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When The Grid Goes Down: Disaster Preparations and Survival Gear for Making Your Home Self-Reliant
Disasters come and go each year but it is through developing a self-reliant mindset, having essential survival gear and possessing a handful of critical skills, that you and your family will be able to prevail in an urban crisis.
Jammed with field-tested information from real-world applications, survival instructor Tony Nester covers how to prepare for both short-term survival ranging from 24-72 hours as well as long-term situations resulting from a grid-down emergency or pandemic.
When the Grid Goes Down will show you how to make your home and lifestyle more self-sufficient and the critical gear needed along the way.
Topics The 6 Key Areas for Creating a Self-Reliant Home, Water Storage and Purification Methods, Alternative Water Sources At Home, Creating a Water Map for Your Region, The 3 Essential Food Types to Stock Up On, Designing an Off-Grid Medical Kit, Home Security and Personal Defense Measures, Heating, Cooling and Lighting When the Power Goes Out, and Alternative Sanitation Methods.
Tony Nester has spent the past 30-years applying and teaching survival skills to the military special operations community and general public, including serving as a consultant for the movie, Into the Wild, the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and the NY Times along with providing training for actors Josh Brolin and Emile Hirsch. For years, he also wrote a monthly survival column for Outside Magazine and is a frequent contributors to numerous publications.
Jammed with field-tested information from real-world applications, survival instructor Tony Nester covers how to prepare for both short-term survival ranging from 24-72 hours as well as long-term situations resulting from a grid-down emergency or pandemic.
When the Grid Goes Down will show you how to make your home and lifestyle more self-sufficient and the critical gear needed along the way.
Topics The 6 Key Areas for Creating a Self-Reliant Home, Water Storage and Purification Methods, Alternative Water Sources At Home, Creating a Water Map for Your Region, The 3 Essential Food Types to Stock Up On, Designing an Off-Grid Medical Kit, Home Security and Personal Defense Measures, Heating, Cooling and Lighting When the Power Goes Out, and Alternative Sanitation Methods.
Tony Nester has spent the past 30-years applying and teaching survival skills to the military special operations community and general public, including serving as a consultant for the movie, Into the Wild, the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and the NY Times along with providing training for actors Josh Brolin and Emile Hirsch. For years, he also wrote a monthly survival column for Outside Magazine and is a frequent contributors to numerous publications.
78 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
228 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Tony Nester
24 books14 followersTony Nester is the author of numerous books and DVDs on survival. His school, Ancient Pathways, is the primary provider of survival training for the Military Special Operations community and he has served as a consultant for the NTSB, US Marshals, FAA, and the film "Into the Wild." For more information, visit apathways.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 10, 2021
This was the proper length for the material. I appreciated how well the author spent time explaining when he needed to, referenced when he needed to, and moved on when the topic was covered. This is a great "intro" book to ensuring you and your family are prepared for an emergency.
May 1, 2013
As with Tony's other books, "When The Grid Goes Down" is a breath of fresh air in a sea of confusion regarding an often divisive subject. In the "doom-and-gloom" world of post-apocalyptic survival information, where it seems prerequisite to have stockpiles of weapons, ammo, a bunker, and all the latest gadgetry, Tony's low-tech, simple, and field tested approach to this hotly debated subject offers the rest of us the knowledge and confidence to prepare according to our individual resources and needs. Forget the phone book sized manuals that comb through every detail of how to survive a societal collapse, as if even the hobbyist "prepper" is going to read and digest all of that information. This small but information packed book will tell you exactly what works because the techniques have been tested and used in real-world scenarios.
While the information given is simple and basic even the seasoned survivalist will come away from this book with new ideas and information not found elsewhere. I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore prepper but I have an extensive amount of common knowledge on the subject of SHTF survival; some new ideas I came away with and never heard elsewhere are as follows.
Hygiene - While I know hygiene is important and have heard it elsewhere I didn't realize how important it really is. This is a subject that I think is often overlooked by a lot of other information sources. Thankfully it is a subject that is covered in depth in this book. Tony expounds on the importance of hygiene and how to take care of such necessities as latrines, bathing, laundry, dish-washing, and trash among others.
