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Just in Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens
With an eye toward self-sufficiency, Kathy Harrison guides you through preparations and contingency plans that will keep you healthy, safe, and calm in a crisis.
546 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2008
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971 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
November 30, 2011
A great book for preparedness - not the crazy survivalist type, but everyday well-being. We've all had the power go out, or been snowed in, or been too sick to leave the house for several days. How would you fare in any of those situations? Could you eat, stay warm, have enough meds, flush the toilet(s), keep your kids from going bonkers with boredom?!? Just in Case will help you plan and prepare for almost any situation ranging from a 24-hour power outage to a months-long pandemic.
I was pleased that a lot of the suggestions are things that I have already done. My family does need to prepare a go-bag for evacuations, but if we have to shelter-in-place we're pretty well set for a month. I imagine that some of my friends will be heading over to my house when/if the disaster happens. :-)
Small peeve/Personal opinion: Some of Harrison's directions for preservation and/or food preparation are overly complicated. I realize that she's working to prevent botulism and other possible problems, but sometimes simple is best. I have my own yogurt method that is easier than hers, as is my dehydrating method for fruits & veggies.
I was pleased that a lot of the suggestions are things that I have already done. My family does need to prepare a go-bag for evacuations, but if we have to shelter-in-place we're pretty well set for a month. I imagine that some of my friends will be heading over to my house when/if the disaster happens. :-)
Small peeve/Personal opinion: Some of Harrison's directions for preservation and/or food preparation are overly complicated. I realize that she's working to prevent botulism and other possible problems, but sometimes simple is best. I have my own yogurt method that is easier than hers, as is my dehydrating method for fruits & veggies.
May 24, 2017
I bought three emergency preparedness books the summer before Hurricane Sandy, because my area was about due for another big hurricane season. Boy, did we get one. Of those three books, Just in Case was by far my favorite, and the one most relevant to my life. I was not a competitive survivalist. I was a mom with two tiny children, a husband skeptical about prepping, and not a lot of money to spare. Harrison made it easy for me to figure out where to begin, what to prioritize, and how to talk about the hurricane, once it was on the way, with my kids. If I could recommend only one preparedness book, it would be this one.
February 15, 2017
This is a prepper-mild instruction book which I liked. Lots of little helpful hints. I don't know about draining the household water out completely without trying to save some. There were recipes at the end using some of the products she mentioned or things you have stored yourself. Since I'm a "open the can and stir" kind of cook I just passed those. Although while I'm typing this I am going to take some food preservation classes offered locally - so really what am I talking about!?
July 29, 2009
“If you must rely only on yourselves and the goods and resources in your home, can you still live comfortably and safely? If you must leave your home to find safety elsewhere, can you be out of your house in ten minutes, confident that your home is secure and that all family members know where you are going, how you will get there, and how to keep in touch with each other? Some planning now will ensure that your answer will be ‘yes’ when you need it to be.” (p.49)
I. The OAR System: Organize, Acquire, Rotate
Ch. 1 Organize (Finding Space, Assessing Needs, Getting Ready to Store Food)
Ch. 2 Acquire and Rotate (Building Your Food Supply, Finding and Storing Water, The Other Necessities of Life)
“It is wise to try out your system from time to time. Prepare a complete meal using only your camp stove. Use only stored foods and eat by candlelight. Don’t open the refrigerator and don’t run to the store. Could you do it? Was something critical, like a manual can opener, missing? Now is the time to figure out what works and what doesn’t and make adjustments. Practice like this will serve the dual purposes of tweaking your skills and systems and rotating your supplies. It might just turn out to be the best night of the week.” p.37
II. Preparedness: Getting Your Home and Family Ready to Handle Crisis
Ch. 3 Personal Preparedness (Health, Skills, Bookkeeping (Know where your important documents are), Financial Preparedness).
