Category Archives: Emergency Preparedness

Plain Facts About Fallout Shelters: 1961

1961DecPS1Yesterday, we featured some fallout shelter designs from the December 1961 issue of Popular Mechanics. The public relations department at the Office of Civil Defense must have been working overtime, because that month’s issue of Popular Science also carried a feature entitled “Plain Facts About Fallout Shelters.” The Popular Science article was written mostly in Question and Answer format. It started by noting that those who build fallout shelters in the past kept it secret for fear they would be considered crazy. But according to the magazine, “safety precautions against the ravages of atomic war no longer reveal old-maidish nervousness but admirable prudence.”

Unfortunately, the magazine lamented that many buyers, as well as builders, of shelters didn’t know what they were doing. So the article is devoted to dispelling some misconceptions and providing good information.

The chart above illustrates that radiation is not necessarily fatal, but the dose is the key factor. The stress on fallout shelters was because much of the country would be free from the immediate effects of the blast, but would be subject to deadly fallout. The general idea was that if you were in the “probably die” category, you would want to move yourself up to “sick,” or even better yet, to “safe.” And a fallout shelter would do that for millions of Americans.

After explaining the basics, the magazine urged readers to write to the Office of Civil Defense for further information. It also made the reminder to check local building codes before starting work.



1961 Fallout Shelter Designs

1961DecPM1Sixty years ago this month, the Cuban Missile Crisis was still almost a year off, but protection from nuclear weapons was already on the minds of many Americans, and the December 1961 issue of Popular Mechanics carried construction details for four fallout shelters. The deluxe model shown above, with an estimated cost of $1841 (about $17,000 in 2021 dollars) was typical of that offered by commercial builders. It was an underground room that could be used in peacetime for some other use, with an attractive patio on top, complete with a built-in grill.

1961DecPM2The other end of the cost spectrum was represented by the design shown at left courtesy of Prof. R.M. Stephenson of the University of Connecticut’s nuclear engineering program. He estimated that the design would reduce radiation levels by a factor of 200-1000, meaning that it would save lives even in areas of high fallout. The material consisted of 100 sandbags, 10,000 pounds of dry sand, and some miscellaneous lumber, with a cost of only $30 ($279 in 2021 dollars).

1961DecPM3The next least expensive was the design shown at right, with an estimated cost of $97 (about $900 in 2021). The initial construction of this design was done prior to the emergency, requiring about 33 hours of labor. A wooden frame was mounted to the wall with a hinge for the ceiling, with the concrete blocks stored nearby. In time of emergency, the construction could be completed in about two hours, assuming you were in a hurry, which you probably would be. To save space in this shelter, food and water was to be stored outside, with the occupants brining in a one or two day supply.

The final design, shown below, could shelter four persons at a cost of $280 ($2600 in 2021 dollars). This design was made mostly of concrete block. Some lumber was used, and the designers recommended that any lumber in contact with existing basement floor or walls be coated with tar or white lead paste to prevent rot.

The magazine offered a booklet with more details about the designs, and also directed readers to the Office of Civil Defense for more free information.1961DecPM4



1946 Compass/Match Case/Fire Starter

1946OctBLSeventy-five years ago this month, the well equipped Scout might have in his pack this combination compass, match safe, and fire starter. A compass was at the top, with a window to view the direction. To avoid confusion, the window was labeled “YOU ARE LOOKING” to make clear that if you saw an N, then you were looking north, rather than having the N printed on the north side of the dial.

Matches were stored in a watertight container, but just in case you ran out, the side had a “flint of pyrophoric metal” that could be struck by a knife. The ad declared that it was the only compass “that can build a fire in a split second,” and I’m guessing that would be done with one of the matches inside. With practice, the flint would probably work, but it would take some practice, and probably wouldn’t happen in a split second.

The product was manufactured by the DuPage Plastics Company, 10 South LaSalle Street, Chicago. It was officially approved by the BSA, and is advertised here in the October 1946 issue of Boys’ Life.


While this particular model is no longer available, there is a modern replacement, shown at left. I have one of these, and while I’m not sure it’s from the same manufacturer, it looks identical. There’s a compartment for storing matches, and as far as I can tell, it is waterproof. Strike anywhere matches are still available, but they’re often hard to find. I simply use regular strike on box matches and include one of the strikers from the box inside with the matches. If all else fails, it does include on the side what is now called a ferro rod.