Personal Protection and Security - Contrary to my previously held thought process, personal protection and security is more than just having firearms and knowing how to use them (though the importance of that is stressed), it includes other ways to protect your home that Tony reviews.
Water Procurement- Some ideas for finding water that I've never heard elsewhere, such as creating a "water map".
Mental Health - Tony outlines some good tactics for maintaining mental health, another often overlooked aspect of post-collapse survival when one's daily picture and circumstances change so drastically.
One thing I came away from this book with is the idea that I don't have to have all of the "gimmicky stuff" in order to make it through a scenario okay. Some basic, well-thought out and comparatively inexpensive measures will greatly increase the chances of surviving and even thriving in a societal collapse scenario. Yes it would be nice to have a 2 year supply of food, a bunch of guns with a million rounds for each, a super fancy generator, a couple hundred gallons of spare fuel , running stream or well, farm animals, and on and on; but if I don't have the ability to obtain those things I can still do something that will ensure my family and I will be able to make it through okay while I work towards those more expensive investments.
With anecdotal stories and a bit of humor mixed in, this book makes for an entertaining and informational read that is easy to digest.
While the information given is simple and basic even the seasoned survivalist will come away from this book with new ideas and information not found elsewhere. I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore prepper but I have an extensive amount of common knowledge on the subject of SHTF survival; some new ideas I came away with and never heard elsewhere are as follows.
Hygiene - While I know hygiene is important and have heard it elsewhere I didn't realize how important it really is. This is a subject that I think is often overlooked by a lot of other information sources. Thankfully it is a subject that is covered in depth in this book. Tony expounds on the importance of hygiene and how to take care of such necessities as latrines, bathing, laundry, dish-washing, and trash among others.
Personal Protection and Security - Contrary to my previously held thought process, personal protection and security is more than just having firearms and knowing how to use them (though the importance of that is stressed), it includes other ways to protect your home that Tony reviews.
Water Procurement- Some ideas for finding water that I've never heard elsewhere, such as creating a "water map".
Mental Health - Tony outlines some good tactics for maintaining mental health, another often overlooked aspect of post-collapse survival when one's daily picture and circumstances change so drastically.
One thing I came away from this book with is the idea that I don't have to have all of the "gimmicky stuff" in order to make it through a scenario okay. Some basic, well-thought out and comparatively inexpensive measures will greatly increase the chances of surviving and even thriving in a societal collapse scenario. Yes it would be nice to have a 2 year supply of food, a bunch of guns with a million rounds for each, a super fancy generator, a couple hundred gallons of spare fuel , running stream or well, farm animals, and on and on; but if I don't have the ability to obtain those things I can still do something that will ensure my family and I will be able to make it through okay while I work towards those more expensive investments.
With anecdotal stories and a bit of humor mixed in, this book makes for an entertaining and informational read that is easy to digest.
February 17, 2016
Good guide for beginners... I liked the suggestions on gear, products and resources that the author has found tried and true.
December 23, 2023
Very well organized and presented, practical, down-to-earth and presented without the sort of weird attitude some of the literature in this area has. In other words, it covers the possible need to defend yourself, but that's a very small part of it, as it should be, whereas a lot of books on prepping and survivalism don't get far past the "Red Dawn" guns and ammo stage. When I come across something in that vein, I know it's not from someone who has actually done much of this stuff, because in twenty years in the Marine Corps, even in a military setting we spent more time on staying fed and hydrated, taking care of our feet, staying warm enough or cool enough, avoiding getting eaten alive by the bugs or getting badly sunburned, and maintaining hygiene than on planning fields of fire for the machine guns and registering targets for the mortars (my MOS in my first enlistment.)
I think that's because the author is drawing on years of experience actually taking small groups of people into the wilderness and teaching them the skills to live without a lot of the infrastructure we take for granted, so it's strictly this-works-and-this-doesn't-and-here's-why.
