FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2025

New Report Highlights Overlooked Survival Tool: The Humble Drinking Straw

Local emergency-preparedness advocates call for inclusion of personal-use straws in municipal disaster reserves

ROBERTS CREEK, B.C. — A newly released briefing authored by West Coast entrepreneur and preparedness advocate Gerald Shaffer argues that one of the simplest, cheapest tools available may also be one of the most important in early-stage disaster response: the drinking straw.

The report, titled “The Simplest Tool That Should Be In Your Survival Kit,” urges regional districts, municipalities, and emergency management agencies to add low-cost straws—particularly biodegradable rye-stem straws—to their disaster reserves. Shaffer argues that personal straws could significantly reduce the spread of illness in the crowded, resource-tight conditions that emerge after natural disasters.

According to Shaffer, the issue is not convenience, but infection control.

“When towns distribute water after a disaster, bottles get shared, cups get shared, and illness follows quickly,” Shaffer said in a statement. “A personal-use straw is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to reduce early transmission pathways.”

Public health research consistently shows that respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses spike following disruptions to water, sanitation, or housing. Emergency shelters—often densely populated and short on supplies—are especially vulnerable to influenza, norovirus, and opportunistic respiratory infections. Shaffer’s report points out that shared drinking containers are among the earliest and easiest vectors to close, yet the tools to do so are rarely included in official disaster kits.

A Comparative Look at Straw Options

The briefing outlines a straightforward comparison of available straw types—metal, glass, plastic, paper, and natural rye stem—highlighting that each option carries significant limitations in field conditions.

• Metal straws are durable but heavy, costly to distribute, and require sanitation.
  
  

• Glass straws pose breakage and safety risks during debris-heavy events.
  
  

• Plastic straws, while lightweight, create persistently visible litter, produce toxic fumes if burned, and can reveal shelter locations due to colourful fragments and distinctive smell signatures.
  
  

• Paper straws biodegrade quickly but deteriorate too rapidly for repeated use and produce smoke and odour when burned.
  
  

• Rye stem straws, by contrast, are lightweight, biodegradable, burn cleanly without scent, leave almost no trace, and can be locally sourced in agricultural regions.
  
  

Shaffer notes that rye stems have been used as drinking tubes for centuries, long before industrial plastics. They are suitable for thin liquids and water—common distributions during early disaster stages—and can double as tools for directing airflow into tinder when starting emergency fires.

A Locally Sourceable Tool for Region-Based Resilience

The report also highlights the resilience advantage of natural straws. Unlike metal or plastic options, rye stem straws can be grown, harvested, and cured locally, reducing reliance on distant manufacturing and supply chains that commonly fail during regional emergencies.

“Local sourcing strengthens food security and preparedness simultaneously,” Shaffer states. “A community that can grow its own tools isn’t waiting for trucks or ferries to arrive when those systems are already under strain.”

Call for Municipal Adoption

Shaffer’s recommendations emphasize municipal-level action. He argues that regional districts—such as the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD)—should begin stockpiling personal-use straws in the same way they store water, blankets, generators, and masks.

“Preparedness shouldn’t always require expensive equipment,” Shaffer said. “Sometimes it’s the simplest items that protect people first.”

The report concludes that personal-use straws should be formally added to emergency kits distributed to residents, as well as to centralized reserves maintained by local governments.

About the Author

Gerald Shaffer is a British Columbia–based entrepreneur and founder of West Coast Wildlife and Shaffer Farms. His work spans environmental initiatives, sustainable product development, and public resilience planning. Shaffer has long advocated for locally sourceable, low-impact tools that strengthen community readiness during infrastructure failures.

For More Information

To request a copy of the full briefing paper or to speak with Mr. Shaffer, contact:
press@squintwerks.com
West Coast Wildlife / Shaffer Farms Communications Office

✅ FACT SHEET: Why Personal-Use Straws Belong in Municipal Disaster Kits

Supplement to: “The Simplest Tool That Should Be In Your Survival Kit”
Prepared by: West Coast Wildlife / Shaffer Farms Resilience Division
Author: Gerald Shaffer
Date: November 2025

 

---

 

1. What Problem Does a Straw Solve in Disasters?

During the first 24–72 hours after a disaster, water is often distributed in shared containers or limited personal bottles.
This creates several high-risk vectors:

• Sharing bottles or cups
  
  

• Passing water between individuals
  
  

• Improvised drinking methods (hands, communal scoops)
  
  

• Shared cigarettes/joints in high-stress situations
  
  

• Limited sanitation options
  
  

Result: Rapid transmission of influenza, gastrointestinal viruses, respiratory infections, and other communicable illnesses.

