Emergency Preparedness Books

This book is extremely well thought out, researched and written. Mr. Spigarelli has left almost no stone unturned in laying out a survival storage system for food, water, and other aspects of both short and long term personal storage.

Of the half dozen or so I have read, this book is absolutely the best. I have given copies to my family members and I highly recommend it.

This is a very insightful and well constructed book. There is a TON of information. It does lean heavily on food storage, dedicating nearly 2/3 of its 315 pages to various facets of food (production, preservation, storage). The remaining 100+ pages discuss things like clothing/bedding; Heat, cooking and light, Medical/dental; sanitation/personal care; communication, etc.
There are more than 2 dozen checklists which are very comprehensive and detailed. In my opinion these checklists combined with the nearly 20 pages of resources (pp 295-314) and other books recommended (chapter 31 - Survival Library pp 297-304) make the book worth purchasing. However - this great strength can also be a weakness, make sure the copy you buy is current. The first and second printings were back in the 1980's and don't contain updated resource lists ( a lesson I learned when purchasing Making the Best of Basics by James Talmadge Stevens). The older editions, I suspect are equally useful resources but won't have the very best part of the book.

The author is very specific on figuring the amounts of each food types to store based on caloric needs of your age group and reminds you to think ahead and anticipate changes as a person or child ages. As a nurse I feel this information is critical to overall health as he includes the number of calories needed per age. He also recommends that you store a variety of foods as well as 'treat' foods to compensate for a change in your diet that might eliminate our fast food habits. This book will guide you in creating a pantry suited to your own family. I highly recommend this book for the details it provides in all areas of long term food storage.

I enjoyed this book very much. This is a reference book and a book of facts and useful imformation. The writing style is dry. I get a little nuts when I buy a book about home preparedness and there are chapter's about making arrowheads and how to skin a rabbit and how to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together. If things every get this bad, I don't want to live anyway. However, in Mr. Sprigarelli's book, you won't find nutty stuff like making arrowheads. It's smart stuff and to the point. It's worth the money. Regards, Keith Renick, Peachtree City, Ga.

I have a personal copy of this book and thought so highly of it that I tried to buy one for my son. Amazon was temporarily out of stock so I made an online purchase directly from the authors. Guess what, that was in December and it is April now and the book was never sent. The authors have responded to email inquiries and promised to send the book. However they have never followed through and also have never bothered to send a refund. Maybe they are having a crisis of their own, in which case maybe they aren't all that well prepared after all. If you must have it, buy from Amazon or another credible source.

This book calms down silly fears and brings rational thought and analysis to what is truly to be feared and what is not. Very good reading.

This book was purchased and sent to Iraq to my grandson
who is in the Military Police in Baghdad. He should be
home on a two-week leave next month.

So, I can't review the book. He has the second book by
Gavin DeBeckker, which I purchased from your company and
has indicated he thought it was very good and helpful.

Elizabeth Ergovich

Quick easy read. I wish I had read this right after 9/11 as it has taken me some time to come to the same conclusions this book offers. Even though that is when this book was written to be read, it didn't hurt to get some reasurance I am now on the right track. I like de Becker's style. He seems like a real classy guy.

de Becker does a good job at putting the risks of terrorism into perspective with other risks we face everyday. Also, de Becker encourages the reader to be informed and aware of situations that could be indicators of trouble. Well worth the read.

Another hit from Gavin De Becker. Once again his common sense, see-it-for-what-it-is approach is on the mark. After reading this book you will not look at the news media the same, if you care to look at it much at all! The scare tactics thrown in our faces every day take on an almost comical appearance when you see them for what they are. Do yourself a favor and do as the title suggests, read this book and fear less.

The book is useful to everyone. Topics such as emergency kits are very valuable, and practical.

Get the book, and make your own call, I used something from the book just yesterday.

Well written and nicely illustrated, this book is a quality work. Yes,even a serious approach to survival in any environment - except urban and suburban environments. I am impressed. Using the suggestions contained could be life saving for people lost in wild environments. And I think hard core survivalists will treasure this book.

This was disappointing for me because I expected more. Urban survival is long term in crisis not just 3 days in some instances; consider New Orleans after Katrina. I have the SAS Survival Manual to use as I will need it to vacate the city shortly there after. I would like the book to have more about securing food, water, shelter out of what you are left with in your neighborhood when there is a disaster. Like dangers to look out for, safety, security, avoiding pillagers and mobs, what and where to stockpile 6 months worth of food etc. I think this is Survival/crisis lite!

Urban life is unique in many ways. Life can be easy one day and tough the next. Urban life presents unique problems: stress, pollution, robberies, and so on. Life in the urban environment can also be pleasurable by being socially involved, and enjoying a well-paid job.

