We Chat with a Former CIA Analyst about EDC Essentials for Modern Day Threats

Most people are unsure of how to prepare for and deal with current threats. Democracy in this country is as close as it’s ever been to total collapse.

There are so many elements that are putting pressure on us from all directions: the global war on terror, global warming, global financial meltdown, natural disasters, political instability, and a global pandemic to name a few.

Our survival is at stake, more right now than ever before. So how do we prepare for modern-day threats to our way of life?

Sarah: The tension feels particularly palpable right now as we head into the election. The global pandemic has exacerbated economic and social inequity. It continues to do so. The lockdown response that so many states have embraced has hit hardest those already struggling to make ends meet. Plans or rumors to re-enter lockdowns have led to protests and violence worldwide. The pandemic response has also become intensely political and deepened the divide even further between Republican and Democrats, conservatives and liberals.

In addition to the obvious health effects of COVID-19, secondary effects are starting to be felt. Instances of domestic violence, homicide, suicide, and other mental health issues are soaring. Experts expect it to grow worse as we enter the winter months. Social isolation is taking its toll and without face-to-face interactions it’s even easier to become entrenched in one’s own opinion, one’s own political stance.

Civil unrest in response to the deepening divide has cropped up in multiple cities nationwide. Seattle and Portland in particular have had a months long string of violent riots, with much of the violence directed against law enforcement. In response, law enforcement departments in those cities have seen an exodus of capable officers, as calls to defund and blame by their own governments further eats away at morale. Without law and order, the violence will grow worse.

Add to this the decades long war on terror. The U.S. has spent decades engaged in war without a clear end in sight. While most Americans remain unaffected by the wars, the burden has fallen to the few. And even though the cost of fighting the wars may not be felt by every American, the toll of being in constant war has surely had an affect on the collective soul of our nation. The increase in domestic terrorism, which inexplicably is still not a federal offense, is surely evidence of that.

And while it’s easy to focus on the domestic security issues, we cannot discount the impact of natural disasters, which also frequently have a far more profound effect on those already struggling, once again exacerbating inequities. More disasters are sure to come. Big and small. The National Weather Service has already stated this will be a La Nina winter, which for many parts of the country means more extreme weather. More cold. More rain. More snow.

Now, on top of all that, we are heading into a contentious election. The election may very well be a flash point. By now, it seems unlikely the public will accept the results unless there is an obvious winner followed by a voluntary, peaceful transition of power. Both sides of this deepening divide are preparing for what may come. Friends and acquaintances, some who have never expressed an interest in preparedness or weapons before, are now reaching out to ask how to best prepare.

Mindset

Urgent threats don’t always allow us time to fully process an event and come up with an adequate response. The thought of what may happen to society as a whole when faced with total annihilation can be crippling. This stress could also cause tense relations with neighbors and those closest to you.

Fear sets in and everybody loses trust in each other. The psychological aspects of the threats we face today could be more devastating than the physical threat itself; just take a look at the 2008 financial crisis, the H1N1 Pandemic in 2009, or even back to the anthrax scare shortly after September 11th, 2001.

Sarah: It is easy for fear to take hold in our minds when we face risks and we are not prepared for those risks. Risk will always exist. There is a risk in nearly everything we do in life. What we must evaluate is the risk versus gain in what we do. We must mitigate those risks to the best of our ability. One way to do so is to think about where you are going and what you have on you. Prepare now. This is your EDC.

Tools of the Trade

Building off the known threat landscape (civil unrest, pandemic, and natural disasters) and having the proper mindset, we can then prepare and build our EDC. Your EDC should be tailored to your environment, budget, and personal needs. Here is what we carry and why.

Blade

In terms of modern survival, no matter what the disaster, you must have a knife in your kit of absolute essential items. The knife you have must be ready to act in a number of capacities and fill a number of roles. The Emerson CQC-7 features a Tanto style blade that gives you three different cutting edges on one blade.

The font upswept tip area is immensely strong and provides the first cutting edge. The long straight edge traveling along the blade provides the second yet separate edge, and the serrations near the pivot area provide the third edge. I prefer a partially serrated blade to be able to make quick work of seat belts, rope, clothing, or other material that you might need to cut through quickly.

