When Disaster Strikes is a compelling and informative guide providing detailed survival instructions in the event of a variety of emergency situations. The book offers a complete account of virtually everything you need to know to stay alive and well when faced with adverse conditions. It aims to provide people with the knowledge required to become self‐sufficient and prepared when a major disaster strikes, and when the emergency services are greatly reduced. For example, during large‐scale emergencies such as the recent Japanese earthquake and Tsunami it is possible that the emergency services will be seriously overwhelmed. It is also likely that during such disasters many emergency service staff will be unable to work due to their own injuries, because they have been evacuated from the area or are assisting their own families. This necessitates the need to be self‐reliant, sometimes for several weeks.
In brief, the format of the book consists of three clear sections with helpful lists of items required for survival. The sections relate to general preparations and plans, emergency equipment and tools and information for specific disaster scenarios. This not only makes it easy to read, but more importantly, easy to navigate to quickly find the correct advice during a crisis. Although it would be expensive to buy all of the items suggested, at £15.69 the book itself is good value for money, as in addition to the fact that it is an interesting and insightful read, it would always be useful to keep to refresh your memory of the invaluable lifesaving strategies every once in a while and to turn to if necessary.
The first section covers basic survival provisions and a preparedness plan. It includes a useful checklist of supplies in order to make up an emergency survival kit. The next section deals with the skills and equipment required during a state of emergency and finishes with specific information relating to different disaster scenarios, including the more common earthquakes and tornados to the rarer solar storms and nuclear disasters, which, according to Stein, are well overdue. All eventualities are covered with comprehensive information about what to expect, how to prepare and strategies for survival, both in the home and outdoors, whether the event is preceded by advance warning or happens suddenly.
From storing food correctly, heating and cooking equipment to first aid, self‐defence and water purification, When Disaster Strikes succeeds in its goal of providing all of the information required to sustain life in the most adverse of conditions. The knowledge, skills and supplies discussed are described as a “disaster insurance policy” for your family's survival in times of crisis. The thought provoking first chapter sets the scene by presenting a brief review of potential events that could one day occur. This is followed by guidance on how to prepare for an emergency situation, with in depth realistic advice on what to purchase and from where. Stein continues to encourage his readers to reflect over the vulnerability of our modern highly technological world, which has become more reliant upon electronic systems. The book is enhanced with real scenarios and inspiring stories of survival. A section on different emergency situations following disaster provides the specifics of what to expect and the most successful means of survival in certain conditions.
An interesting aspect is Stein's emphasis on developing a survivor instinct and relying on our intuition, which has been fine tuned through years of natural selection by survival of the fittest. It is highlighted that in order to survive it is vital that we have determination and commitment, as without the emergency services to rely on every family will need to fend for themselves. Particularly relevant at present, is the section on staying healthy in a crisis or pandemic. In this day and age of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria and extra virulent viruses, such as bird and swine flu, having the knowledge and equipment to treat yourself is a useful resource. Moreover, the book's step‐by‐step format and checklists are easy to understand and quick to read when time is of the essence. Even if you never experience a disaster, the section on how to make your own medicines is a most useful and interesting read and I would highly recommend it. Also, the useful checklists for first aid and 72‐h grab and go kits for evacuation provide a detailed addition to the planning section presented in a concise way.
Although it may seem that Stein has tailored this book to the American market, particularly with his recommendations of where to purchase listed items, global web sites and recommended brands are also provided, making the best products more accessible to everyone. The only exception is the section on firearms, which are illegal and therefore less readily available in the UK, however, this is enhanced by the self‐defence chapter which emphasizes the ability of everybody, regardless of sex, strength or size, to protect themselves. The book provides a detailed account, along with photographs, of how to target vulnerable parts of an assailant's body and self‐defence moves in order to disable an attacker. Obviously in order to become proficient, practice would be necessary, however, this chapter does provide a starting point. By raising awareness of skills required to protect yourself from others during times when resources are scarce, this section highlights the harsh reality of the every man for himself mentality that would ensue as survival becomes increasingly competitive.
As a British reader it may be easy to think that compared to other countries Britain does not experience many of the disasters referred to in the book, or at least not to the same extent, however, various disastrous events are covered with something relevant to everyone regardless of location. It would be exceedingly difficult to instantly consider all of the requirements needed for survival without prior thought and preparation, and the likelihood of being able to do this in the midst of disaster would be very slim. For example, would the idea of draining your central heating system as a source of drinking water occur to you in an emergency situation? Even if you do not plan to hurry out and panic buy the comprehensive list of commodities referenced in the book, it is helpful to know how to independently cater for all of your own and your family's day‐to‐day survival needs if necessary. Although it may be easier to put such a topic to the back of your mind and think that “it will never happen to me,” the aim is not to scare monger and panic, rather to encourage readers to plan ahead. The emphasis is to trust and develop our own innate survivor instinct, which may be all we have to rely on when the emergency services are in short supply or unable to operate. With the continual threat of natural disasters, war and terrorism we are advised to “prep for tomorrow, but live for today.”
Due to the nature of the book there are no limits to the target audience – everybody can benefit from learning survival skills, and the author clearly takes this into account by catering for all abilities. Whether you are a beginner interested in learning about basic survival skills/supplies or a seasoned survival expert interested in more detailed information, this book aims to inspire all readers to be prepared for all eventualities, however, they can. Bearing this in mind, this book is not aimed at an academic audience specifically as it is accessible to people from all backgrounds in life; however, from the perspective of an academic reader it highlights the importance of both psychological and physical resilience, with emphasis on the benefits of a survivor personality. It also highlights the advancements made by society in terms of technology and ease of importing food as impediments to survival in the case of preparedness for a large‐scale disaster. Although as a country, having the means to develop is usually considered beneficial, in this case the opposite is true, as although the development of the western world allows for sophisticated monitoring/warning systems for natural disasters, it also opens us up to being reliant on other sophisticated systems and technology for our everyday supplies. For example, the systems now responsible for co‐ordinating food supplies provides a huge variety of worldwide produce, however, disruption of these complex systems would leave serious shortfalls in supplies in the event of a crisis. In a sense, this book therefore highlights the benefits of life before the complicated systems on which we now rely were developed, suggesting that we get back to basics and provide ourselves with the means to become more self‐sufficient as a method of future proofing our survival. Although this book serves as a thorough guide of survival strategies for all abilities, as a book for an academic audience it is limited. For example, in terms of emergency services policy it offers no lessons to be learned. Instead, it is clearly portrayed that in times of serious large‐scale disaster the emergency services will be crippled by the sheer volume of casualties and lack of personnel, suggesting that the only option is to face up to the fact that our world is a vulnerable place and become self‐reliant. Hence, the future proofing emphasis is on improvement of the skills of the individual, taking total responsibility for ourselves, as opposed to improvement of service provision.