The book Urban Survival is about how to survive day-by-day in the urban world. Unlike other survival books, Urban Survival is not so much about the "worst" case, but rather common mistakes that can be made and how to prevent such mistakes from happening. Most of the facts are common sense, but they can be easily overlooked in the urban world. The book ranges from common do-it-yourself accidents to the more extreme such as robberies and terrorism and natural disasters. The book makes a good effort to keep your home secure from hazards from both inside and outside. The book isn't about how to make your home a fortified fortress capable of stopping a massive invasion and arming yourself with the latest weaponry (as a matter of fact, the book is against using a gun for defensive reasons since it's very well possible that the weapon can be used against you or hurt someone you don't intend to hurt). No, this book is about how to enjoy your life in the urban world while keeping in mind about safely and playing it safe. Basically, it's better to be safe than sorry.

I recommend this book to anyone living in the urban world. I think there are a lot of great tips in this book and some of them well make you say, "Well duh!"

This book's title conveys its topic; it is a book with detailed guidance on minimizing your risks in the urban environment on a day-to-day basis.

Wiseman writes clearly and compellingly as he takes you from one scenario to another, explaining the types of problems you may encounter and the actions that will get you out of trouble. I began reading his book on a Sunday afternoon and I found myself stopping every few pages to tell my wife about some new bit of information I had not known about my own environment. For example, if your television catches on fire, throw a wet blanket over it because there is a good chance that the picture tube will explode! Perhaps everyone else already knows this, but I didn't: raw potatoes are poisonous and can be fatal.

The middle portion of the book has dozens of pictures of common houseplants that are lethal. The book is illustrated throughout and it is designed to work well as a reference in the event of a problem (i.e., call out boxes with critical information and consistent use of color with WARNINGS in red and entire pages with dashed borders with the systematic instructions).

The only `down side' to this book is that it is written for a British audience and a slight US bias does pop up occasionally and references to laws on gun ownership, self-defense, etc., are based on British law; otherwise, a great book and a handy reference source.

The information in the book is typical - nothing new - You can get other books for one-fourth of the price. May I recommend, "Roughing it Easy","Cooking with Home Storage", or any Amish cookbook? There are a lot of books with more information out there. If this book were less expensive, I would not have expected so much. Very disappointing! I would never recommend it.

Catastrophic Cooking is anything but a freeze-dried, live off of the land survival manual. It is a practical and sensible guide to shopping for, stockpiling and preparing foods. The recipes are nutritious and interesting. The shopping lists and storage tips invaluable. Thanks for creating a helpful and non-hysterical manual for the millenium.

I'm so excited about this cookbook. I'm an avid reader of cookbooks and own many, but I don't always find that I utilize much of the information. This book, however, is different. It is so user friendly and for the first time I've found someone that is addressing food storage and the use of what you have in your pantry. The shopping list is exact to the recipes. A menu for each day makes preparation easy and precise. The box oven is not solar...but fueled by briquettes..with an exact amount of briquettes per degrees desired in oven. Shopping, sprouting, and food rotation for safety is all made easy. Carol has taken a possible negative situation and turned it into a project that has taken away the contributor of fear and replaced it with knowledge and the ability to take care of yourself and your family. It is important to keep your eating as normal as possible in an adverse situation and Carol as provided the tools to do this. Thank you, Carol for caring enough to share your knowledge and to take the time to help others. We have made our oven and taught others how to make theirs. We practice with the ovens using the recipes that are in "Catastrophic Cooking" and everyone loves the gourmet taste and well balanced meals.

You won't find another book on the market to date that is this complete and simple to use. Go For It! You'll save the price of the book just in the ideas and tips on shopping strategies.

We have this book and have read it and used it. It is an easy reading and practical book that gets you ready for disaster situations. After having our home severely damaged in two California earthquakes, we appreciate the step-by-step instructions on setting up a disaster food pantry with nutritious foods we can use (not camping freeze dried fare) and can rotate through our normal food planning. And you get the recipes for using the food to boot! We also made our cardboard oven and cooked in it, and it works! It's a great family project and will put your kids at ease knowing you are good scouts and well prepared!

I have stocked my shelves for any catastrophe that might come our way. I knew our family would not starve but was beginning to be concerned about how I was going to put together easy and tasty meals from a can. How was I going to bake or cook them, too? The Reid's book has taken the guesswork out of the mealplanning. What a much needed book in these times we may face! I have made the oven box following the simple instructions - you are a genius, Chuck! We had a great time doing it, too. My kids are amazed that we can bake a meal - if we have to- in a cardborad box!

We found this workbook to be very helpful in designing our readiness plan for Y2K. The authors used a methodical approach for understanding the problem. The Y2K glossary was very helpful in communicating our goals to external consultants.

