Plan... Not Panic: 72 Hour Survival/Emergency Evacuation Manual [Paperback]

Barbara G. Salsbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 1994

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 personal experience that describes how to overcome the "villain" of most evacuations ... Lag-Time. This book replaces panic, gloom and doom, that many times accompanies thoughts of a crisis, with the solutions of economic, individualized, practical preparations; that include 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 its 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 work place. 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 for a set list 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 extrememly 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 guidleines 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Anti-panic manual helps families plan instead of panicking. Salsbury's book takes consumers through the steps of preparing their kits right through how to survive comfortably until government assistance arrives. Every family needs to be prepared, because it isn't always 'somebody else.'" -- Gwen Schoen, It's About Time, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA, July 26, 1994

"Even those who think they know all about preparing for an evacuation may learn something form this concise, well organized, slim volume." -- Sarah Sue Goldsmith, MAGAZINE, Readings and Writings, Baton Rouge, LA, September 4, 1994

"Plan...Not Panic" is a unique and important 107-page paper-back that most publishers would normally ignore. For readers it may mean the difference between life and death." -- Don DeNevi, Book Reviews, Los Altos Town Crier, Los Altos, CA October 26, 1994

"Salsbury's handbook, "Plan ...Not Panic is the self published answer to the personalization that's missing from existing publications. ...Beginning with the recommended emergency kit, which she calls the 72-hour Evacuation Kit, Salsbury details not only what to pack, but also how to pack and label the contents, containers to use and to avoid, and how to store and rotate food and water. The publication's detailed worksheets offer ample space to list the necessary purchases of the kit and an inventory sheet to monitor supplies on hand. Under one cover, "Plan...Not Panic offers information ... that helps you pinpoint what is most important to you and your family when you face disaster." -- Broderick Perkins, Living Section, San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, CA , March 6, 1994

...helps families plan instead of panicking. ... teaches steps of preparing kits. ... how to survive ... until help arrives -- Gwen Schoen, Sacramento Bee

Even those who think they know about preparing for an evacuation may learn something from this concise, well organized volume. -- Sara Sue Goldsmith, MAGAZINE, Readings and Writings, Baton Rouge, LA

Focusing on lag-time... the book outlines critical points that can make the difference between panic and the ability to cope. -- Patti Martin, Family Briefings, Asbury Park Press

Plan Not Panic is a unique and important ... For readers it may mean the difference between life and death. -- Don DeNevi, Book Reviews, Los Altos Town Crier, Los Altos, CA

Under one cover, Plan Not Panic offers information that helps you pinpoint what is most important ... when you face disaster. -- Broderick Perkins, Living Section, San Jose Mercury News

From the Author

Many times authors write books because they like the subject, or like to do research or one of any thousands of reasons. I wrote "Plan ...Not Panic" because I saw an area where there was not a great deal of practical or reliable information available for the individual or the family. There was a great deal of information for "city emergency management", or "feeding of crowds in an emergency", or "setting up the evacuations center" and so on. So I determined to fill the niche. I felt the desire to produce something that would be helpful and ended up proving the validity of my thoughts and planning as we relied heavily on our 72-hour kits during the immediate aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake. So in addition to my desire to help, you also have my conviction of how extremely important this information is. I sincerely hope you might be one of the fortunate ones who struggles, plans, invests, has a 72-hour kit on hand and never has to use it. But on the other hand, as I learned first hand.......IT ONLY TAKES ONCE! END

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Salsbury Enterprises (May 20, 1994)
• ISBN-10: 1886341001
• ISBN-13: 978-1886341005
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,861,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am much more prepared cause the book was so thorough, September 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Plan... Not Panic: 72 Hour Survival/Emergency Evacuation Manual (Paperback)

I loved how easy to read and understand this book on preparedness is. Barbara made me feel like I could take care of myself and my family in an emergency. Even if the situation is bad, I can be prepared so we can at least cope. There were some ideas I'd never even considered before, that certainly made a lot of sense. I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Have Book!, July 4, 2008

By 

Orianna (TN, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Plan... Not Panic: 72 Hour Survival/Emergency Evacuation Manual (Paperback)

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.

"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!

(Note: This is an older edition of the book. The newer edition has a red and white cover, and contains a few changes. (The revised title is "It's Time to Plan, Not Panic") Mainly, it points out that the lag time before help arrives might be longer than just 72 hours.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad a friend recommended it. It has really helped., September 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Plan... Not Panic: 72 Hour Survival/Emergency Evacuation Manual (Paperback)

A friend recommended that I get this book. I really like the outline format that showed me how to go from one subject to the next as I tried to figure out what our family would need. All of the news headlines have been frightening. This book showed me that I could at least try to do something to help myself. I also liked the fact that it gave me choices and I could work it into my budget.