The modern version also includes a whistle, which is quite loud, as well as a tiny mirror inside the cap, which presumably could be used for signaling.

I’m guessing that the compass on the 75 year old version was better than the modern one, but the modern one does, indeed, work. You have to be careful, however, because if you don’t hold it perfectly level, it will bind up and not move. The best way to use it is to check it once, and then check a second time to make sure that north hasn’t moved.

Especially if you buy the three pack, the modern version is very inexpensive.  Like this Scout 75 years ago, it’s not a bad idea to have one of this in your pack.



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Expedient Tent Frame

1941OctPMEighty years ago this month, the October 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics carried this self-explanatory idea to quickly make an emergency tent with materials that might be at hand. Any poles of similar length could be used, but in this case, it’s two oars and another stick of the same size. To quickly turn them into a tripod, a bucket is placed over the ends as shown. The frame is then covered with a piece of canvas or other available material.

If the idea looks familiar, it’s probably because we previously showed how to make a similar tripod for cooking using an empty can.



1921 San Antonio Flood

Today marks the 100th anniversary of floods in San Antonio, Texas, that killed 215 and caused $19 million in damage.

On September 7, a hurricane made landfall near Tampico, Mexico. It lost cyclonic characteristics the same day, but the storm remnants were forced northward. It stalled over central Texas, causing the devastating flooding in San Antonio and other areas. Some stations reported as much as 40 inches of rain in a 24 hour period.



How to Use USPS General Delivery

generaldeliveryOccasionally, we need to write about very simple concepts, because we have discovered that those simple concepts are at risk of being lost to the ages. For example, you can find on our website instructions on how to make coffee without electricity.

Another simple concept that many people apparently don’t know about is the concept of General Delivery.  Did you know that you can receive a letter or package by snail mail, even if you don’t have your own address?  You can, and you can do it at almost any Post Office in the United States, or indeed, in the world?

I mailed the letter shown above to myself, but it didn’t come to my home or business.  I picked it up at the Post Office in another state where I don’t live, and have no connection.  I did this by mailing it to myself at “General Delivery.”  I waited a few days, and then picked it up at the Post Office in the town to which I sent it.

Why You Might Need General Delivery

MovingImageHHSdotGOVThere are many reasons why someone may need to take advantage of the General Delivery service.  When I asked the postal clerk, she said that the most common reason was people who were temporarily between addresses and had to receive mail.  For example, someone might move out of one apartment but can’t move into their new home for a few days.  In the meantime, they might stay in a hotel or stay with friends.  If they don’t know exactly where they are going to be staying, but need to receive mail during this time, they can receive mail by General Delivery.

NPSRVphotoGeneral Delivery is also useful for people who are traveling.  For example, many full-time RV’ers take advantage of General Delivery.  If you live in an RV, you probably have a permanent address set up somewhere.  But if you decide to order something on Amazon, you will want it sent to you on the road.  If you know exactly where you will be staying, sometimes you can have it sent to the campground or motel.  But if you don’t know exactly where you will be staying, you can take advantage of General Delivery.

NPSApTrphotoGeneral Delivery can also be part of an outdoor experience.  For example, hikers hiking a long distance, such as thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail can arrange to have supplies such as food and clothing mailed to them at towns along the trail.

One way to send money to a stranded traveler is to send them a Postal Money Order via General Delivery.  They can usually cash the money order right at the Post Office.  (For more information on money orders, see my Money Order Basics page.)

If you are ever relocated due to a natural disaster or emergency, General Delivery could be an important way to stay in touch.  If you are displaced, you can ask friends to send you needed items or even money by General Delivery to the closest Post Office.  After a disaster, the Post Office is often one of the first services to re-emerge.  And in outlying areas away from the disaster, it will probably continue to operate without interruption.  If you are forced to relocate, then General Delivery can provide you with a needed mailing address.

There might be situations where someone needs to receive mail without the knowledge of their roommates or nosy neighbors.  If so, they can arrange to have the item sent by General Delivery.  Or, there might be situations where a service is provided only to persons with an address in a certain ZIP code.  A General Delivery address might provide that ZIP code.  Finally, General Delivery provides a method for homeless persons to receive mail.

In short, any time you need to receive mail but don’t have an address, you can use a General Delivery address.

How and When To Send General Delivery

Practically anything that can be sent by mail can be sent to General Delivery.  It can be a letter or a package.  To make sure you get it, you’ll need to make sure that the sender follows these instructions carefully.

