It's Time to Plan, Not Panic: Emergency Evacuation Preparedness and Coping Skills

By Barbara Salsbury

Author: ?+ Barbara Salsbury Description:

The information and guidelines found in Plan Not Panic are noteworthy and timely; even critical in many respects. Plan Not Panic is a 72-hour Survival/Emergency Evacuation manual. This book differs from the traditional emergency evacuation lists and "how-to's." It is the only book based on research combined with a personal experience that describes how to overcome the "villain" of most evacuations ... Lag-Time. This book replaces panic, gloom, and doom, that many times accompany thoughts of a crisis, with the solutions of economic, individualized, practical preparations; that includes a smile or two along with personal glimpses. The latest series of "visual aids" - rain, wind, floods, and earthquakes - provided by Mother Nature have emphasized that it is not just the "Big One" we need to be prepared for. This book teaches, step by step, how to meet individual needs in order to survive an evacuation with confidence and even some comfort. It has worksheets and personal planning pages. With the exclusive Neighborhood Evaluation form, you can begin to plan, not panic. It is important to understand the major differences between traditional emergency preparedness and 72-hour kit preparedness.

In Plan Not Panic Mrs. Salsbury offers practical solutions to meet your individual needs in case you are ever forced to evacuate your home or workplace. She tells you how to get ready for a 72 hour (or longer) evacuation and existence in a shelter so that you will not only survive it but survive with a minimum of discomfort and a maximum of confidence. Emphasis is placed on individual factors. Lists that specify exactly what you need - if prepared by someone else (even though "professional"- are not to be completely relied upon. There are too many individual factors involved in a setlist to apply to everyone.

A common misconception is that the government will immediately come to your rescue in a crisis. A disaster or crisis may mean bringing in help from outside of your area. Even if a problem is extremely localized, you alone may have to provide your own food, clothing, and other supplies until help arrives. The longer lag-time the more the problems compound. Following the guidelines outlined in Plan Not Panic could very well make the difference between coping and chaos.

Your 72-hour emergency kit must be ready - and accessible-before an evacuation crisis occurs and you are forced to leave your home or employment. How well you are prepared will determine how well you are able to cope. In Plan Not Panic the essential elements for you to consider are outlined in detail.

Product Details: Format: Print: Size: Page Count: 126 ISBN: 9780882908106 Imprint: CFI Books Publishing

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882908103
• ISBN13: 9780882908106
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Horizon Publishers & Distributors
• Length: 126 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Must Have Book!

After all of the recent natural disasters, I thought it would be a good idea to prepare a little. This book really opened my eyes! It isn't so much about surviving natural disasters as it is about facing evacuation. Apparently there is a minimum of three days from the time something happens and when the Red Cross and National Guard get there to start helping people. After hurricane Katrina, they admit that the three day estimate might be a bit of an understatement . . . after a large disaster, you might be on your own up to two weeks without outside help. Even if you don't live in an area at risk for earthquakes or hurricanes, there are plenty of smaller disasters that trigger evacuations: fire at a chemical plant; a truck (or train) crashing and spilling dangerous contents; a dam breaking. Hurricanes and wildfires might leave you more time to prepare, but a lot of smaller disasters don't. These things are more common than you'd imagine, and once I started paying attention to the news, I noticed that small scale evacuations are happening all the time. You often get only a couple of minutes to gather your family and get out, which leaves no time to pack or gather supplies. "It's Time to Plan, Not Panic" teaches you how to prepare an evacuation kit for your family--something to keep packed and stored in a safe, easily accessible place, so that you need only grab it and go in an emergency. Every time I re-read the book, I discover some new piece of advice. It's easy to read, easy to understand, and it has scattered bits of humor and personal experiences throughout, so you learn what you need to know without being overwhelmed. It prepares you for what it would be like to stay in an emergency shelter, so that when faced with an evacuation you aren't as stressed. In particular, I like that she says to be sure to pack entertainment . . . books, crossword puzzles, a deck of cards, anything compact that you can use to take your mind off the situation. Also, she says to include comfort items, little things that will ease your stress. All very good ideas! I loaned my copy to my mother, who actually began preparing the family's kits before I got around to making ours! I bought a second copy and sent it to a friend in California, and she was quite impressed as well. Now I'm buying a third, to send to my mother-in-law. It makes a perfect gift for loved ones, and I cannot recommend it enough!