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The Practical Preppers Complete Guide to Disaster Preparedness
A complete guide to disaster preparedness from Scott Hunt, CEO of Practical Preppers and a nationally recognized preparedness expert
The world we live in is an unstable one. From natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods of biblical proportions to concerns about the economic downturn and government shutdown, the hits just keep on coming. At the same time, the power grid is incredibly fragile. Our dependency on widely distributed long distance systems for power, medicine, and food makes our society susceptible to attack, whether by foreign or domestic enemies, or the weather. No matter the concern, the solutions are the same. Scott Hunt, the owner of Practical Preppers, and an experienced engineer, homesteader, and pastor, offers readers a complete and detailed guide to sustainable living. With The Practical Preppers Complete Guide to Disaster Preparedness , anyone can learn how
- Secure a water source-even in an urban area
- Grow and preserve food
- Set up an alternative energy supply
- Maintain a comfortable shelter -including alternative cooking and sanitation methods during a long power outage
- Bug out-what to include in your bug out bag and how to leave
- Prepare for medical issues
- Deal with security concerns
Preparing for disruption of services in an emergency is a noble venture which gives peace of mind. This book will empower readers of all skill levels and resources to survive and achieve an independent, sustainable lifestyle.
The world we live in is an unstable one. From natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods of biblical proportions to concerns about the economic downturn and government shutdown, the hits just keep on coming. At the same time, the power grid is incredibly fragile. Our dependency on widely distributed long distance systems for power, medicine, and food makes our society susceptible to attack, whether by foreign or domestic enemies, or the weather. No matter the concern, the solutions are the same. Scott Hunt, the owner of Practical Preppers, and an experienced engineer, homesteader, and pastor, offers readers a complete and detailed guide to sustainable living. With The Practical Preppers Complete Guide to Disaster Preparedness , anyone can learn how
- Secure a water source-even in an urban area
- Grow and preserve food
- Set up an alternative energy supply
- Maintain a comfortable shelter -including alternative cooking and sanitation methods during a long power outage
- Bug out-what to include in your bug out bag and how to leave
- Prepare for medical issues
- Deal with security concerns
Preparing for disruption of services in an emergency is a noble venture which gives peace of mind. This book will empower readers of all skill levels and resources to survive and achieve an independent, sustainable lifestyle.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2014
10 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
About the author
Scott Hunt
1 book5 followersScott Hunt is the owner of Practical Preppers, LLC, a company that specializes in preparedness solutions for individuals and groups. A mechanical engineer, Scott shares his experiences and knowledge through teaching, training and consulting. Practical Preppers develops infrastructure plans that range from basic hand pumps for wells to complete off-grid survival retreats. Scott’s extensive background in Homesteading, Sustainable Water and Energy systems is a key factor in his analysis of whether the proper infrastructure is in place should a disaster occur. Scott is a prepper and enjoys promoting the preparedness lifestyle.
Education
Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York 1992
Experience
• Owner of Practical Preppers LLC.
• Sustainable living Design Engineer specializing in off grid water and energy systems.
• Conference Speaker
• Retreat design Consultant
• National Geographic Consultant
• 10 yrs as a Product Development Engineer with Michelin Tire Corporation 1992-2002
• Manager of a cow/calf operation 1995- Present
• Experienced homesteader
• Welding and metal fabricator-Employed by Kinetic Sculptor George Rickey 1988- 1992
• Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Pickens 2001-2011
Education
Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York 1992
Experience
• Owner of Practical Preppers LLC.
• Sustainable living Design Engineer specializing in off grid water and energy systems.
• Conference Speaker
• Retreat design Consultant
• National Geographic Consultant
• 10 yrs as a Product Development Engineer with Michelin Tire Corporation 1992-2002
• Manager of a cow/calf operation 1995- Present
• Experienced homesteader
• Welding and metal fabricator-Employed by Kinetic Sculptor George Rickey 1988- 1992
• Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Pickens 2001-2011
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 2, 2022
Truly a great read for common-sense prep as we’ve already been warned the grid may go down. With this Recession, might as well prepare now while there’s still plentiful food to store and whatever you need in supplies you can get. You can take this info as far as you want (the author provides the basics as well as high-intensity prepping), and it’s filled with easy do-it-now things on the cheap that could be significant. Great book that covers what you may not be considering, like storing chocolate. NUTELLA!!! Told you you needed this book!!!
