Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios

by Lisa Bedford

From the creator of TheSurvivalMom.com comes this first-of-its-kind guidebook for all the “prepper” moms keen to increase their family's level of preparedness for emergencies and crises of all shapes and sizes. Publisher’s Weekly calls Lisa Bedford’s Survival Mom an “impressively comprehensive manual,” saying, “suburban mom Bedford helps readers learn about, prepare for, and respond to all manner of disasters. . . . From 'Instant Survival Tip' sidebars to a list of 'Lessons from the Great Depression'. . . Bedford's matter-of-fact yet supportive tone will keep the willies at bay.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Survival, Self Help, Reference, Self Reliance, How To

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2012

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not expecting much, I picked this up to leaf through while waiting for my kids to finish a program at the library. Turns out to be the best general preparedness book I've come across. I don't agree with everything the author says, and I'm enough of a geek on this topic that I didn't learn a whole lot (though it did remind me to get some calcium hypochlorite), but I highly recommend it. Despite the title, it is not particularly parent/kid focused, so it would be useful to non-parents as well.

[Little · Rating 2 out of 5]

Things I liked: Bedford's writing is funny and engaging. Bedford encourages readers to consider the range of disaster possibilities in the places they live and to prepare first for the most likely, then for the next likely, and on down, rather than just urging us to be prepared for any and everything RIGHT NOW (which is hard to do on a budget and even harder to do with kids in tow). The book contains several suggestions for emergency toilets.

What I didn't like:
Rigidity. If the worst case ever happens, the people who will have the best chances of survival are not going to be the ones best prepared, but the ones who have the greatest flexibility. While in the chapter about money Bedford gives a few paragraphs to the idea of flexibility in the context of having a variety of marketable skills, for the most part, her book belies a very inflexible mindset. Like, recommending a hand-crank washing machine in case the power goes out for a few days or weeks. Unless you're washing cloth diapers, how about just not wearing so many clothes and not doing laundry? Or advice on how to shower in the event of a crisis. Again, how about NOT washing your whole body and hair every day? Weekly baths used to be the norm.
Terrible financial advice. Don't even bother with her chapter on finances. "When you go out to dinner, stick with the basics and skip the appetizers, dessert, and wine." Really? That's the best you can do?
She's clearly rich. Oh, sorry, "rich-ish." Yeah, the steal reinforced walls aren't going to happen at my house. Neither are the back-up for the back-up suggestions. I can't afford three of every system in my home.
Guns!!!! I am not going to shoot anyone, so that's not helpful. Maybe if she had talked about hunting I could have gotten on board, but no, guns are for "protecting your family." I know it's not good Operational Security (she loves OpSec!), but it's fair to say I'm not going to kill you over my stash of preparedness goodies.

All in all, it's good to consider disaster preparedness. This isn't the greatest resource, but it's probably not the worst, either.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great prepping book written specifically for Moms. It was fun to read, starting right off the bat with a comical "What kind of survival mom are you?" magazine-style personal quiz. There was tons of useful information, lists, and checklists, in a contemporary graphic style that made it super pleasant to read. She gave lots of tips for how to do this all with kids, and informing and involving them without freaking them out. And you could tell she was speaking from experience, sharing lot's of personal anecdotes, and stories.

One part I really liked was her metaphor of our prepared homes being like an eye in the storm. There can be bad weather, or bad economic or political situations raging outside our home, but if we are prepared we can create a safe haven of calm and protection within our homes for our family.

[Audrey Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book here on Goodreads and was amazed to receive it in two days! It is a good book with a LOT of well researched information. Much of this information is stuff that I was aware of living in Alaska for the last 27 years. Between being prepared for tsunami's, earthquakes, blizzards, 6 months of winter, hiking, hunting trips, fishing trips, camping, etc. and always being prepared in case of being weathered in or training to protect yourself from bears and moose.
This book did a good job of fleshing out and filling in the holes for me. For someone who has never even thought about these things or who lives in a big city, I could see where it might be a new concept and help them totally from start to finish.
All in all a good book. I'm very glad I won it! Thank you!

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straightforward. Organized. Could be overwhelming to some, but a terrific book full of helpful information. A book you can read straight through or one you can just pick up and use for reference when you're interested in a particular topic on emergency preparedness or preparing for a specific disaster scenario. This is one book that will end up underlined, highlighted and tabbed.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've already been in the thick of "prepping" for almost a year. This book has tons of great information and resources. I compiled a little notebook of things to do, learn, and to buy. So excited to continue preparedness with what I learned.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found this book had a small "cutesy" vibe to it (because, of course, anything geared toward women must have some sort of "cuteness" to it according to the world), it was no where near as bad as I had feared. Whew!
What I liked best about this book was that it was primarily aimed at a parent concerned with protecting their children, as well as their own lives. As such it included many good tips and thoughts not always found in other survivalist reading. I also thought the book was well organized.
While it is not a book one stays up late to finish in one day, it is a book to be kept as a reference and referred back to periodically.
I will warn you, however, if you tend to be a "worst case" type of thinker (ME! ME! ME!) then this book could make you slightly paranoid- especially the section about EMPs.

[Sarah Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember when I first stumbled upon The Survival Mom (Lisa Bedford), but I’m guessing it was after the tornado hit Joplin, Mo., in 2011. We lived a few hours from Joplin at the time and I started getting interested in being more prepared as a family for disasters and emergencies. After reading the state of Joplin in the following weeks, I knew I didn’t want to be in a position where I wasn’t prepared to take care of my family.
I put this book on my to-read list, but didn’t get around to buying it until early last year. This was after I received a great opportunity to be a guest blogger for The Survival Mom. I figured if I was going to work for her, I should read her book. It took me several months to read the entire thing because it is chock-full of important information. I am so glad I finally bought it and read it.
This book is one of the how-to manuals for preparedness and it is specifically written for moms. The subtitle says it all: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios. The book covers water, sanitation, food storage, what to prepare in your home, dealing with power outages, security, finances and evacuating. There are tips, lists and checklists on every topic and there are even lists of resources in the back.
While many people think of Doomsday Preppers when they hear anything related to preparedness, it really can apply to every day life. A diaper bag is a way of being prepared for a hungry baby or diaper blowout. Having soup, crackers, ginger ale and medicine on hand for sickness makes life easier than having to run out to the store while being sick or with a sick child. This book covers those scenarios, too, and even addresses a situation that many of us could face – financial crisis.
I refer to this book a lot and if you read it, you will, too. I highly recommend this for any family that wants to get more prepared for anything life can hand them. However, I will not loan you my copy. I have bought some of my friends their own copy because I don’t want to part with mine – too much valuable information in there! To buy your own copy, visit Amazon here: Survival Mom by Lisa Bedford.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read on emergency preparedness, particularly for people with children. Fantastic information on preparing for and surviving natural disasters and the first stages of any widespread emergency, and you can take as little or as much of the advice as you need. Should there be some kind of long-term disruption to civilization, this book won't really help you learn how to make the transition to that new way of life (i.e. growing food and making the things you need in your daily life), but it should help you keep your family alive long enough to get there, and you don't need a bunker in the woods.

One caveat: Although she is very restrained in discussing politics, I gather that the author is quite conservative and her views on the most likely reasons behind a potential End of the World as We Know It scenario are quite different from mine. However, she keeps her opinions extremely well restrained, and I don't think they affect the usefulness of this book (with one exception: my research into The Appleseed Project, glowingly recommended by the author, indicates that, while it might be helpful in learning how to shoot a rifle - and I don't think that's a bad thing in itself - it is not a politically neutral organization, so please do research before signing up). I hope that this wouldn't stop someone from reading and applying the rest of the information in this book, though, from short-term emergency preparations for your cars to long-term preparedness for your home.

The past century alone has seen many "civilized societies" crumble, leaving destruction in their wake, and hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes definitely don't stop and ask you how you voted before they hit. I don't think panic or fear are the answer, but preparedness is.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, this is a practical guide to preparedness. By the end of the book I felt overwhelmed, but I've been lax with this sort of thing since moving away from hurricane country, and I think I've done a poor job of outfitting my car for the winter weather this year. (Except for my snow tires. Those rock.) With a baby and a dog coming into my life since I last packed a survival bag, I need to re-evaluate my preparedness. The chapters on food storage and cooking were particularly interesting to me, since meal planning and cooking has become such a high priority and I've never investigated those ideas before. Some things, like the vehicle emergency kit, seemed like overkill. The author always wants to have a porta-potty in her car instead of making her kids go on the side of the road. I'm sorry, but what do you do with the stuff that ends up in your car potty? Tote it around, or... dump it out/bury it on the side of the road?
A high point were the practical checklists at the end of each chapter. The only problem with those was the author refers back to specific page numbers for the more detailed parts of the chapter, and this Kindle version doesn't have page numbers. Sigh. THANKS, publisher!
I think the book could have been more complete, but I will be checking out the author's website and doing further research elsewhere as well. I mean really - preparedness is a HUGE topic! I've decided to devote each month to some sort of preparedness task - this month will be outfitting my car, and likely next month will be water. Food storage/meal planning will likely take more than one month, for me.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of excellent information. Some I already use but a lot I didn't know. Great ideas for simple preparedness at different levels. The author not only points out natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, etc., but also simple emergencies that can happen at any time like job loss or forgetting to pay the water bill.

