Emergency Preparedness Books

Having read the book cover to cover, and having Schneid as a professor for the related course itself, I would say that this is a very helpful book in learning about disasters and the different elements necessary for creating a company disaster plan.

Overall, the book is great. The only complaint about the book I have is that it only outlines different ways to write a disaster plan. I learn well by example, and there was no format or layout of a disaster plan within the book itself to reference or view as a "plan in action."

If you are looking for a text to summarize and explain the elements of a disaster plan or are a student debating whether the book is really worth buying for a class, I highly recommend this text.

Although the title indicates that this book is designed for the industrial arena, I found it just as applicable to healthcare organizations as well. It is easy to follow, provides excellent checklists and descriptions and very good explanations. In addition, it provides other resources to use for emergency planning. The terminology fits virtually all businesses, even though the term "plant" is used throughout. It has become the basis for the rewrite of the emergency managemement plan at my hospital. Of the many books I've reviewed, this stands at the top on emergency planning.

This book is both valuable and timely. It shows how important it is to be prepared in detail at the local level. The book should be read by all those who would be involved in the aftermath of an attack, including EMTs, physicians, police and fire personnel, emergency department personnel, those in local government, local public health agencies, the CDC, and state and federal governments. This book is clearly written with contributions by well qualified experts. It should be on many desktops in every community. It makes clear what needs to be done in order to be prepared for a bioterrorism attack.

I loved the concept of this book but the execution was poor.
As mentioned in reviews the typos were ever present. Some simple things like city names were incorrect, example (New Braunfels TX was listed as "New Brainless TX")

It might have been a subconscious jab at the city but I had to double-take a few times at the typos. I guess the editor took the month off.
Once I was past the little things the book had interesting content. I loved the crime and ethnicity tables. I learned a bit about obscure parts of the country I would not have unless I went there myself.

Great concept but execution needs some improvement.

Religious and possibly Libertarian undertones but facts were delivered well.
Do not spend too much for this book!

Doesn't deal with the true problems of our times, unless your mostly concerned about liberals and communists. It was hard to take the book seriously after wading through the offensive stuff.

i am more worried about life after we run out of oil than worrying about tornadoes and volcanoes. mr. skousen shares wild and unverifiable viewpoints, eg. many future problems will pan out okay because god has a plan and is watching over us; running low on our accustomed source of energy is not an issue, just a "liberal" scheme to somehow take control over the masses; ditto global warming; and suppressing alternative health practices while using conventional medicine as the means of "certifying" people as parents, another way the liberals are trying to gain control. c'mon. there are real and serious threats out there to our future existence. i don't need to fill my little brain with this stuff. i would recommend helen and scott nearing's Living the Good Life.

If you're considering this book, you're probably like me- concerned about the continuation of societal complexity in the face of fiscal irresponsibility and the end of cheap oil. You probably want to find that perfect place to buy cheap land, produce your own food, and in the event of calamity, escape the hungry hordes. You're probably hoping this book will help you find that place. Trust me: it won't. This book provides a stage for Joel Skousen to drone on and on about his conspiracy theories (Russian communists have gone underground and are preparing to nuke us!) and crackpot and racist ideas. One could probably have gleaned at least a little information from the maps, but they are of such poor quality as to be almost useless. Don't waste the money.

While the information contained in this book is important, I found the poor English and grammatical errors to be unacceptable. Also, the accompanying maps are exceedingly poor in quality (very difficult to read). I had hoped for so much more. I'll think twice before purchasing another book from Mr. Skousen. I certainly won't pay full price.

This is the most comprehensive book of Preparedness Industry resources available. Each week this book becomes more valuable. This industry is growing rapidly and many major suppliers are experiencing unprecedented backorders. Before you place your first order for a preparedness product, read this book!! You have options and this book will help you make educated buying decisions.

James Stevens has done a fantastic job of providing information on how to FIND preparedness products and companies. Some people can buy storage food and equipment at stores appearing on every street corner, but most of us have to scratch our heads and fret and stew, wondering where to even BEGIN looking for the things we need to learn to be more self-sufficient. Thanks, James, for a wonderful resource book that makes it EASY to get prepared. Rita Bingham

Bravo Mr. Stevens! This book has helped my wife and I decide not only what to put in our food storage, but how much of it to store. We found a local retailer in the comprehensive directory that was just a few blocks from our house, the shop owner himself was suprised that he was in it. This book outlines ways to be prepared for any emergency including the Y2K bug. Whether something drastic happens at the turn of the century or not, there are other things to be prepared for such as unemployment or financial hardships. Our family has gathered important documents such as life insurance, brokerage accounts and retirement info in the event that one of us dies. We feel more prepared to face the world, be it personal tragedy or widespread disaster because of the valuable info in this book.

I was pleased with about the first five chapters of this book containing lists on how to put together a 72 hour kit, and how to stock a pantry, a system that prepares you for more than just Y2K, (eg. being out of work for a period of time). When it came to looking up some of the resources listed however, particularly readiness books available, I was disappointed. Of 32 books that I was interested in buying, 16 were out of print, three were not available anywhere that I could find, and others had outdated and obsolete information. I feel "Pantry" also employs far too many scare tactics, and was disconcerted to see canning and gardening books listed alongside books demonstrating the how-to's of using the black market, looting, ambushing, poaching, and searching through dumpsters for food! I think by far the problem facing us in 2000 is no longer the millenium bug so much as the increasing panic generated from reading books such as "pantry" that employ scare tactic methods (undoubtably for the purpose of persuading you to buy the products advertised throughout the book). I bought "Pantry" in search of pantry and canning resources and information. My advice: If you want information and have access to the internet, do a search for Y2K, Pantry, Canning, etc and find plenty of resources and info, some of which, if you are still inclined to prepare, carry supplies and pantry kits at far lower prices than those advertised in this book.