The book includes a lot of specific, concrete recommendations, sometimes of specific brands and products and sometimes of general types, but useful in either case. My wife and I have given this subject some thought and preparation, mostly by way of having a couple of hundred gallons of potable water in barrels with a hand pump, several weeks worth of shelf-stable food (including pet food), hand tools that don't need electricity to work, a little reference library with the Foxfire books and various others, and a generous stock of medical supplies. The guns and ammo are in place too, but not as a priority. We know that contrary to the lurid predictions of a lot of people, when there are natural disasters and the system does break down, people generally pull together and help each other out, and our neighbors are good people.
Even with my couple of decades in the service and my wife's experience doing quite a bit of backpacking, since neither of us has dealt with a situation of hanging out at home without power, running water, etc., this book has come up with some "How did we not think of that?" items that by themselves would justify the cost of the book.
We are lucky enough to live in a part of the southwest with remarkably few natural disaster - we don't get big quakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or fires that would get near us. We just get heat in the summer and this drought that seems likely to outlast us and maybe our kids (who are in their forties.) We've both lived in places prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods before, so we know how fortunate this is. But as seniors with some disabilities, we would still be unwise to make no preparations - it's like making sure your vehicle has a spare tire and jumper cables. Highly recommended to anyone who lives anywhere they rely on any kind of infrastructure that might go away on short notice.
I think that's because the author is drawing on years of experience actually taking small groups of people into the wilderness and teaching them the skills to live without a lot of the infrastructure we take for granted, so it's strictly this-works-and-this-doesn't-and-here's-why.
The book includes a lot of specific, concrete recommendations, sometimes of specific brands and products and sometimes of general types, but useful in either case. My wife and I have given this subject some thought and preparation, mostly by way of having a couple of hundred gallons of potable water in barrels with a hand pump, several weeks worth of shelf-stable food (including pet food), hand tools that don't need electricity to work, a little reference library with the Foxfire books and various others, and a generous stock of medical supplies. The guns and ammo are in place too, but not as a priority. We know that contrary to the lurid predictions of a lot of people, when there are natural disasters and the system does break down, people generally pull together and help each other out, and our neighbors are good people.
Even with my couple of decades in the service and my wife's experience doing quite a bit of backpacking, since neither of us has dealt with a situation of hanging out at home without power, running water, etc., this book has come up with some "How did we not think of that?" items that by themselves would justify the cost of the book.
We are lucky enough to live in a part of the southwest with remarkably few natural disaster - we don't get big quakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or fires that would get near us. We just get heat in the summer and this drought that seems likely to outlast us and maybe our kids (who are in their forties.) We've both lived in places prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods before, so we know how fortunate this is. But as seniors with some disabilities, we would still be unwise to make no preparations - it's like making sure your vehicle has a spare tire and jumper cables. Highly recommended to anyone who lives anywhere they rely on any kind of infrastructure that might go away on short notice.
October 3, 2021
Being new to the prepping scene has limited my ability to rate this book 100% fairly. I think it’s a decent primer on the subject, and found a lot of it to be common-sense. I appreciate that that author doesn’t take much for granted in the way of assumptions, and takes the time to explain things. It was a simple, concise, easy to follow summary on important matters, and he clearly delineates the highest priorities.
That said, some of the material is dated. A few of the products he advocates for are no longer available for sale, unfortunately. I felt that the book could benefit from a slightly higher quality production, as well. Black and white photos feel a bit cheap when we’re talking about survival, but that’s super nitpicky of me, and I admit it.
I think it was absolutely worth the price, and I would recommend it to my friends, as a beginner’s guide. I plan to read more by Nestor, and he definitely has a place in my library.
That said, some of the material is dated. A few of the products he advocates for are no longer available for sale, unfortunately. I felt that the book could benefit from a slightly higher quality production, as well. Black and white photos feel a bit cheap when we’re talking about survival, but that’s super nitpicky of me, and I admit it.