Ch. 4 Home Systems (Power, Lighting, Cooking, Heating, Refrigeration, Sanitation)
Ch. 5 Communications (Keeping Informed, Keeping in Touch)
Ch. 6 Preparedness with Children
Ch. 7 Pets
Ch. 8 Preparing Your Car
Ch. 9 Evacuation
III. Dealing With Disaster: What to do in an Emergency
Ch. 10 Loss of Power
Ch. 11 Fire in the Home
Ch. 12 Natural Disasters (Extreme Heat, Winter Storms & Extreme Cold, Floods, Wildfires, Thunderstorms, Landslides, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Tsunamis)
Ch. 13 Toxic Hazards
Ch. 14 Pandemic
Ch. 15 Terrorism
IV. Doing it Yourself: The Arts of Self-Sufficiency
Ch. 16 Skills for Independence (Purify Water, Gardening, Cold Storage, Heating with Wood, Wild Foods, Wilderness Survival)
Ch. 17 Food from Scratch (Canning, Dehydrating, Pickling, Making Yogurt, Making Cheese, Baking Bread, Sprouting)
Ch. 18 The Stored Food Cookbook
"I write about managing a home for a period of time without running water or electricity as though it is a given that such things are necessary for survival. In fact, people have lived without such luxuries for millennia, and all over the world, many people live without them now, either by choice or necessity. We turn these luxuries into necessities when we forget the skills we need to manage without them." (p.155)
...and when they are completely integrated into our infrastructure. It's not just that I don't know how to cook in a fireplace, it is that modern fireplaces are not designed for cooking; in contemporary homes, there is no arm in the fireplace from which to hang a pot, no pots that could survive open flame cooking, no room for a woodpile. It's not just that a lack of running water is a problem; it's that in suburbia no running water means no water period. It would be easy to find a house with three living rooms (and we'll still need a storage unit for all that shopping!), but you'd be hard pressed to find one with a pantry, never mind a cellar. Trying to prepare for even a three day collapse of our infrastructure and services makes me realize how absolutely dependent today's life is designed to be. Our homes are engineered to work in a real time, moment-to-moment supply of electricity, gas, and water. If the power goes out in January, the modern home immediately loses any ability to cook, to provide heat, to provide hot water, to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting. The author discusses these systems in Chapter 4 and how to create alternatives for each so that, in the event of a breakdown, you can simply "slip into an off-the-grid mode...” p. 54
I. The OAR System: Organize, Acquire, Rotate
Ch. 1 Organize (Finding Space, Assessing Needs, Getting Ready to Store Food)
Ch. 2 Acquire and Rotate (Building Your Food Supply, Finding and Storing Water, The Other Necessities of Life)
“It is wise to try out your system from time to time. Prepare a complete meal using only your camp stove. Use only stored foods and eat by candlelight. Don’t open the refrigerator and don’t run to the store. Could you do it? Was something critical, like a manual can opener, missing? Now is the time to figure out what works and what doesn’t and make adjustments. Practice like this will serve the dual purposes of tweaking your skills and systems and rotating your supplies. It might just turn out to be the best night of the week.” p.37
II. Preparedness: Getting Your Home and Family Ready to Handle Crisis
Ch. 3 Personal Preparedness (Health, Skills, Bookkeeping (Know where your important documents are), Financial Preparedness).
Ch. 4 Home Systems (Power, Lighting, Cooking, Heating, Refrigeration, Sanitation)
Ch. 5 Communications (Keeping Informed, Keeping in Touch)
Ch. 6 Preparedness with Children
Ch. 7 Pets
Ch. 8 Preparing Your Car
Ch. 9 Evacuation
III. Dealing With Disaster: What to do in an Emergency
Ch. 10 Loss of Power
Ch. 11 Fire in the Home
Ch. 12 Natural Disasters (Extreme Heat, Winter Storms & Extreme Cold, Floods, Wildfires, Thunderstorms, Landslides, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Tsunamis)
Ch. 13 Toxic Hazards
Ch. 14 Pandemic
Ch. 15 Terrorism
IV. Doing it Yourself: The Arts of Self-Sufficiency
Ch. 16 Skills for Independence (Purify Water, Gardening, Cold Storage, Heating with Wood, Wild Foods, Wilderness Survival)
Ch. 17 Food from Scratch (Canning, Dehydrating, Pickling, Making Yogurt, Making Cheese, Baking Bread, Sprouting)
Ch. 18 The Stored Food Cookbook
"I write about managing a home for a period of time without running water or electricity as though it is a given that such things are necessary for survival. In fact, people have lived without such luxuries for millennia, and all over the world, many people live without them now, either by choice or necessity. We turn these luxuries into necessities when we forget the skills we need to manage without them." (p.155)
...and when they are completely integrated into our infrastructure. It's not just that I don't know how to cook in a fireplace, it is that modern fireplaces are not designed for cooking; in contemporary homes, there is no arm in the fireplace from which to hang a pot, no pots that could survive open flame cooking, no room for a woodpile. It's not just that a lack of running water is a problem; it's that in suburbia no running water means no water period. It would be easy to find a house with three living rooms (and we'll still need a storage unit for all that shopping!), but you'd be hard pressed to find one with a pantry, never mind a cellar. Trying to prepare for even a three day collapse of our infrastructure and services makes me realize how absolutely dependent today's life is designed to be. Our homes are engineered to work in a real time, moment-to-moment supply of electricity, gas, and water. If the power goes out in January, the modern home immediately loses any ability to cook, to provide heat, to provide hot water, to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting. The author discusses these systems in Chapter 4 and how to create alternatives for each so that, in the event of a breakdown, you can simply "slip into an off-the-grid mode...” p. 54
March 28, 2020
I've never read a preparedness book before. Being a retired firefighter, I always thought I/we were somewhat prepared, at least, for our greatest concern for evacuation which is wildland fire. Kathy Harrison gives [mostly] sound advice to take self-sufficiency to a whole 'nother level.
