Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Home Storage and Physical Survival

This is quite an extraordinary book. I read a lot, mostly non-fiction, and I give this author credit for doing an absolutely tremendous job of research, of book construction, and of presentation. THe bulk of the book is about food and water--stockpiling, production, and preservation are the three largest chapters--but the rest of it is completely useful as well. The resources section is lengthy, explicit, diverse, and totally helpful. I put the book down with a comment to my wife that survival is very hard work, and preparing for survival is almost as hard. This book does everything possible to help you get started. It is chock full of gems, for example, plan on 26 rolls of toilet paper per person per year. I had no idea! I also admire the author for being blunt about not favoring "retreat homes." His common sense view is that you have two choices: move now, or prepare your existing home for survival. His thinking, that it may be impossible to GET to your retreat home (or, I would add, once you get there, take it back from the armed strangers that have broken in and will kill you on sight) makes perfect sense. This is not the only book you want. I admire the two spotlighted reviews very much, and have kept my own review short because of the excellence of the other reviews. Let there be no doubt: this book is worth every penny, and every minute of your time. I recommend a four-part approach to preparedness: a below-ground safe room and iodine pills, train the kids to go deep and sit for three days in case of a nuclear event; a 3-4 week supply of water, food, and essentials that assumes NO ELECTRICITY; a one-year rudimentary supply kit; and a neighbohood association to study and prepare for survival as a group.

Having just started 'stockpiling' and emergency preparedness, this book has been our bible. It is comprehensive, informative, and easy to follow, even (especially??) for newbies like us. The advice is practical and never preachy. It can be read cover-to-cover or as a guide by just going to specific chapters that you need info on. It is not, like so many other resources on the subject, doomsday oriented; and it works well for disasters and the like or just helping one to prepare for the leaner times that sometimes arise in life. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the subject matter as well as for people you'd like to 'gently' introduce to it. I'm buying several copies for friends and family. Definitely 2 thumbs up!

This book covers all aspects of preparedness, from food storage to weapons caching. Extensive source material is provided, including web addresses, stores and books for further study. Spigarelli does not preach or lecture. Unlike many other books on the subject, there is no overt religious point of view or political agenda. Spigarelli merely suggests that it is sensible to prepare for whatever eventualities the reader expects and provides the tools to do so. This is a book to read thoroughly and keep as a reference. The details on food storage alone are well worth the price.

This book is well organized, covers all aspects from food storage, Food preparation, Water supply, food production, preservation, etc. It provides lists which the reader can use to start preparing. It certainly does not contain everything you will ever need for every situation, but it provides the foundation, and references where you can learn more. I have bought many of these types of books, and this is quite simply the best if you are only going to buy just one.

Now in an updated second edition, Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide To Home Storage And Physical Survival by Jack A. Spigarelli is a solid, practical, no-nonsense, but completely "user friendly" reference for the selection and acquisition of stockpiled food and water for emergencies; growing, raising, and finding food; preserving food at home by means such as home canning and dehydrating; emergency evacuation in a crisis; and other preparation safeguards for weathering a natural or man-made crisis. From clothing issues to transportation needs and communication alternatives, the Crisis Preparedness Handbook is a solid, fact-filled, potentially live saving guide, and especially recommended reading for anyone seeking to protect themselves and their loved ones in times of local, regional, national, or international calamity.