Family preparedness has always been important, no more so today. However with the purported "Y2K" scare, "survivalists", and other fear mongers have a new tool to push their agenda. Having read "Making the Best of Basics" I was surprised and saddened that this book uses the same scare tactics so prevalent on the internet and employed by those who stand to profit from "Y2K". I was disgusted by the chapter on buying precious metals. I cannot think of a less wise investment for those who truly wish to be prepared

I bought this book while looking for helpful ideas on my own home food storage, so I was disappointed. However the content is still very good and was very informative. I learned a lot about food additives. If you are concerned about just what is in processed foods, this was a good starting reference. If you are looking for guides to help you with setting up and managing your own home food storage, other books have been much more helpful.

Jane Benkendorf has done it!

She has done your home work for you. "The Food Storage Bible" allows you to bybass label reading. Each brand name product is listed and graded to help you buy only foods that are free of unhealthy preservatives, dyes, and any of the other additives that increase cancers and tear down the immune system.

When you read this book you will feel like Jane has been shopping with you explaining each toxic item to you on a personal level.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy lesson on food additives and a simple shopping guide.

Sandra Swanson Wholesaler Arizona Nutritionals

The author obviously put a lot of work/research into the book BUT it really has NOTHING to do with food STORAGE. I feel that the contents, though interesting, do not match the title. I was interested in a book on food STORAGE - not additives, etc...

This is a great book for everyone. You'll learn a lot, whether you've thought about this subject or not. Also this is a great starter book to give as a gift.

I hate to be negative but this book is awful. It's basically a re-hash of her husband's book "No such thing as doomsday" which is worth buying just for the shelter info. The same glaring mistakes made in "No such thing as doomsday" are repeated as if they were gospel in the wife rehash book. On page 42 she says that "Autopsies of soldiers in Vietnam who subsisted on MRE's for extended periods of time indicated that the high sodium content...." MRE's in Vietnam? MRE's came about in the early 80's. This was a glaring mistake in "No such thing" and the wife copies it (amongst other things) verbatim in her rehash book. The husband's book on Shelters is worthwhile and a good read, if you can forget the mistakes like this. The continuous "plugs" for there preparedness company detract from the reading, a reader is left to believe there is no other preparedness company except there. Neither do they bother to list sources (usually) for items there company does not sell.

If you were just getting into preparedness this book might be worthwhile, when they rehash this info again in a few years under another title, it would be wise of them to correct some of the mistakes.

Y2K is gonna be here any second now. Remember, folks, just because nothing happened doesn't mean that nothing is gonna happen. Ed Yourdon is a bona-fide computer expert, not just some formerly-respected expert who gave up all semblences of respectability and credability in the aim of getting his name on the lips of every preparedness wacko on shortwave!

By the way, does anyone wanna buy 500 cans of spam?

For the title of your sequel, I suggest "the rise and resurrection of the Y2K bug"

"The definitive guide for moderate to extensive Year 2000 preparations by best-selling author Edward Yourdon. Covers all angles of Y2K preparation from food to heating to PCs to finances to communication. A must have for any family preparing for Y2K. Highly recommended." Westergaard Year 200 Newsletter

"Whether you plan to prepare for days, weeks or months-this is the book to get. Yourdon and Roskind have done a great job in making Y2K preparation understandable and affordable." Dr. Leon Kappelman, author of "The Year 2000 Problem" and Co-chair, Year 2000 working group, Society for Information Management (SIM)

"One of the better preparation guides...4 star rating" Y2K News Magazine, April 16

This book really disappointed me it really did'nt have anything that jumped out at me, that made me say "O - I forgot about this" maybe because I'm a SysAdmin I might be more up to date than most. If your lacking common sense then buy this book, but with 30 days or so till 2000 its almost a mute point now.

This companion book to 'Time Bomb 2000' was somewhat disappointing. Right in the introduction, there is a chart of things to do 'on New Years Eve day (or before)'. According to 'Time Bomb 2000', some of these things might not be possible by then.

Each chapter deals with a major issues such as food, water or light. The comparisons of the options are good as are the storage hints, but quantitization (how much to get) is often glossed over. The checklists are useful to avoid forgetting something, but are not the most practical means to monitor your state of preparation.

The section on Money and Finances is particularly superficial.

The lists of books and web sites are just lists, and of limited usefulness. The videos section does have a brief blurb about each video. There is also a list of Y2K community groups which might be of use if you happen to be located nearby any listed.

If you have a large Y2K library, this might be a useful element of your library. If you are looking for 'one' book on preparation, this is probably not it.

Well we are now on the other side of Y2K, anf the author well and truly has egg on his face.

I wanna find more infomation on the millenium bug to review for research

This book covers the basics. It also gives you some insight on new ways of looking at common issues. It is a handy book to have around.