First of all, they need to figure out when to mail it.  There might be exceptions, but you can generally plan on the Post Office holding the item for about two weeks.  If they send the item too late, then it won’t arrive in time.  But if they send it too early, then it might be returned to the sender before you pick it up.

In my example above, I mailed the letter from Minneapolis, MN, on a Monday.  I went to the Post Office to pick it up on Thursday, but it hadn’t arrived.  I went back a week later (a total of 10 days after mailing) and it was there.  I would recommend planning on it taking about one week, so have them mail it one week before you plan to pick it up.

If the timing is more critical, then it might be best to send the item by Priority Mail or Express Mail.  If you mail early enough in the day, then Express Mail is almost always delivered the next day, almost anywhere in the country.

Finding a Post Office

Next, you need to decide on the Post Office at which you will get the letter.  Most Post Offices offer General Delivery, but not all of them do.  There are exceptions, but in large cities and their suburbs, General Delivery is available only at the main downtown Post Office.  For example, I live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.  In Minneapolis and suburbs, the ZIP codes begin with 554.  In St. Paul and suburbs, the ZIP codes start with 551.  In those suburbs with 551 and 554 ZIP codes, General Delivery is available only at the downtown Post Office.  You can’t get general delivery at the neighborhood Post Office.  This is true in other cities as well.  For example, in Chicago, in any area with a 606 ZIP code, the only place to get General Delivery is the main downtown Post Office.

If you live or work downtown, this is great.  But going downtown isn’t particularly convenient for many people these days, so if you are in an urban area, the most convenient place to get General Delivery might be an outlying suburb.  In general, if the first three digits of the ZIP code are not the same as the main city Post Office, then that Post Office will have General Delivery service.  So in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, most of these outlying suburbs have a ZIP code starting with 550.  In general, all of these post offices offer general delivery.  Since I had to drive a few miles anyway, I decided to send my experimental General Delivery letter to another state, to Hudson, Wisconsin, ZIP code 54016.

In general, small town Post Offices will have General Delivery available.  If you are sending something to a larger city, then you will need to check more carefully on which post office to use.

There are exceptions to all of these rules, so before deciding on a Post Office to use, you should look it up on the USPS website.  From the main page, select “Find USPS Locations” from the menu.  Then, click on the Post Office you are interested in.  The hours will be listed.  For larger towns, it will be open about 9:00-5:00 Monday through Friday, and Saturday mornings.  Almost all Post Offices will be closed on Sunday.  In small towns, the hours might be much more limited, such as just a couple of hours in the morning.  So before selecting a Post Office, be sure to check that you will be in that town at a time when the Post Office is open.

generaldelivery2Then, scroll down to “Services at this Location.”  If General Delivery is offered, it will be shown on this list.  If it’s not listed, you’ll need to pick another Post Office.

After confirming that the Post Office offers General Delivery service, scroll to the top of the page, where you will see thegeneraldelivery3 address of the Post Office.  The street address is shown.  You’ll obviously need this information later, so that you can find the Post Office to get your letter.  The person sending the letter, however, will not need the street address.  Instead, they will need the City, State, and first five digits of the ZIP code (but not the last four).  So in this example, they will need:  HUDSON, WI 54016

Addressing the Letter

Once you have found a Post Office where you can get your item, the sender can address the letter or package.  The letter should be addressed with your full name.   You will need to show identification when you pick up the letter, so make sure the letter is addressed to your real name, and not a nickname.  The second line of the address should be:  GENERAL DELIVERY.  The third line of the address should be the City, State, and ZIP code.  The nine-digit zip code for General Delivery always ends in -9999.  So they should include this after the five digit ZIP.  So in the example above, the ZIP code is 54016-9999.

Here’s an example of the address.  You are sending a letter to John Q. Public, and he will pick it up at the main Post Office in New York City at 421 8th Avenue:

John Q. Public
General Delivery
New York, NY  10001-9999

Make sure the sender includes their return address.  If something goes wrong, the letter will be returned to them.  Of course, they should make sure to include enough postage, which they can calculate online.  If it’s a small item they’re sending, the postage for a letter of up to one ounce is 63 cents (as of April 2023), or one “Forever” stamp.  (For information on how to buy stamps, see our Buying Stamps During Quarantine page.)

Picking Up Your Item

After you have given enough time for your letter or package to arrive, you simply go to the Post Office to which it was sent.  Just tell the clerk that you are expecting a General Delivery letter or package.  They’ll go to the back room, and if it’s arrived, they will bring it out.  You will need to show identification.  When I picked up my letter, my out-of-state driver’s license was all I needed for ID.

