The next severe storm, power outage, or financial meltdown could hit at any time. Having a household contingency plan and being part of a strong, resilient community could mean the difference between life and death. This friendly and highly accessible guide introduces the most important, practical steps your whole family can take to ensure survival in short- or long-term emergencies. The critical information is presented in 40 achievable tasks, ranging from simpler ones such as creating a preparedness notebook and repackaging store-bought food for storage to more involved preparations like learning to collect rainwater and building a solar oven.

Table of Contents: 
Create a Preparedness Binder
Assess Your Lighting Needs
Calculate Your Water Needs
Plan for Long-Term Water Usage
Calculate Your Food Needs
Design a Food Storage Program
Store Food for the Long Term
Build a First-Aid Kit
Build a Basic Tool Kit
Stock Up on Batteries
Check Your Car
Prepare Your Home
Review Your Financial Preparedness
Protect Your Electronics
Talk to Your Kids
Prepare Your Pets
Keep Communication Open
Take Care of Your Head, Hands, and Feet
Shop for the Best Buys
Buy in Bulk
Grow a Little Garden
Learn to Preserve Food
Learn to Cook in a Crisis
Plan a Day of Emergency Meals
Keep Your Food Safe
How to Handle Garbage
Keep Pests at Bay
Connect with Your Community
Plan for Entertainment and Celebration
Cope with Sanitation
Deal with Personal Hygiene
Manage Your Laundry
Think about Security
Create a Safe Room
Keep Warm
Keep Cool
Make an Evacuation Plan
Survival Hacks
The Well-Prepared Bookcase
Ready, Set, Practice!
Afterword: What If It Lasts Longer?
Resources
Recommended Reading
Metric Conversions