A personal-use straw immediately closes this vector.

 

---

 

2. Primary Roles of a Survival Straw

A simple straw in a disaster performs several functions simultaneously:

Hygiene & Illness Reduction

• Prevents mouth-to-mouth transfer via shared bottles
  
  

• Reduces spread of respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses
  
  

• Encourages personal hydration without cross-contact
  
  

Water Access

• Reaches water in awkward or unstable containers
  
  

• Allows thin liquids to be consumed without tipping contaminated bottles
  
  

• Useful for children, elderly, and mobility-limited individuals
  
  

Firecraft

• Directs airflow precisely into tinder bundles
  
  

• Functions as a lightweight, disposable fire-starter tube
  
  

• Burns cleanly if made from natural material (rye)
  
  

Operational Practicality

• Almost zero weight
  
  

• Extremely low cost
  
  

• Easy to distribute in high numbers
  
  

• Fits into any emergency kit, pocket, or wallet
  
  

 

---

 

3. Comparison of Straw Types for Disaster Use

✅ Rye Stem (Natural) Straws

• Lightweight, biodegradable, burn cleanly with no scent
  
  

• Minimal trace left in field conditions
  
  

• Can be sourced locally in many agricultural regions
  
  

• No toxic fumes
  
  

• Naturally antimicrobial vs. plastics
  
  

• Limitation: Best for thin liquids only
  
  

⚙️ Metal Straws

• Durable and reusable
  
  

• Limitations: Heavy; injury risk in cold; require sanitation; higher cost
  
  

💧 Glass Straws

• Reusable
  
  

• Limitations: Fragile; dangerous in rubble or debris; unrealistic for field distribution
  
  

🧪 Plastic Straws

• Lightweight, cheap
  
  

• Limitations: Toxic fumes when burned; visible litter; high traceability; environmental harm
  
  

📄 Paper Straws

• Biodegradable, burnable
  
  

• Limitations: Dissolve too quickly; poor for repeated use; smoke smell reveals location
  
  

 

---

 

4. Why Rye Stem Straws Are Recommended for Municipal Stockpiles

• Locally Sourceable: Supports local agriculture and reduces reliance on disrupted supply chains
  
  

• Biodegradable: Leaves no persistent waste
  
  

• Low Trace: Essential for stealth in wilderness or conflict settings
  
  

• Dual-Purpose: Drinking + fire-starting
  
  

• Ultra-Lightweight: Easy to store by the thousands
  
  

• Cost Effective: The lowest cost per unit of all straw types
  
  

 

---

 

5. Use Cases in Real-World Disaster Scenarios

• Evacuation centers with shared water supply
  
  

• Wildfire displacement camps
  
  

• Earthquake response with limited sanitation
  
  

• Ferry/road closures leading to isolated communities (e.g., SCRD)
  
  

• Flooding events disrupting potable water systems
  
  

• Pandemic or respiratory disease outbreaks overlapping with natural disasters
  
  

 

---

 

6. Policy Recommendation

Municipalities should add one personal-use straw per resident to emergency reserves.
Stockpile target:
1,000–5,000 units per township (scalable by population).

Distribution points include:

• Emergency Operations Centers
  
  

• Fire halls
  
  

• Community centers
  
  

• Mobile response units
  
  

• First aid stations
  
  

• Water distribution points
  
  

Rye stem straws are prioritized due to their combination of low cost, cleanliness, burn characteristics, and field practicality.

 

---

 

7. Key Quotes (Pre-Cleared for Media Use)

“Preparedness isn’t always about expensive gear. Sometimes the cheapest tools stop the biggest problems first.” — Gerald Shaffer

“A personal-use straw immediately shuts down one of the fastest infection vectors in a disaster: shared bottles.” — West Coast Wildlife Field Brief

“Local sourcing of rye stems strengthens resilience. We can grow this tool ourselves.” — Shaffer Farms Resilience Commentary

 

---

 

8. Contact

Media Contact: gerald@shafferfoods.com
Communications Office: West Coast Wildlife / Shaffer Farms