The next severe storm, power outage, or financial meltdown could hit at any time. Having a household contingency plan and being part of a strong, resilient community could mean the difference between life and death. This friendly and highly accessible guide introduces the most important, practical steps your whole family can take in advance to ensure survival, safety, and comfort in short- or long-term emergencies. The critical information is presented in 40 achievable tasks, ranging from creating a preparedness notebook and repackaging store-bought food for storage to more involved preparations, such as learning to collect rainwater and building a solar oven.
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This accessible and methodical guide will help you organize and prepare for unexpected emergencies and weather disasters, with the essential details presented in 40 straightforward tasks. Kathy Harrison is the author of Prepping 101 and Just In Case, as well as Another Place at the Table and One Small Boat. She is a national spokesperson, touring and giving lectures, for both family preparedness and foster parenting. She has appeared on The Today Show, Oprah, National Geographic's Doomsday Preppers, and in NPR interviews. She lives with her family in western Massachusetts. Introduction
Create a Preparedness Binder
Assess Your Lighting Needs
Calculate Your Water Needs
Plan for Long-Term Water Usage
Calculate Your Food Needs
Design a Food Storage Program
Store Food for the Long Term
Build a First-Aid Kit
Build a Basic Tool Kit
Stock Up on Batteries
Check Your Car
Prepare Your Home
Review Your Financial Preparedness
Protect Your Electronics
Talk to Your Kids
Prepare Your Pets
Keep Communication Open
Take Care of Your Head, Hands, and Feet
Shop for the Best Buys
Buy in Bulk
Grow a Little Garden
Learn to Preserve Food
Learn to Cook in a Crisis
Plan a Day of Emergency Meals
Keep Your Food Safe
How to Handle Garbage
Keep Pests at Bay
Connect with Your Community
Plan for Entertainment and Celebration
Cope with Sanitation
Deal with Personal Hygiene
Manage Your Laundry
Think about Security
Create a Safe Room
Keep Warm
Keep Cool
Make an Evacuation Plan
Survival Hacks
The Well-Prepared Bookcase
Ready, Set, Practice!
Afterword: What If It Lasts Longer?
Resources
Recommended Reading
Metric Conversions
Index Don't Panic – Prepare.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfire. Are you ready for the next power outage, evacuation, or shelter-in-place situation? Keep calm and plan ahead with Kathy Harrison's realistic approach to disaster preparedness: 40 practical, easy-to-implement steps to protect your home, family, and pets during short- and long-term emergencies. "If you have ever doubted that it was absolutely essential to prepare for a crisis or natural disaster, look around - it is one of our most urgent projects. With Kathy Harrison's reassuring help and thoughtful guidance, you can do this, and keep your loved ones safe and well." - Sharon Astyk, author of Making Home
"With the tips and strategies I learned from this modern-day survivalist guide, I can continue to hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst." - Donna Smallin, author of Clear the Clutter, Find Happiness
"Highly recommended-fear, paranoia, and camo-gear not required!" - Matthew Stein, design engineer, green builder, and bestselling author of When Technology Fails and When Disaster Strikes
"This important book shows us that simple, common-sense actions can save life and home when the unexpected happens. It makes this book an investment in better luck in harder times." - Jenna Woginrich, author of Made from Scratch
"The more people who are prepared to take personal responsibility for their
