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

Jack A. Spigarelli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002

A complete guide to emergency preparedness for our uncertain times. Virtually an encyclopedia of food storage and personal preparedness, it covers topics from exactly how to design a food storage program tailored for your particular family to growing and preserving food, storing fuel, alternate energy, emergency evacuation kits, medical and dental, surviving biological, chemical and nuclear terrorism, communications, selection of firearms and other survival tools, and preparing for earthquakes.

Dozens of detailed, expert checklists and tables with photographs and index. Extensive book and resource lists with regular and Internet addresses. An absolute must for those serious about preparing for and surviving during our dangerous times.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A first-class book, probably the best available." -- Conrad V. Chester, civil defense expert and chief researcher, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

"Many times I have referred to [this] book...one of the few 'normal' books on survival." -- George Guillery, manufacturer of nuclear survival products

"One of the best—well reasoned and complete—guides to personal preparedness." -- Bruce Tippery, Remnant Review, Texas

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Cross-Current Pub.; 2nd edition (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936348070
• ISBN-13: 978-0936348070
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

278 of 281 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on the subject. October 24, 2004

By Kristin Belko

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

217 of 219 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid, fact-filled, potentially live saving guide August 4, 2002

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

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.

96 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The One Book to Buy--Be Ready to Work Hard February 17, 2007

By Robert David STEELE Vivas HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Money well spent! March 20, 2006

By E. Cunningham

Format:Paperback

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!

101 of 105 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not an emergency survival manual November 25, 2005

By dissimulo

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book will not help you survive an emergency that you have not prepared for, but it will help you prepare so that you avoid emergencies in the first place.

Just as the title says, this is a preparation handbook. It will help you prepare the place you live so that you can make it through tough times in relative safety and comfort.

No, it will not help you learn to forage for nutritious weeds, track NWO soldiers to their base in the forest, or how to most efficiently loot the bodies of the dead. On the other hand, it will help you decide what food to store and how much, how to keep your electricity running, how to keep a working water supply, and includes a very brief section on guns.

I've read a lot of self-sufficiency books and this is one of the most well rounded that I have encountered. If you are already a survival nut, this won't cover any new ground, but if you have people in your life you are just beginning to show some interest in self-sufficiency, there is probably no better introduction.

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource on Long-Term Food Storage February 11, 2006

By D. Buxman TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this book to be a great resource on long term food storage, but I gave it 4-stars since I didn't think it gave enough attention to other areas in this emerging area. Written in 2002, it provides its information taking terrorism into consideration, which is definitely a positive. I think the book could be updated to include preparedness skills for pandemic flu threats and other emerging issues, but this is a minor criticism. All in all, the book is probably one of the best sources for practical information on food and water storage and general survival skills. The resource list at the end is worth the price of the book. I also appreciated the fact that the author realized that budget considerations are important in this area and that not everyone can afford to buy thousands of dollars worth of freeze dried foods.