July 6, 2014
This was a excellent book it contains a lot of facts and good information. I will keep this book as a great reference guide. Thank you this was a Good reads win
May 9, 2016
I was expecting a "end of the world, buy truck loads of ammo, and identify your neighbors' weaknesses" sort of book--the kind that make preppers earn the nutty reputation.
Not at all. This guy was so level-headed, almost too much so. For example, he frequently says, "when order is restored...." Well, the nutty prepper thinks things will never be restored. (Although this guy does give great advice for TEOTWASKI, the end of the world as we know it, scenarios).
The writing was spectacular--clear and occasionally funny. He gave plenty of clever "hack" advice (e.g., using a solar pump to pump from a well to a cistern for on-demand water).
It was filled with tips you never think of and peppered with examples where order was lost (not just the obvious, Katrina, but several other scenarios I didn't know about).
Great read.
Not at all. This guy was so level-headed, almost too much so. For example, he frequently says, "when order is restored...." Well, the nutty prepper thinks things will never be restored. (Although this guy does give great advice for TEOTWASKI, the end of the world as we know it, scenarios).
The writing was spectacular--clear and occasionally funny. He gave plenty of clever "hack" advice (e.g., using a solar pump to pump from a well to a cistern for on-demand water).
It was filled with tips you never think of and peppered with examples where order was lost (not just the obvious, Katrina, but several other scenarios I didn't know about).
Great read.
August 20, 2014
Hurricanes...Tornadoes...Terrorist attacks...Doomsday! Author Scott Hunt has imagined every scenario and skillfully created this book to prepare the reader for any natural or man-made disaster. Chapters include: how to safely collect and retain water; how to grow, store and preserve your own food; shelter concerns like heating, power and fuel storage; battery and solar power issues; weapons for surviving the wilderness and chaos; and much more. Good photos and illustrations are sprinkled throughout to enhance your visual preparations. This is a guide that the average person could use and understand.
*I won this ARC in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
*I won this ARC in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
January 17, 2015
A very interesting book. First of all, the author is not a nutcase. He doesn't have prophetic visions of doom or predictions of the zombie apocalypse to peddle. He points out there are many different local or regional disasters that can and have disrupted the normal way of life for days or weeks at a time. Prepping puts you in position to survive these events.
His style is very easy to follow. A conversational tone and illustrations from his own experience makes the author very human.
The book is a good beginning resource. It surveys areas such as food, power, health care and defense. It presents numerous options that are available and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each. Often he intends to start the thought process and provides other resources where you can pursue the ideas further.
My copy was a pre-publication review copy. There were some typos and formatting issues that I hope are cleaned up, but even with them, this was an interesting book. A great introduction to the concept of prepping.
His style is very easy to follow. A conversational tone and illustrations from his own experience makes the author very human.
The book is a good beginning resource. It surveys areas such as food, power, health care and defense. It presents numerous options that are available and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each. Often he intends to start the thought process and provides other resources where you can pursue the ideas further.
My copy was a pre-publication review copy. There were some typos and formatting issues that I hope are cleaned up, but even with them, this was an interesting book. A great introduction to the concept of prepping.
January 12, 2021
A wealth of practical survival advice, most of it aimed at extreme preppers preparing to live off the grid for an extended period, though those looking to do less-extreme prepping will still find value. The appendix is a "preparedness checklist and the prepper report card."
The author has an impressive amount of knowledge and experience. He runs PracticalPreppers.com and was featured on the show Doomsday Preppers. He's extreme, growing his own plants and animals for food.
Notes
Water
Fill recycled bottles or other sturdy containers from tap, store in house.
Store 3-mo supply of 1-2 gal/day/person.
Water treatment options
• 72% calcium hypochlorite (pool shock)
• Chlorine bleach (e.g., Clorox) (unscented, not splashless) (12 drops/gal)
• Iodine tablets
• Filters (author likes Sawyer and Berkey products)
• UV (e.g., SteriPEN)
• Boil for 1 min
Food
Short-term foods
• Canned or dehydrated vegetables
• Canned or dehydrated meat, fish, poultry
• Canned or dehydrated fruit
• Vitamin supplements
• Canned or dehydrated dairy products (eggs, milk)
• Comfort foods (morale boosters)
• MREs
Long-term foods
• Freeze-dried or dehydrated foods (will last 15+ yrs)
• Food in #10 cans
• Food in food-grade buckets and Mylar bags or gamma lids and oxygen absorbers
Store 21 days' worth of food (63 meals, plus snacks) per person.