I think it was absolutely worth the price, and I would recommend it to my friends, as a beginner’s guide. I plan to read more by Nestor, and he definitely has a place in my library.
June 11, 2023
If you're new to the concept of living without the grid, and you don't have a lot of time to research the subject, look no further than "When the Grid Goes Down" by Tony Nestor. This is my favorite living-off-the-grid book. Nestor gets right to the point and covers the bases. I would give the book a 5-star rating but I hesitate only because some of the brand name products he recommends are either outdated or are difficult to find.
July 14, 2021
Great little book to help beginner preppers to give direction on how to start and prioritize needs. Also good to keep on hand, just in case the sh** ever does actually hit the fan to know how to survive if indeed, the grid goes down. Personally, I think Covid has taught us that you can never be too prepared for any disaster. The next thing might be much worse.
December 21, 2021
Concise, checklist style prep guide. This is NOT a how-to book, but goes over the basics of what you will need for a short duration survival situation that lasts less than a month. Unless something goes seriously wrong, a 21-day kit will likely get you through - provided that you prepared ahead of time for your water needs, which is about 2 gallons per person, per day.
June 3, 2017
For beginners
Very straightforward instruction manual on how to get started prepping. Easy read without all the annoying acronyms (SHTF, EOTWAWKI, etc) and hysteria.
Very straightforward instruction manual on how to get started prepping. Easy read without all the annoying acronyms (SHTF, EOTWAWKI, etc) and hysteria.
January 17, 2021
Great starter book for Emergency Preparation. My big take away is having a plan for water and having plenty of bleach. His take on food, power, hygiene, and sanitation are all appreciated.
April 5, 2021
Great, essential information.
Tony gets right down to business. He provides great insight and lots of tips and tricks for essential grid down preparation.
Tony gets right down to business. He provides great insight and lots of tips and tricks for essential grid down preparation.
August 31, 2021
Good place to start for the basics. Easy things, like get some bleach for water purification, have extra batteries on hand, get some extra canned goods.
January 29, 2022
Rather brief.
October 15, 2023
Helpful information, some of which I've put to use!
January 12, 2026
Concise and compact, this an excellent no-frills guide to prepping you, your family and your home for any unforeseen disasters.
Not that there's any chance of that, no ma'am...
Not that there's any chance of that, no ma'am...
September 4, 2015
No-nonsense great starting point for general prep
The main and most important topics are covered by someone who takes an experienced and realistic view of preparing for a disaster. Each specific topic could be a whole book itself or several but it is important to understand where to start on important issues. I highly recommend this book for folks looking to get a non-overwhelming start to prep. A book for all!!!!
The main and most important topics are covered by someone who takes an experienced and realistic view of preparing for a disaster. Each specific topic could be a whole book itself or several but it is important to understand where to start on important issues. I highly recommend this book for folks looking to get a non-overwhelming start to prep. A book for all!!!!
June 25, 2016
When The Grid Goes Down is a great book for the beginner and novice prepared minded. This gives a very thorough introductory in preparedness planning, important steps of reliability and the gear and equipment needed to comfortably take on disasters that may come your way. The author has a very god grasps of the concepts, needs, and discussion areas of disaster preparedness. It’s a great read for anyone looking to get into being better prepared for the unknown.
March 21, 2016
Very Informative
The writer highlights the topics and provides plenty of relevant insight. He goes through tips in enough detail on what you will need to improve your chances of surviving a crisis.
The writer highlights the topics and provides plenty of relevant insight. He goes through tips in enough detail on what you will need to improve your chances of surviving a crisis.
September 14, 2016
The man knows what he is talking about!
The author writes from years of experience and it shows. The book gives very practical advice on where and what to purchase in the way of supplies and equipment. It's an easy read and straight to the point.
The author writes from years of experience and it shows. The book gives very practical advice on where and what to purchase in the way of supplies and equipment. It's an easy read and straight to the point.
March 9, 2016
Good, short primer on the subject.
October 16, 2020
A waste of time.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews