Wright's Complete Disaster Survival Manual: How to Prepare for Earthquakes, Floods, Tornadoes, & Other Natural Disasters [Paperback]

Ted Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1993

Are you prepared for a hurricane that turns your home into rubble? An earthquake that leaves you and your family without shelter, food, or water? A flood that makes your home unlivable? Most people don't want to think about those things until it's too late.

Ted Wright, who came of age in London during the Blitz of World War II, has extensive experience dealing with natural and man made disasters. He knows most problems occur after the disaster, not during it, and tells how to plan beforehand to enhance the chances of surviving the aftermath.

This book covers a variety of possible disasters and considers almost any place one might happen to be when it strikes. In all cases, advance planning combined with relatively inexpensive preparations will greatly enhance your chances of survival, whether you are caught at home (including mobile homes and condos), at work, at school, or on the road. It even has a special distaster plan that elementary, juniour high, or high schools should not be without.

With dozens of drawings and ideas, including food torpedoes, quake-resistant shelters, medicine chests, and water-storage trenches, this survival manual will be a life-saver for anyone caught in a major disaster.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A survivor of the London blitz, Wright now produces videos and lectures on earthquake survival. His theme: the quality of survival depends on the quality of preparation. His approach: encourage people to consider where they will be, plan what they will do in particular environments, and store up and/or carry what they will need when the "Big E" hits. His book contains practical information on selecting and storing supplies, and he offers advice on preparation and organization for schools, apartment dwellers, and the like. Wright briefly touches on other natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods. The author writes in a chatty, homespun style that makes one wish for less verbiage and more practical ideas. Purchase where interest warrants.
- W.T. Johnston, formerly with Coastal Plain Regional Lib., Tifton, Ga.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing (July 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 187890180X
• ISBN-13: 978-1878901804
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #733,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not "complete" but still important info., May 5, 2004

By 

Vegas Trailer Supply (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wright's Complete Disaster Survival Manual: How to Prepare for Earthquakes, Floods, Tornadoes, & Other Natural Disasters (Paperback)

Even though there are mistakes and various ctiticisms about this book, Mr. Wright has prepared an important resource for those wishing to be better prepared for "the big one". I found that it was not "complete" but still valuable reading, even ten years later.

None of us want to think about disasters, but they still happen. After reading this book I immediately made "72 hour kits" or "mobility bags" for every member of the family. I have one in the car along with a cheap crow-bar under the seat. I am making a kit for work and even gave them away as Christmas presents!

It is my intention to stock a few critical supplies in a safe place in my yard in case the house collapses and my supplies are not safely reachable. This I do because of this book. I believe this book should be evaluated by every family, and some of the ideas about schools should be addressed by teachers, PTA members and legislators throughout the country. Great food for thought. Great food for action. Thank you Mr. Wright.

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Rambles about many things; *BAD* first aid, November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wright's Complete Disaster Survival Manual: How to Prepare for Earthquakes, Floods, Tornadoes, & Other Natural Disasters (Paperback)

The old gentleman who wrote this book rambles on for much of the book about how stupid people are. I just opened to page 133 and found something "Honey! (High-pitched hysterical voice) Look at this awful book written by this terrible man. (Thrusts book under husband's nose) Honey, do you know what he is saying? (Goes on without stopping) He is saying that our house is going to fall down. ..."

END QUOTE

Where he isn't disrespecting his readers, he's babbling about every type of place imaginable and what might go wrong there -- with little constructive advice. The author has readers paying to hear him pat himself on the back for seeing how how stupid the rest of us are, when he has little to contribute himself but the chip on his shoulder.

This would be a simple waste of money if it weren't for the bad medical advice. He wants readers to pop burn blisters and apply aloe vera cream or honey. In another instance, he says to apply "a little salve" to a burn. For a THIRD DEGREE BURN, he says to put aloe vera juice over the dressing.

I'm not complaining just because aloe vera burns my skin, but because it is wrong, wrong, wrong to put any gunk on a third-degree burn.

He recommends garlic tablets for DIARRHEA.

When it comes to food, there's little of look up and young women in the audience tend to have a stunned look on their faces... END QUOTE

Then he goes on about people who only have time to microwave, and cooking being a lost art. Pat pat...

For GOOD first aid information, take a course from the Red Cross -- it only takes 4 hours, and you can also get certified in CPR in 3 hours. Your time and the low fees for the classes will be MUCH better spent than as a purchase of this book, and you could actually make an injured or ill person better instead of worse!

I got this book because it was recommended in the e-dition of my home-town paper. Now I'm too ashamed to say which home town. The book just stinks.

One book I *do* recommend is "Secrets of Warmth," by Hal Weiss, which is available on Amazon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Resource, August 15, 2006

By 

Kacey Sack-Wright (Port Orchard, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wright's Complete Disaster Survival Manual: How to Prepare for Earthquakes, Floods, Tornadoes, & Other Natural Disasters (Paperback)

What an incredibly useful book. I don't know what some of the other reviewers were reading, but it wasn't this work. I didn't see anything about weird medical advice. I did find it chock full of very useful, pertinent information. Having lived through the Northridge quake, I know what this man says is true. The simple-to-follow procedures make so much sense and are very practical.