I have a serious question for you today…How prepared are you for an emergency?
I mean, really prepared?
To be completely honest with you, despite my EDC and 72 Hour bags, food and water storage and the best of intentions, I know full well that I have so very much to learn emergency and disaster preparedness before I will really feel ready.
Luckily, for those of us who don’t feel fully prepared, there are people out there who are willing to help us learn, whether through online avenues, in-person workshops, or via print books. Jim Cobb is one of those people and he has just released a brand new book called the Urban Emergency Survival Plan! I am honored to host an excerpt here at EGF to help him get the word out to you, my faithful readers, and hopefully inspire us all to tighten up our preps a bit!
So, check out the excerpt below, then check out the awesome offer Jim has set up for one of my lucky readers!
Excerpt from URBAN EMERGENCY SURVIVAL PLAN
Chapter 3 – Making Emergency Plans
Practicing Emergency Plans
Something to keep in mind is that your plans need to be practiced. It isn’t enough to just write them down and talk about them with your family.
When we’re confronted with that age-old dilemma of fight or flight, we often freeze up, at least briefly. We don’t know what to do so we lock up, akin to a deer in headlights. However, what experts have found in various studies about disasters and the human response to them is that if a plan has been practiced, not just once but several times, the body reacts faster when it is all for real. While the brain is still largely concerned with figuring out what’s going on, the body is already in motion.
Your plans won’t do you any good if all you do is just think about them every once in a while. Practicing them or doing drills allows you to make the mistakes and correct them while you’re able to do so. You can find out what works and what doesn’t without undue risks. Also, as we noted above, practicing the plans helps to cement them into your mind and body, allowing you to react quicker when under stress. After all, there’s a reason why schools practice fire drills on a regular basis. Your plans should be drilled regularly, to the point that the body will know what to do even while the brain is still trying to react to the situation.
If you have family members who are not really interested in disaster preparedness, drills will probably be a whole lot of no fun at the outset. However, these practice sessions can also serve to open some reluctant eyes and even get some folks more interested in the topic.
Drills can be planned far in advance, giving family members ample warning. On the other hand, a surprise drill will be much more realistic. Start by giving advanced warning with the first drill, then surprise them with the next.
Sample Drill – Going Off-Grid
One drill I suggest everyone do at least a few times a year is to go “off grid” for at least a full day, preferably a full weekend. Turn off the circuit breakers in your home, except for those you truly need, such as for your refrigerator or chest freezer. There’s little sense in destroying food just to make a point. But, make it clear to all involved that, for the duration of the drill, the fridge, freezer, and other appliances are essentially off limits. Trips to the store are also verboten. You and your family may only use what is on hand at the moment the breakers are tripped.
Do this drill prior to having much in the way of plans in place and see just how miserable it can be to go without power for a single day. Then, revisit the drill a few months later, after you’ve had time to create your plans and set aside some supplies. I think you’ll find family members will see the value in being better prepared.
Jim Cobb is a recognized authority on disaster readiness. He’s written several books, including PREPPER’S HOME DEFENSE, COUNTDOWN TO PREPAREDNESS, and PREPPER’S LONG-TERM SURVIVAL GUIDE. Jim has been actively involved in prepping and survival planning for about thirty years. In addition, he is a licensed private detective and has worked in the investigative field for about two decades.
Jim lives in the upper Midwest with his lovely wife and their three adolescent weapons of mass destruction.
Jim can be found online at the following sites: SurvivalWeekly.com and DisasterPrepConsultants.com, as well as on Social Media on Facebook and Twitter.
*****
As mentioned above, in addition to sharing this awesome excerpt here, Jim has also offered up a book to giveaway to one of my lucky readers! That’s right, one of you will win a copy of the Urban Emergency Survival Plan!
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here on this post telling me one way you’d like improve your preps in the coming year!
This giveaway is open to US residents, will run through 11:59pm on Thursday, December 18, 2014. The winner will be chosen via Random Number Generator and notified via email shortly thereafter.
Good luck and happy prepping!
xoxo,
M
We try to preach this as much as possible. The most important part of prepping isn’t about buying things, it’s about having a plan and learning the skills you need to survive
Know Prepare Survive recently posted…Posts of the Week Wednesday – Getting Started Prepping
My husband and I coordinate a Sustainable Preparedness group, and are learning as we go. We always look for resources to assist us, and this book looks like it would be perfect!
I am spending the next four years overseas and need some guidance on survival in all kiinds of unique situations. Thanks for the chance for the book!
Just getting started, so that’s an improvement itself! I also need to learn about resources for water in drought-ridden So-Cal, for longer term sustainability.
In all ways do I need to be more prepared. I need emergency water put aside. I’m pretty good on non perishables. I need a plan in general.
I do have a medical kit together. some food like rice and flour. ground up some raw pinto beans for like refried beans and tortilas. I have a life straw if i need it a tiny solar light.that is about it. I want one of those man crates.
think my grandkids got me a lot of stuff from dollar tree for christmas. i have been without before so i am adimate to become prepared somehow.
I am fairly new to prepping. I feel a sense of having to rush to gather enough food for a good time, but I am on a very limited income now. maybe this book would help show me some better ways to get the foods i need.can’t buy long term foods onlinewith foodstamps and I can’t get to thestores that sell them here in town.
Hi! I’m consumed with being prepared, but I need a lot of assistance in the areas of food preparedness, energy sources, safety, protection, staying cool and warm, cooking, etc. I appreciate people like you who instruct.
I need to force myself to actually can and freeze some of the produce we grow each summer. I have all the supplies except time … but obviously I need to make time!
Oh, SO many. For us, though, a big priority is to get more ever-bearing food crops in the ground.
Kris @ Attainable Sustainable recently posted…The Journey to Self-Sufficiency
I need to work on organizing my preps better. On top of that, I will be learning more about herbs and essential oils. Money is tight, but knowledge is free!
I find prepping to be overwhelming. I probably need help in every single area, because just thinking about it makes me kind of panicky. Thank you for offering this.
crafty_cristy recently posted…Harvest Monday Labor Day Edition
This is so true. I lived on a ship for 2 years and we had lifeboat drills often. One time when the alarm sounded at 6 am I had my life jacket on and jeans tucked into my socks before I woke up and realized we were in port, so could just walk off the ship, no life jackets needed.
I am brand new to prepping so I am trying to learn anything and everything. The biggest thing is getting my husband on board!!!! Thanks for all the good information!!