General Delivery in Other Countries

The instructions on this page are specific to the United States, but most other countries offer the same service.  So if you are traveling in another country and need to receive mail, you can probably take advantage of this service there.  In most other countries, the service is called “Poste Restante”

Other Alternatives

The USPS is not the only way to send items if you don’t have a permanent address.  Private delivery services such as UPS and FedEx allow you to pick up packages at fixed locations.  However, USPS is still the least expensive.  You can send a letter anywhere in the United States for only 55 cents.

And keep in mind that if you are buying an item from Amazon, another alternative is to have it sent to one of their lockers  located all over the country.

The USPS official information about General Delivery can be found on their website.

 

 



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Family Emergency Preparedness Tips from 1951

1951JulBL1The July 1951 issue of Boys’ Life carried some pointers for Scouts to help prepare their families for disasters, such as storm, flood, fire, or even enemy attack.  One of the ideas is shown above:  The family can schedule a “survival picnic” where they will grab their survival rations and head out to the countryside where they turn it into a tasty meal.

Other pointers are shown below.  The family should be prepared for emergency cooking, and emergency beds “if your regular bedroom can’t be used.”  The beds were simplicity themselves:  Pleated blankets were simply affixed to posts with big nails.

The survival picnic doesn’t sound like a bad idea.  Maybe we’ll need to break out the car survival kit and make an expedient meal with it using the emergency stove.

1951JulBL2



Review of Accumed BNX N95 Masks: Made in the USA

Mask1

Bottom Line:  The AccuMed BNX N95 mask is a high quality protective mask, meets USA N95 standards, and is made in the USA.  Even if this pandemic is over, it’s worth keeping some on hand for the next public health emergency.  Update 12/26/21:  When this review was written, Amazon carried the 10 pack shown above.  At this time, only the 50 pack is available in white.   The other masks reviewed on this page are available in smaller quantities.  Update 12/29/21:  The 10 pack is available again in black at this link.

Quick Link

Preparing for Emergencies

I like to believe that I’m reasonably well prepared for emergencies, and the COVID-19 pandemic generally proved that I was prepared.  We never ran out of toilet paper, although early on, we did have to be careful with our limited supply, and at one point we were rationing coffee.  Curiously enough, the first thing we ran out of was lightbulbs, although we could have gotten by quite a bit longer by scrounging them from other rooms in the house.  Even when riots hit the area, we were fully stocked with all the necessities of life, other than having to use powdered milk for a few days.

In a few cases, we had to make substitutions.  We didn’t have very much hand sanitizer, but we solved that problem by washing our hands.  And even though sanitizing wipes were unavailable, bleach was readily available and we were able to use it for sanitizing items.

But there was one shortage that made me angry at myself:  In 2019, I could have walked into any hardware store to buy an N95 mask that was made in the USA.  And unlike most people, I actually knew that an N95 mask would be a useful thing to have around in a public health emergency.  But at the start of the pandemic, they were totally unavailable.  And early on in the pandemic, we were told that it was practically unpatriotic to wear a mask, especially an N95 mask, because the limited supply was earmarked for healthcare workers.

A few weeks later, the official advice flip flopped, and we were told that it was unpatriotic not to wear a mask.  But the N95 masks (in other words, the ones that were actually effective in preventing the spread of disease) were still off limits, since they were still reserved for healthcare workers.

During those early days of the pandemic, I rarely wore a mask, because I was rarely in a situation where I needed one.  I didn’t go into other buildings, period.  And I believed (and still do believe) that the risk outdoors was extremely small.  I did all of my shopping with curbside pickup or home delivery.  So I didn’t need a mask, because I wasn’t going into stores or other buildings.

The Need for a Good Mask

But eventually, there were unavoidable situations where I did need to go into buildings.  So after about three months, despite the official guidance to the contrary, I decided it was time for me to be selfish and buy an N95 mask.  Unfortunately, there were none to be had.  The best I could find at that time was a KN95 mask, and even those were hard to find.

“N95” means that a mask meets the U.S. Government’s NIOSH standards.  “KN95” means that the mask meets the standards of the Communist Chinese Government, and almost all of those masks were made in Communist China.  The irony wasn’t lost on me:  I was buying a Chinese Communist mask to protect myself against the Chinese Communist virus.  I wasn’t happy about it, but I only had myself to blame.  After all, in 2019, I could have walked into the hardware store and bought an American-made mask with the U.S. seal of approval.  I didn’t do so, and I was stuck having to rely on the Communist Chinese Seal of Approval.