There are a few things I'd like to point out because just they are wrong and can be dangerous. These are referenced in page order.
1. page 50 - When the author is recalling her first-aid training, she mentions first doing a mouth sweep. Never, NEVER do a blind finger sweep on a choking victim. You run the risk of pushing whatever the item is farther back into the airway. Don't do this. EVER.
2. page 96 - The five-step evacuation process is good, although I'd mention if you are evacuating due to fire, don't do step five which is Lock all doors - this just creates a barrier for the firefighters that may need access to extinguish a fire in your home or who are in desperate need of shelter from a wildland fire that's blown up. If your house survives, you'll be replacing a door or window.
3. page 126 - The last paragraph prior to the section on Thunderstorms mentions safety tips if you find yourself trapped in a wildfire. It's all good until she mentions placing a wet cloth over your nose and mouth to protect from smoke. Please, PLEASE do not do this. Water is a great conductor of things like electricity and heat. A saturated cloth will increase your risk for pulmonary edema and that's not pretty.
4. page 127 - In case of severe thunderstorms, only use the phone in an emergency. I can attest from personal experience that cordless phones do not afford you anymore safety than a corded phone does and cell phones shouldn't be used either. Lightning has been known to strike people from a storm that is up to three miles away. "If lightning is striking near you...Do not lie flat." This is true, but let's take it a step further by crouching on the balls of your feet, making the contact your body has with the ground as minuscule as possible.
Other than these four items, I believe there's some excellent information provided. You can take your level of preparedness as far as you want.
There are a few things I'd like to point out because just they are wrong and can be dangerous. These are referenced in page order.
1. page 50 - When the author is recalling her first-aid training, she mentions first doing a mouth sweep. Never, NEVER do a blind finger sweep on a choking victim. You run the risk of pushing whatever the item is farther back into the airway. Don't do this. EVER.
2. page 96 - The five-step evacuation process is good, although I'd mention if you are evacuating due to fire, don't do step five which is Lock all doors - this just creates a barrier for the firefighters that may need access to extinguish a fire in your home or who are in desperate need of shelter from a wildland fire that's blown up. If your house survives, you'll be replacing a door or window.
3. page 126 - The last paragraph prior to the section on Thunderstorms mentions safety tips if you find yourself trapped in a wildfire. It's all good until she mentions placing a wet cloth over your nose and mouth to protect from smoke. Please, PLEASE do not do this. Water is a great conductor of things like electricity and heat. A saturated cloth will increase your risk for pulmonary edema and that's not pretty.
4. page 127 - In case of severe thunderstorms, only use the phone in an emergency. I can attest from personal experience that cordless phones do not afford you anymore safety than a corded phone does and cell phones shouldn't be used either. Lightning has been known to strike people from a storm that is up to three miles away. "If lightning is striking near you...Do not lie flat." This is true, but let's take it a step further by crouching on the balls of your feet, making the contact your body has with the ground as minuscule as possible.
Other than these four items, I believe there's some excellent information provided. You can take your level of preparedness as far as you want.
October 8, 2010
While some of the tips are "common sense" and much of the book was review for me because of the classes I've taken recently, I did find the book contained a lot of great reminders and resources. For example, I never would have thought to keep a copy of our cats' immunizations records with our vital records to grab & go in case of an evacuation, nor had the need for feeding & water bowls and trash bags for cat waste entered my mind in the case of an evacuation. I'd previously only thought about grabbing the cats themselves & having food and water for them in case of an evacuation.
The book covers a wide range of topics. As a result, there may be additional research you want to do based on something brought up in the book. The author includes various titles of other books for reference on different topics. I do find that this book might come in very handy and may just pick up a copy of it from the bookstore when I return this one to the library (after my husband reads it).