I've been a crazy proponent for emergency food supply and Bug-Out Kits (I call 72 hour kits, but I like her title better) for years. Mine is a much more haphazard approach but I've gone so far as to build a house with a cold storage under the porch where I keep cans and buckets of wheat, beans, flour, sugar, honey and other such staples. I've invested in a 55 gallon water storage unit, hosted canning parties where we seal flour, sugar and rice in #10 cans. But I am still SO behind in information and organization!

After reading the chapter on water, I went to Costco and bought water bottles to keep in the car. I also bought an extra sleeping bag while I was there. On hot days and we're driving around, who couldn't use a bottle of water? Or driving home from someplace on a cold day, with or without engine trouble, who couldn't use a sleeping bag for the non-driver?

The best ways for storing food and purifying water is included, as well as second and third best ways. I'm not going to go out and get myself a gun and start hunting but this book provides enough of something for everybody, regardless of circumstances. Great starting points. Now I'm going to go start my compost pile!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was prepared for this book to be just another doomsday prepping book, similar to Jim Rawles according to whom, you need a fortified secret location about an hour's drive from your home that is hidden, well protected and self-sufficient, and an arsenal to protect yourself with against the angry hordes or zombies at the time of the apocalypse. This book, however, has down to earth practical advice that could be useful to any mom, whether she has a survival and doomsday mindset or not. The author discusses issues that moms face, even in short term disasters or problems, that can be really helpful. For instance, she addresses the issue of sanitary supplies for women and suggests the Diva Cup, and also suggests that moms of babies have a supply of cloth diapers on hand for just in case situations. She does suggest stocking up on food and dry goods and has some interesting storage suggestions. She outlines topics for teaching our children what to do in case of emergencies, how to prepare their own meals, care for pets and more. For one source of emergency lighting, she suggests going to the dollar store or grocery store and getting devotional or patron saint candles that come in those tall glass containers because they are long burning and cheap. From water, to food storage, to finances to evacuation; whether you are preparing for the end of the world as we know it, a hurricane, blizzard, or power or water outage, this book has some excellent information that will be useful for all moms.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on how to get started with prepping.

I could not use everything because of my location, for example, how much precious metal is in coins (no idea/not useful because I'm European and don't use those coins) or the whole chapter about guns (nearly impossible to get guns in Belgian unless you are in that market) or other things like shelters (most houses in Belgium don't have underground shelters), generators, recommended brands not available in Europe, etc.

She mentions a lot of survival tricks, but no how-to's. A recipe for an easy fire starter yes, but nothing else on bushcraft. This book is more like 'you need to leave your home NOW and this is what you need' or 'you need to stay inside for a couple of weeks, this is what you need.' She has bag/package-to-go for any event you can think of and food supply ideas to keep you busy for years.

So yeah this might not be your bushcraft or homestead book, but she delivers what she promises, all about PREPARATION for whatever disaster comes your way. For anything else, she refers to her recommended book list.

And while this book was written way before the pandemic, much of the advice can be used during this time too, like when you can't leave your home because of quarantaine. With a garage full of food, there is really nothing to worry about.

[JZ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cray-cray. Fear-monger's Shop to the max.

"I love shooting a rifle, from a .22 plinkster to a hefty AR–15. I love the way I look when I’m shooting a rifle—kind of like an older, chubbier Sarah Connor, with barely discernable biceps but intimidating nonetheless."

"Another great option for women is the Flashbang holster, which clips to your bra." Great for nursing moms.

"Sharing ammo—I wonder, is that something I should have learned in kindergarten?"

That's enough not to love, but the case of deodorant and watering down vinegar is the tell. Glow sticks, votive candles, and making meals from dehydrated veg, with water, and then dehydratingthe whole meal again, well, these just sound stupid to me. Kevlar windows, really? I'd rather be dead, thanks.

She has some good tips, but there's a reason this is free on KU. There's not anything here that isn't common sense and/or easily found elsewhere.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great informational book! Every Mom should read this!

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get past the "quiz" in the beginning. Author is mistaking being feminine with being naive and or unprepared, based on what i saw in the "quiz". Couldn't read past that. Was already hesitant to begin with and that was what made me nope out. Maybe I ought to skim more or read more before I post a review, but I thought it only fair for this to be known so people can make a better informed decision before reading. If you just want info and can handle that kind of thing or don't care, I'd say go for it. But for me, I'll get my info elsewhere unless this is nearly my last option or incredibly incredibly convenient to read as opposed to other options. I may go back and skim strictly for fairness' sake, but I don't really want to read this at all.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good general preparedness book. Geared towards moms, but no reason why any self respecting family man such as myself couldn't read it (I do have a Mom in the family after all), and I did find the organization good and appreciated the family focus. I admit I flipped through the book fairly quickly, but while I did, I saw a good bit of information and detail that would make for good reference and to come back to later.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this was more of a life hacks for everyday living, but no, this is a full on survivalist bunker WTSHTF guide. I guess I'm a little more optimistic (or naive). Worth a quick skim/perusal and the best advice was the Grab and Go binder that is a one-place gathering of all important docs (copies) insurance info, records, etc. that could provide you with the info you need if EVERYTHING else is gone. Don't rely on electronics. Or anything or anyone else. :)

