us who can are working from home and avoiding public spaces. In our spare time, we’re obsessively scrolling through news updates and social media posts. Yes, it’s wise to follow the important news in your neighborhood, but there is a limit. No matter how much media you consume, no post or story can tell you what the future holds.

Outdoorsmen and women are uniquely suited to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Most of us have freezers stocked full of wild game and pantries loaded with goods from last summer’s garden. Many of us have cabins and camps to retreat to, and we have the gear and know-how to survive (and even thrive) if things get really bad.

But let’s not forget our greatest advantage: We know what it feels like to be isolated, and to be alone. As Henry David Thoreau put it: “I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”

Hunters seek solitude in the best of times—sitting quietly for hours, alone with our thoughts, waiting for a moment that may never come—so we must not spurn our old companion now, in uncertain times.

And just because you have to stay away from others doesn’t mean you have to stay home. When you’re done scrolling through this post, put your phone away and head for your favorite sliver of wilderness. Go by yourself, or bring your kids, or maybe just bring your bird dog, because she has never started a sentence with, “But, what if…”

Scout for turkey sign, or hunt for shed antlers, or just watch the ducks and geese migrate back to their nesting grounds. Take a little solace in the fact that those feathered dinosaurs have made this return trip north long before you were here to witness it, and they’ll be making it long after you are gone.

When you get cold, or hungry, or bored, keep going just a little farther. Let the sun set. Sit still, and listen carefully. Those barred owls or coyotes just might coax a turkey into gobbling. Then make the slow hike back to the truck in the dark. (You remembered to bring along your headlamp with fresh batteries because you were focused on the task at hand, instead of obsessing over the news.)

You’ve made this walk many times before, and these woods have not changed.

The post An Outdoorsman’s Perspective on Coronavirus Fears appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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