The mask I bought was the one shown at the left, and it served me very well.  It was made in China, but it was imported by a reputable American company, AccuMed.  At the time, there were a lot of dubious products on the market.  I researched AccuMed and found that they were a medical supply company with an excellent reputation.  Frankly, their name on the product meant more to me than the certification from some Chinese lab.  The company was also in the process of gearing up to produce masks in the USA.  (The same mask, made in the USA, is now available.  Even though it is now made in the USA, it has the KN95 designation, probably because it uses ear loops instead of bands that go behind the head.)  Those masks served me very well for a couple of months.  On the occasions when I had to be inside the same building as other people, I was protected.

True to its promise, a few months later, AccuMed came out with a mask that was made in the USA, and I previously reviewed that mask, the duckbill-style A96 mask, similar to the one shown at left.  This mask was made in the USA, but it was sold as meeting the Chinese KN95 standard, because the American N95 certification was still pending.  It’s odd to have an American product that’s advertised as meeting the Chinese standard.  But the virus doesn’t care about the paperwork.  It was made in the USA by a reputable company, it seemed to form a tight seal, and I have no doubt that it provided protection.  And after I purchased it, the mask was approved, and now has the U.S. N95 seal of approval.

Edited to add (11/16/21):  The AccuMed A96 no longer appears to be available on Amazon, but this Kimberly Clark N95 mask, shown at left, appears to be identical.

This mask, like most N95 masks, was a bit more difficult to put on than the KN95 mask, because the elastic goes around the back of the head, and not just over the ears.  But even though it’s slightly harder to put on, it’s much more comfortable to wear, since it’s not constantly pulling on your ears.  If I had to wear a mask all day, this would be a huge advantage.


The New Made in USA N95 Mask

Fortunately, the time has now come when it’s once again possible to buy the thing that I should have bought in 2019:  An N95 mask made in the USA, the BNX N95 Mask NIOSH Certified MADE IN USA Particulate Respirator Protective Face Mask.  I recently received mine, and I’m glad to have it.Mask2

Like most other N95 masks, the straps go around the head, which makes it slightly more difficult to put on.  But the advantage is that it’s much more comfortable once you have it on.  It seems to form a good seal.  If I had to work for hours with this mask on, it would cause very little if any discomfort.

Both of the AccuMed N95 masks, the white one and the blue duckbill style one, are comfortable to wear, and both make a good seal.  For me, the white one is a little easier to put on, although the blue one seems to be easier to ensure a good seal once it’s on my face.  Either one, though, takes only seconds to put on.  One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the blue one seems to fit better on a smaller head.  My daughter had a hard time getting a good seal with the white mask, but it was much easier with the blue mask.  So if you are buying for a family, I would recommend getting both.

On the other hand, I now rarely have to wear a mask for more than a few minutes.  Therefore, I will probably continue to use  the AccuMed KN95 mask in those situations.  It seems to have a good seal, and if I’m just going into the store for a few minutes, it’s somewhat more convenient to put on.

accumed1Especially at the beginning of the pandemic, and probably still now, there were a lot of fake masks hitting the market, and it’s important to buy from a reputable source.  Fortunately, AccuMed/BNX is a real company, selling a real product, from a real bricks and mortar location in Houston, Texas, shown here.  You can probably find something cheaper at the dollar store, but it’s more important to buy something that will really protect you, rather than trying to save a few pennies.

Ongoing need for a mask

From my personal point of view, the pandemic ended on March 15, 2021.  On that date, the immunity from my second dose of the Moderna vaccine officially kicked in.  There’s still a possibility that I’ll be infected, but the risk of serious illness or death are practically nil.  The day after my immunity kicked in, I went from never going inside buildings unless absolutely necessary, to taking teaching jobs which put me in close contact with hundreds of kids.   (I secured an early dose of the vaccine as a teacher, and I felt it was my duty to resume teaching at the earliest possible moment.)  In my opinion, the need for a mask is now mostly gone.  Chances are, I will rarely wear the new N95 mask.  Because it was required this school year, I wore a mostly symbolic cloth mask while teaching.  With my vaccination, I didn’t feel the need to wear the N95 mask all day.  But if I had to work close to other people and was not yet vaccinated, I would certainly wear one of the N95 masks.