Sarah: I carry the SOG Cash Card: it is slim, lightweight, and easy to conceal. This is one I never leave the house without placing in my jeans pocket, handbag, or wallet. I usually keep it clipped in my pocket for ease of access. The blade is remarkably strong for its size. With the blade at 2.75 inches, I never have to worry about size restrictions when heading into the city. I also carry the ZT 0350 with a serrated blade, for very much the same reasons as Scott. In addition to its cutting ability, its heftier weight also lends itself well to a blunt striking device, which is why I carry it. I strongly prefer tools that can be used for multiple purposes, and particularly as a woman, personal security is always foremost in my mind.

Flashlight

Depending on where I’m going, how far away it is, and how long I’m going to be there dictates whether or not I have a light on me. Nowadays where working from home is the norm, I really only leave the house to go to the local grocery store and the high school to pick up my daughter.

During the day I do not have a light on me, but if I’m going out to the store later in the afternoon or early evening I will have my flashlight on my person. My reasoning is if I’m in the store and the lights go out, I need to be able to identify my egress route. You cannot rely on emergency lighting.

The ProTac 1L-1AA flashlight is damn near the perfect size to throw into your pocket for the day. A combination of the size and the serrated bezel make this a great option for personal protection. I know of three former SMU (Special Missions Unit) operators that swear by the Streamlight ProTac series of lights, which should tell you something.

Sarah: As an emergency manager, I still have to go into work and be prepared for multiple scenarios, therefore I carry multiple forms of illumination. The most basic is the Nite Ize Inova Microlight, which I carry on my keychain. I also have them attached to my larger go-bag and much larger bug-out-bag. At a max of 16 lumens, they aren’t the most powerful light, but very convenient, lightweight, and inexpensive. I also carry the SOG Dark Energy flashlight. It’s hard aluminum casing, with excellent grip, also allows it to double as another blunt striking device and much more effective than a button light at blinding a potential attacker. Finally, for a great hands free option, I prefer the Petzl Tikka Classic headlamp. This one I keep in my vehicle in the event I need to respond to a disaster, run home to family over distance, or otherwise use my hands for a different task.

Footwear

Salomon Speedcross 4 and 5 GTX shoes. I say both the 4 and 5 because I own both generations. The shoes are built with quality and attention to detail. The fit is also true to size. The comfort level of these shoes is on point as well. Been wearing them regularly for the past several years with no complaints.

Speaking of comfort, there is no break-in period with these shoes either, so you can hit the ground running with them. In a life-threatening situation, mobility equals survivability.

Sarah: I wear dress clothes to work, so that significantly impacts the shoes I choose to wear. I need to wear a shoe that looks professional, can get me home over distance, and can withstand the elements. My footwear of choice here in the Seattle area and when I was in Libya is the combat style boot by La Canadienne, and while I have an older model with a lower heel, the Camden by La Canadienne is equivalent. The boots are comfortable and the leather is protective and waterproof. The unnecessary hardware on top works really well to conceal my ZT knife, which I keep tucked into my boot. They also look like ordinary dress shoes when I wear long pants. The steep price tag is daunting, but they got me out of Libya alive, so I can’t complain too much. I also keep back-up footwear in my vehicle and my go to for that is a solid hiking shoe, the Merrel Moab Waterproof, a perennial bestseller.

Firearm

I carry a Glock 26 with Defoor sights from Ameriglo. I prefer old school black on black sights. The grips are covered with Talon Grip material to enhance grip and retention of the weapon. Everything else on the gun is stock. The magazine loaded in the pistol is a standard Glock 19 magazine with an X-Grip adapter.

My spare magazine is a Glock 19 magazine loaded with 15 rounds of the same type of ammunition. I’ve been through training courses with my 26 and am confident in my capabilities with that platform.

Sarah: My daily carry is the Glock 43 with a +4 magazine extension. I modified it with an extended control kit, guide rod, custom trigger, and CIA cover plate. The cover plate was a gift, and while I wouldn’t normally add Agency affiliation to anything, it’s small enough no one has noticed yet. I prefer the G43 because it is smaller and easier for me to conceal. My backup is the Glock 19, which I trained on extensively in my former profession. I’ve been through training courses with both platforms and am also confident in my capability to safely and effectively use them.

Stay tuned for more content from Sarah on The Gear Bunker.

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