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

by Barbara Salsbury

Book Overview

The bad news-as many people have discovered in recent years-is that disasters and crises don't make appointments before they come calling. the good news is that you don't have to be caught unprepared!... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• 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!