Even though I don’t believe it’s is necessary because of the vaccine, I have noticed that I didn’t get any colds or flu during the pandemic lockdown, because I wasn’t in a position to be infected.  On my first few trips back to Walmart after a long absence, I realized something:  There was a certain amount of truth to all of those “People of Walmart” memes.  Many of my fellow shoppers don’t look particularly healthy.  They might not be infections with COVID-19, but it’s likely that they’re infectious with something.  Wearing a mask for my own protection probably isn’t a bad idea, and since I have some of them, I’ll probably slip on the KN95 mask before going in there or similar environments.

Even though all of my masks are disposable, there’s no reason why they can’t be used many times.  I store mine in a paper bag labeled with the date.  I have links to official guidance on reuse of masks at my earlier review.  So when you order your masks, don’t forget to order a supply of brown paper bags.

At this point, I no longer have an immediate need for an N95 mask.  From my point of view, the pandemic is over, because I am vaccinated.  However, I didn’t need an N95 mask in 2019, and I’m still kicking myself for not going to the hardware store and buying one then.  It would have made the early months of the pandemic less stressful knowing that I had this supply if needed.

And the next pandemic might be worse, and during that pandemic, I might need to come into contact with other persons.  Even though it proved deadly to many, coronavirus was not as lethal as many anticipated.  But the next plague might be worse.  Having an N95 mask on hand for such an emergency is a low-cost way to make sure I’m prepared.  I hope I never have to use them, just like I hope I never have to use my potassium iodide.  But I feel a lot better knowing I have them.

During this pandemic, I never ran out of toilet paper.  And in the next pandemic, I won’t run out of N95 masks, because I bought some when they were still available.  I’m not making the same mistake I made in 2019.

I recommend all three of these masks.  The duckbill style mask in the middle seems to be slightly easier to get a good seal, although it’s slightly more difficult to put on in the first place.  If necessary, it would be comfortable enough to wear all day.  Of the three, it probably is the best choice for children.

The white mask on the left is slightly easier to put on, and would also be a good mask if needed for all day use.

The white mask on the right seems to be very good quality, although it does not have the U.S. N95 approval.  It is made in the USA, but has the Chinese KN95 approval.  The reason is probably the fact that it uses ear loops rather than head bands.  It is the easiest to put on, but the ear bands would be uncomfortable for all day use.  It’s the easiest to use if you have to go into a store for a few minutes.

Since they all have slightly different uses, I’m glad I have a supply of all three for the next pandemic.

 

 



The product was supplied at no charge by the manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning that this site earns a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on the link.

Hurricane Preparedness Links

time of arrival graphic

Tropical Storm Elsa forecast as of 7/3. National Weather Service.

For those in hurricane country, here are links to earlier posts on hurricane preparedness.



Field Day 1946

WFD1This weekend is ARRL Field Day, an amateur radio operating event in which hams set up their stations in remote locations and attempt to make as many contacts as possible.  It’s a hotly debated question of whether it’s an emergency preparedness exercise, a contest, or just a fun weekend.  The truth is that it’s all three.

Even if all infrastructure were to be destroyed immediately, it would still be quite possible for hams to communicate worldwide using simple equipment, relying on nothing other than the laws of physics.  Short of a zombie apocalypse, the need for such ability might be rare, but it’s a point of pride with hams what they can do.

1946 Field Day. QST for Feb. 1947.

1946 Field Day. QST for Feb. 1947.

Amateur radio was off the air for the duration of World War II, so Field Day 1946, 75 years ago, was the first postwar opportunity for hams to show that they could still communicate off-grid.

When the results were published, it was pointed out that comparisons with earlier Field Days were not appropriate.  Hams had only recently come back on the air, and they were not yet allowed on all bands.  In particular, they did not yet have privileges on the 160, 40, and 20 meter bands, all workhorses of earlier Field Days.  Instead, their HF was limited to 80, 11 and 10 meters.  The top portion of the 80 meter band had just been re-opened, and here were the allocations, as shown in the June 1946 issue of QST:

1946JunQST

The top score in the 1946 event was W2FC/2, the Jersey Shore Amateur Radio Association, which netted 9621 points from a total of 809 contacts.  The 27 participants had eight transmitters on the air simultaneously.

Shown above is my most recent field operation.  It wasn’t ARRL Field Day, but instead Winter Field Day 2021.