The book covers a wide range of topics. As a result, there may be additional research you want to do based on something brought up in the book. The author includes various titles of other books for reference on different topics. I do find that this book might come in very handy and may just pick up a copy of it from the bookstore when I return this one to the library (after my husband reads it).
October 21, 2009
This is a GREAT reference book for Emergency Preparedness. I learned so much, and liked how the book was organized for easy reference. Even some good food storage recipes too. I liked it's reasonable ideas on how to improve your family's emergency preparedness from a mainstream, non-church perspective.
May 7, 2009
Everyone needs to have this book on their bookshelf. It is very detailed with preparedness tips for every type of emergency. It also teaches many preparedness skills and has a large food storage recipe section.
October 18, 2011
Kathy Harrison presents a compelling look at why we are more at risk from systemic failures in the power, food, transportation and communication networks than ever before and offers ways for families to prepare to meet those challenges. This isn't a "survivalists" manual. It won't tell you how to live in a fortified bunker so you can be ready for the apocalypse. But it will tell you how to assess your family's exposure to risk, prioritize your planning and prepare for disasters of different degrees and duration. There's a lot of good information here, more than can be easily absorbed in one reading.
The e-pub version leaves much to be desired, however. When the book is in plain text, it manages to be very legible, but the chapters with recipes are poorly formatted, with measurements failing to be properly converted. You're left wondering if "v cups" is a quarter cup, half cup, three quarter cup, or something else; not the best way to read a recipe. In addition, what are presented as sidebars or notes in the print book are dropped haphazardly into the text in the e-pub version, suddenly breaking into the middle of a sentence with an unrelated paragraph, leaving the reader wondering what the hell just happened. It's a pity the publisher couldn't have taken a bit of extra time to properly prepare the text for the electronic version.
The e-pub version leaves much to be desired, however. When the book is in plain text, it manages to be very legible, but the chapters with recipes are poorly formatted, with measurements failing to be properly converted. You're left wondering if "v cups" is a quarter cup, half cup, three quarter cup, or something else; not the best way to read a recipe. In addition, what are presented as sidebars or notes in the print book are dropped haphazardly into the text in the e-pub version, suddenly breaking into the middle of a sentence with an unrelated paragraph, leaving the reader wondering what the hell just happened. It's a pity the publisher couldn't have taken a bit of extra time to properly prepare the text for the electronic version.
June 24, 2013
This book covers many categories of family preparedness - food and water storage, heating (and the dangers of fire and carbon monoxide in the home), first aid, threats from weather, earthquakes or civil unrest, and basic information for someone just realizing how important these things are. The book is organized into easy to read chapters, with charts, drawings and bulleted blocks. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to keep their family safe, organized and unafraid in emergencies.
The only drawback, in my opinion, is that the author is rather preachy about global warming, peak oil and recycling. I don't think her personal opinions belong in this type of book.
The only drawback, in my opinion, is that the author is rather preachy about global warming, peak oil and recycling. I don't think her personal opinions belong in this type of book.
January 31, 2015
This is not an "extreme prepper's" viewpoint book. This is a book with a broad and thorough view of general preparedness for a typical family. I appreciated her ideas on dealing with children which most books gloss over as well as preparing your home if you have to evacuate. This is a very good read for anyone anywhere that might find themselves out-of-place after any natural disaster, a failure in supply chains, or a simple week without power in the dead of winter. This is a great choice for a family beginning to think that it's wise to have some reserves for when you can't get them and need them.
May 7, 2009
Always a sucker for a deal and for many things practical, I thought I would preview this in hopes of suggesting it to others or giving it with a wedding gift this summer. Sound information is presented in a very accessible way. Much of the content was covered in the school of life with my ever-prepared mother, but I used the checklists for an emergency evacuation kit and a few of the recipes to supplement my favorite stash. A good "basic reference" for a new household or folks who may have lived a previously more privileged life and now need to be able to do things for themselves.
July 30, 2010
I love these types of books, and I am inspired to become prepared to live off the grid. I refuse to live in fear of disasters and other events that cause us to lose power, water, food, etc., but it pays to be prepared for all types of situations, even a short power outage. This book covers everything from getting yourself, family, home, and car into a state of preparedness to tips on handling emergencies to basic skills needed in case you have to live off the grid short-term and long-term. Very helpful!
March 4, 2013
I have three words for this book: dry, dry, dry.
I saw the author on "Doomsday Preppers" and thought her book might be good. Unfortunately it lacks any kind of passion. The only topic throughout the book that you can tell that she is passionate about is environmental friendliness, or whatever you want to call it, but she is not talented enough of a writer to pass any of her dry passion along to the reader.