I would rate this book 2nd only to: "How To Financially Protect Your Business From Y2K Business Interruption-The Essential Workbook" by Ken Lagasse.

Our organization used the Act Y2K Small Business Workbook to develop a plan to cope with Y2K. First, the workbook helped us develop an internal Y2K team. Second, the workbook help us develop a comunication strategy with our critical groups. Third, the inventory list opened our eyes to the possible systems that could be disrupted. Fourth, the workbook gave us valuable repair and replace strategies. Next, the authors included implementation and contingency information to further reduce risks. We thought these guys did a decent job and we liked the process! We nominate this to be The National Y2K Small Business Workbook.

The Act Y2K Small Business Workbook helped our organization implement a plan of action for Y2K. The authors used a systematic plan that guided us through critical steps to achieve compliance. We have used the sample letters to contact our vendors to let them know we are taking the year 2000 computer problem very seriously. We hope other small businesses are doing the same!

I should have saved the hefty book price and spent a little time on some of the internet sites for small business Y2K preparation. It appears that's how much time these authors devoted to preparing this "book."

Candy has done it again! Even I can follow the recipes and actually provide nutritional, delicious dishes. I especially liked the Ezekiel Bread and Raisin Bran Muffins. Am looking forward to finding other favorites.

Candy is a living testimony to the fact that she practices what she preaches. Good nutrition is vital to live a healthy, vibrant life.

You go girl!

Besides the many tasty and nutritious recipes, the book offered a lot of good cooking suggestions for a novice such as myself. I also found the dietary information such as number of calories and amount of protein per serving useful for my exercise program. The included emergency food storage list was also helpful as a reminder of what needs to be bought in case there is a Y2K crisis.

Only a fair regular cookbook and really not useful for Y2k. The author must think that we will be able to get to the store for butter, dozen clams scrubbed, fresh squessed lemon juice, sour cream, etc. I was hoping to get a cookbook that uses canned goods or survival type foods.

As they began fixing my computer at work, I began reading snippets from Y2Kitchen, The Joy of Cooking in a Crisis, to my captive audience.

Use separate cutting boards for meat and veggies to not cross-contaminate the boards with bacteria. Didn't my biology instructor mention something about the kitchen housing the most bacteria of any room in the house?

Add water to your food when cooking it in a microwave so the steam can kill the bacteria. Yes, he also lectured on how bacteria thrive and die.

Drop frozen veggies into boiling water while they are still frozen to preserve Vitamin C. And never soak any fruit or veggie in water for longer than a minute so large amounts of vitamins and minerals won't be lost.

There were so many wonderful tips; my computer geek friends were beginning to take an interest.

Did they know which baking powder was aluminum free? Could they tell the difference between a fresh and cooked egg without breaking it? Did they know how to reduce the gas content of beans? Moreover, if they knew how to keep a bottle of champagne from bubbling over, did they know how to keep a pot from doing the same?

By now, my audience was asking for the name of the book and where to get a copy for themselves. It was just amazing how many wonderful tips there were. Some seemed like good old common sense, and yet I don't remember my mother mentioning them.

Never defrost those herbs before cooking...measure honey in oiled utensils...submerge lemons in hot water for 15 minutes for twice the juice on squeezing...the list goes on and on. Candy's book has it all, as well as a collection of fine recipes interspersed with historical tidbits and a nutritional analysis of each meal. Give it a look. You won't be disappointed!

Given the tenuous state of the world, if you can only have one cookbook, have Y2Kitchen. If you have other cookbooks, also have Y2Kitchen. No, it does not tell you how to make grass sandwiches or grind acorn flour. What it does offer is an attractive long list of recipes that are nutritious, require minimal ingredients and equipment to prepare, and are flavorful. Obviously, preparation for uncommon events is a necessary prelude to successful survival, and survival preparation is superbly addressed in the 22 page Appendix. In this section you will find imaginative cooking and shopping tips, detailed food storage suggestions, and a long list of important emergency essentials. Buy this book, read it, and store it where it will not be damaged if a sudden emergency occurs. It could be the most important volume in your kitchen library

I haven't taken the Y2K issue to seriously until a few prominent business men in L.A. shared with me what they know about the Year 2000 bug and how it can effect them. I decided to do some research for the fun of it. As it turns out, there really is a large subject matter to concern ourselves with. This book helps to cover all the different solutions to these potential problems that may exist in the very near future. The book is well written and 'to the point.' I would recommend it for everybody.

Thanks to this book I was prepared when disaster struck on January 1, 2000. I not only survived the crisis, unlike so many in my community, two of my three children survived as well. Thank you, Mr. Whisman!