[Nikki Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first want to say that I am not the target audience for this book but there is some valuable information in here. I can’t imagine following all the recommendations but there are some things that I am inspired to do to be better prepared for the unknown. Things like getting a stock of firewood or keeping my gas tank at least half full are easy and practical. I am not going to get guns though, or store a year of food. If this subject interests you then I recommend this book.

[Monical · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read her blog, but this book was filled with encouraging and helpful tips. I am increasingly concerned about survival issues, especially with the demise of FEMA. It appears that if there is a disaster (living in the PNW, could be earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes!) nobody will be coming to help except us! I have followed Linda Loosli for a while-- she also has a lot of valuable tips. I thought the book was a little short on specific recommendations.

[vicki mingus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very grounded information.

This book is full of information to help you get prepared for any kind of emergency situation. Very grounded, doesn't go off the deep end. A nice book to reference.

[Jessica Telian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Some of the info was a little dated when reading it almost ten years after publication, but it still was full of so many great ideas to personalize for your own family and situation. I definitely think every mom should read this!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Lots of food for thought and the author presents lots of way to prepare to a variety of situations.

[Hilary]

This book was my diy title for Book Bingo.

[Amanda Hicks · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just too dry. I cannot stay awake long enough to read this.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I think this is a great book. It provides excellent information without having the paranoid survivalist tone that some of its competitors have.

The book mostly deals with urban or suburban scenarios for families. Little wilderness or back country information is discussed. The author does cover a few scenarios that are more rural in nature by providing equipment and resource checklists.

The strengths of the book are its conversational tone, thorough covering of the most relevant details, and abundance of great lists for supplies and further information. It also contains some excellent recipes using common "survival" food.

I have a few small complaints about the firearms section which contained several errors (none horrible) and the author's seeming obsession with creature comforts. I'm all for a comfortable lifestyle, but I think a little more time could be spent on preparing the reader to deal with discomfort if supplies are lost or run out. There is also a conspicuous absence of quality medical information.

The book is a hit for its intended audience...urban or suburban moms looking for information on how to be better prepared without seeming too "crazy". There are other books that cover the subjects this one omits. For its niche, this book is great.

And don't pass it over just because you are a male or don't have a family. I'm a single male with no kids and I still found it useful. You will too.

[sleeps9hours · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looked through a lot of disaster prep books because we live in the Cascadia subduction zone so it’s possible we’ll be here for The Big One (I think it’s a 1/10 chance in the next 50 years). This one seemed to hit the right tone, not too Armageddon, but practical.

[Rebecka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how it goes into detail, not assuming you know each topic. I also like how it doesn't start with money. It starts with "knowledge". As in, if a power out or whatever were to happen, do you know the skills to get by. Like cooking on a grill. Then before recommending a pantry, she has you examine your eating patterns to have a pantry of stuff you will like. Not a one pantry fits all. It's personalized.

Adding to my review, since I finished the book. It is a well rounded book. Written in a friendly manner, as opposed to just facts. Sure money is mentioned in it, but it's not the main point of the book. It's more about "do you know what to do" or "how to do things" when the power is out. Is it written in easy language, and she goes into if you know what to do, then it's easier to be calm if bad times come. Written in a "it's important to plan, but relax, each step prepared for is one less worry". I enjoyed the book. And I will probably refer back to it.

[Clearview Library District · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for any person wanting to be just a little more prepared for possible disasters, including natural disasters but also economic failure or loss of job. Bedford includes practical tips with steps that are clear and pragmatic, ranging from how to stock your pantry, preparing your children without scaring them, financial security, evacuation basics and securing your home. Each chapter ends with an easy-to-follow checklist, which makes it feel like something anyone can do. Whether you choose to follow some advice or all of it, the reader walks away with a better idea of just what they need to do to have themselves and their family ready for anything that may come their way. Cari

[Cari Borchert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for any person wanting to be just a little more prepared for possible disasters, including natural disasters but also economic failure or loss of job. Bedford includes practical tips with steps that are clear and pragmatic, ranging from how to stock your pantry, preparing your children without scaring them, financial security, evacuation basics and securing your home. Each chapter ends with an easy-to-follow checklist, which makes it feel like something anyone can do. Whether you choose to follow some advice or all of it, the reader walks away with a better idea of just what they need to do to have themselves and their family ready for anything that may come their way.