I gave the book 3 stars because the information she states is all useful and accurate--it just reads like a very boring textbook.
I saw the author on "Doomsday Preppers" and thought her book might be good. Unfortunately it lacks any kind of passion. The only topic throughout the book that you can tell that she is passionate about is environmental friendliness, or whatever you want to call it, but she is not talented enough of a writer to pass any of her dry passion along to the reader.
I gave the book 3 stars because the information she states is all useful and accurate--it just reads like a very boring textbook.
September 28, 2012
Very interesting, even if you're not a crazy conspiracy freak who believes the end is near. ;)
The last pages about terrorist attacks weren't absolutely necessary, in my opinion, and many general hints and tips are aimed at people who live in a (their own?) house. However, to a certain degree most of the hints are quite sensible, especially when you live in areas that are prone to certain kinds of natural disasters, e. g. forest fires or heavy storms.
The last pages about terrorist attacks weren't absolutely necessary, in my opinion, and many general hints and tips are aimed at people who live in a (their own?) house. However, to a certain degree most of the hints are quite sensible, especially when you live in areas that are prone to certain kinds of natural disasters, e. g. forest fires or heavy storms.
July 18, 2020
I stopped reading this book for over a month because I just didn't really feel like it, but I still think it's a great resource and worth reading for anyone who is interested in disaster preparedness. It's basically a primer on how to stockpile enough at home to be able to survive for up to a few months without help from any outside resources. Lots of advice on what to do in case of all sorts of different types of disasters you might encounter.
September 20, 2009
A well written preparedness guide, this book takes you step by step through what to do to make your own family well prepared for any emergency. I think this is the best book of its type I've read, keeping its focus, knowing the material and presenting options while discussing what kind of choices are better in different situations. Stuff to learn for pretty much anyone.
June 13, 2011
Absolutely excellent book filled with valuable information about preparing your family for a variety of emergencies (storms, lengthy power outages, home evacuations). An easy read, well laid out with detailed step by step procedures and methods for personalization. Every family should consider this book as the foundation of their own plan for when the unexpected happens.
September 3, 2008
Pray that you will never need this information, but it is good to be prepared. This is a straightforward, very handy book, especially given all the bad weather in New Orleans and the recent fires in California. It even has recipes for no electricity/emergency cooking!
October 30, 2008
A must-read for moms, especially those who like to be prepared for the unexpected, (and don't we all ;o) Now I'm pricing wood stoves and fire wood; you may even catch me gardening this spring (yeah, try and contain your smirks!)
March 20, 2009
This is a great book for those who want to be ready when your boat gets rocked. It is an excellent reference filled with ideas and directions on how to be prepared for nearly any catastrophe and how to continue on with life without things like fossil fuels or electricity.
December 4, 2009
A good start to getting prepared and being self-sufficient. It is much more accessible for average people who just want to be less reliant on the grid and global food systems. This book is infinitely less alarmist or extreme than a lot I have tried to plod through.
August 28, 2011
A comprehensive guide to self-sufficiency, from emergency evacuation to suggestions for making cheese at home. The author may come off as frugal or old-fashioned, but she really knows her stuff. A very good addition to the library.
January 26, 2013
Just in Case is a good, basic beginner book to get you thinking. I like the way she focuses on figuring out which kinds of disasters are most likely in your neck of the woods.
April 22, 2012
loved other storey pub books (country life for realists & dreamers is a big fav of mine) also read kathy harrison's non fiction foster family books so this was a neat read for me - very good info! i am already implementing some of her ideas
June 17, 2015
There is a lot of information here and it's a good starting point for anyone who is interested in learning about self-sufficiency and preparing for emergencies. It does seem a little pushy about the emergency preparedness. Overall an interesting read.
October 31, 2015
This book provides a good overview of how to get prepared for an emergency and/or natural disaster. It's not very in-depth, so you'll probably need to consult other sources, but it's perfect if you're getting overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start.
April 20, 2017
Strong book on preparedness though a bit of it is a little too far into preparedness for my liking - maybe what I just want is a list of what food to put in the pantry for 3-7 just-in-case days, not preparing wood stoves and bread from scratch for potential months without power.
Want to read
January 11, 2009 613.6 HAR
March 10, 2009
A generalized take on disaster preparedness. I did pick up a few good tips, but I've found websites that are a bit more specific. Top of my list of "to do's": heat source, cooking, water storage.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews