The United States will be rolling out a new public alerting system starting April, 2012. Called IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System), it attempts to combine all of the existing warning systems (such as NOAA radio, EAS, and local systems) with new systems (such as CMAS, which will send text messages to all cell phones in a selected area). FEMA has a free online training course which may be of interest to members here. The link to the FEMA course is here.

Thanks, KI6IW. Hadn't heard of this elsewhere.

I have to tell you, when I read IPAWS, I envisioned some type of I phone app mimicking a search dog. Probably an improvement over what we have now.

SPAM DELETED

For a first multi-tool have you thought of a GI issue knife ? Its a super basic multi-tool and the blade comes pretty dull and needs constant sharpening. Downside is no lockback.

Otherwise and in the same vein, no one has mentioned a boy scouts knife or SAK equivalent.