We found all of the information contained in the guide objective and easy to read. The authors took a step-by-step approach to understanding the Y2K problem. The guide answered most of our questions to date. Each chapter was centered around " in the event of a Y2K disruption". We found the supplies list and the document information useful. We liked how the guide included what documents to get, how to get them, and the phone numbers for all the vital document offices. Since we both work, we don't have filter through pages of opinion. This guide gets right to the point!

We thought this was a decent guide. It provides 2-4 week home confinment preparedness information. We liked the shelf life information, the 100 item checklist and the different water treatment options. It would have been 4 stars and a steal at $5.00

Looks like each contributing writer picked a subject and downloaded it off a computer website! Don't buy this and all or any costs!! If you're looking for a guide which will be cost effective and practical without all the sensationalism get: "Don't Panic! You Can Prepare for the Y2K Crisis" by Lee Dodds. It's only 41 pages, yet manages to provide more clear, consise and useful information than can be found in this disorganized, paste-up mess.

This is a very easy and straight forward book to use and understand. All members from the family can use and benefit from this book. It shows us that we really don't need to be rich to be prepared for any crisis in our lives. It is not a book to scare you, but to help you be ready for the many ups and downs in life. Also includes information to let us know that there is good news about crisis if and when you look at things the right way. It is a very useful book that I have put to use right away. Thank You

I like the fact that the Y2K sticker is cleverly covered up...humorous. Other humorous events are the book itself, which is a laughable collection of many things you don't even want to attempt in case of an emergency. I think I got more information out of a cub scout manual than this book. 1 star for Do-It-Yourself Crisis Survival, a perfect book for all you rugged Y2K survivalists out there.

Unless you are a die-hard survivalist, reading "Do-it-Yourself Crisis Survival" will be like taking a crash course in crisis survival. The book is thorough, covering all aspects of preparation, and it is easy to read, full of lists, informative sidebars and information resource recommendations, including both books and movies.

Open it to any page at random, and you'll find yourself drawn in by the way the author has broken a complex subject down into easily digestible components. You can absorb as much or as little as you want in a sitting. The workbook format makes it very easy to chart your family's preparation path painlessly, without worrying about what you might have forgotten.

Whether you live in the city or country, if you want to become an overnight "expert" on preparing to survive Y2K, or any crisis for that matter, this is the book to start with.

What a wonderfully informative book on crisis survival! Issues, concerns, and questions have been dealt with and answered in a simple, straight-forward, easy-to-understand manner.

Treasures of knowledge are gathered into one book, with golden nuggets of thought, inspiring quotes, and words of wisdom to encourage and give hope in the event of a crisis.

Thank you Tenaj and George.

I found the book very useful for my MSc course. It is well written except for one part that I disagree with, pp27-28, where terrorists were described as "not very intelligent" and operated without a "coherent plan of action."

Terrorists are as normal as you can get [see Hendrick, C. (ed)(1987) Group Processes and Intergrouop Relations: Social Psychology of Terrorist Groups, Sage, Newbury Park, pp234-235]: everything about them is average. The fact that they have been able to carry out so many missions and have been successful in killing so many people tells us something. While risk managers may fear them or choose not to fear them, the greater fear is if we underestimate their potential.

Dr. Buck covers the subject very thoroughly. Terrorism, just like any other hazard requires thoughtful planning when an incident occurs. Planning for disasters is not new and this guide provides the reader with a step-by-step method to prepare for such an event. Many existing plans for other hazards already give jurisdictions a substantial capability to meet the challenges of a terrorism incident. This book is a must for anyone who is tasked to prepare for a terrorist incident.

This is a must have for begginers and those interested in incresing self-reliance,energency prepairdness,country living,prepairing pantries for the needy,survivlist, and so many others. It is not a dry reading like many other books on the subject. I found it interesting and did not have to force my self to read through it, like other books. I lived on a farm in my youth and this book helped to bring back some key things to my mind that i had forgotten i knew. In fact it brough back some pretty good memories.
This book gives you enough information to get thing rolling now and it is easy to understand. You don't need to be some expirienced farmer or prepairdness expert to understaand the quality information that this book offers. I recommend it to any one thinking of or just getting started in prepairing the family's emergency kits. I say kits because it all starts with the 1st kit, family awareness. In the family awareness kit you should have qulity lituriture to start you family prepairedness plan. This book is one that qualifies!
This book is also good for those who are already infomed and active with family prpairedness. It can serve to remind you of the basic easy ways of prepairing foods, soap, etc, and the younger members of the family.
Our young members need to learn the importance of family prepairdness too and be able to prepair their families in the future. It also a good tool to help others who may not be that knowledgble of how to do some of these simple but essentil steps to prepair their families.
It is a realy good book to have. I recomend it to all.
Sincerly,
C. Evans