Consider massive amounts of fuel needed to cook dried beans.
Get enough vitamins via multivitamin, and enough essential fatty acids via olive oil, canned sardines, salmon, tuna, fish oil capsules.
Medical
Medical kit
• Gloves
• Bandages (2-3 of each size)
• Sterile gauze 2x2, 4x4, triangle bandage
• Adhesive tape
• Butterfly closures or Steri-Strips
• Blunt-end scissors for removing clothes or cutting gauze
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic wipes (benzalkonium chloride)
• Alcohol wipes
• Two tabs each of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, diphenhydramine, loperamide
insect bite treatment (ammonia)
• Emergency space blanket
• QuickClot
• C-A-T tourniquet or SOF tactical tourniquet (preferred)
Consider carrying small strobe LED flashlight to disorient attacker.
Security
"Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security." —Edmund Burke
Glock has long track record of reliability. 1911 .45 ACP is an American favorite.
Krav Maga is simple, practical, instinctive, aggressive, and quicker to learn than many martial arts.
The author has an impressive amount of knowledge and experience. He runs PracticalPreppers.com and was featured on the show Doomsday Preppers. He's extreme, growing his own plants and animals for food.
Notes
Water
Fill recycled bottles or other sturdy containers from tap, store in house.
Store 3-mo supply of 1-2 gal/day/person.
Water treatment options
• 72% calcium hypochlorite (pool shock)
• Chlorine bleach (e.g., Clorox) (unscented, not splashless) (12 drops/gal)
• Iodine tablets
• Filters (author likes Sawyer and Berkey products)
• UV (e.g., SteriPEN)
• Boil for 1 min
Food
Short-term foods
• Canned or dehydrated vegetables
• Canned or dehydrated meat, fish, poultry
• Canned or dehydrated fruit
• Vitamin supplements
• Canned or dehydrated dairy products (eggs, milk)
• Comfort foods (morale boosters)
• MREs
Long-term foods
• Freeze-dried or dehydrated foods (will last 15+ yrs)
• Food in #10 cans
• Food in food-grade buckets and Mylar bags or gamma lids and oxygen absorbers
Store 21 days' worth of food (63 meals, plus snacks) per person.
Consider massive amounts of fuel needed to cook dried beans.
Get enough vitamins via multivitamin, and enough essential fatty acids via olive oil, canned sardines, salmon, tuna, fish oil capsules.
Medical
Medical kit
• Gloves
• Bandages (2-3 of each size)
• Sterile gauze 2x2, 4x4, triangle bandage
• Adhesive tape
• Butterfly closures or Steri-Strips
• Blunt-end scissors for removing clothes or cutting gauze
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic wipes (benzalkonium chloride)
• Alcohol wipes
• Two tabs each of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, diphenhydramine, loperamide
insect bite treatment (ammonia)
• Emergency space blanket
• QuickClot
• C-A-T tourniquet or SOF tactical tourniquet (preferred)
Consider carrying small strobe LED flashlight to disorient attacker.
Security
"Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security." —Edmund Burke
Glock has long track record of reliability. 1911 .45 ACP is an American favorite.
Krav Maga is simple, practical, instinctive, aggressive, and quicker to learn than many martial arts.
April 25, 2020
Book scared me thinking if I didn’t have military background, was screwed. Then towards end of book pg 248 to be exact) read total sexist BS that the lady folk may be more concerned about hair and nail appointments- wtf!
So tips are shallow and not at all truly helpful in preparing for emergencies ladies. Skip this blowhard tome.
Boo rah.
So tips are shallow and not at all truly helpful in preparing for emergencies ladies. Skip this blowhard tome.
Boo rah.
October 10, 2017
A lot of good information, not as much practical for me or my circumstances, but decent info for someone who could use it.
September 28, 2019
Introduction to a lot of topics, but really inconsistent on how thorough (or good) the information on each topic is. Most valuable as an entry point and for the bibliography.
February 18, 2016
Hunt presents a lot of really good information, but there were several sections I just skimmed over. His prepping style is much more intense than what I'm prepping for. Sure, ideally, I'd love to live off grid and live on a homestead, but that's not feasable for me right now (or in the near future). I did glean some good information from the book, though.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews