Blog Tour: Preparedness Principles by Barbara Salsbury and Giveaway

Beep, Beep, Squeal!

We interrupt this program . . . the National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the following counties . . . This thunderstorm is capable of golf-ball sized hail, possible tornadoes, and flooding in low-lying areas . . .


All spring and summer, I've heard my Severe Weather radio beeping and squealing, then issuing similar warnings over and over again. Twice, the tornado sirens went off in my town, indicating a tornado had been sited and touched down. My kids know the drill. Off to the basement we go! Some of my kids get excited and chatter, others get scared and snuggle up to the pillows and blankets I have in our tornado kit. I pull out the picture books and position myself so I can see out the one small window, checking for hail or strong wind, then start reading to the kids until, finally, the sirens cease.

Are you ready for the possible calamities that could hit your area? Forget the natural disasters - tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes - for a minute. Are you prepared if a truck carrying hazardous materials flips on the freeway near your home and you need to evacuate? Or that train car accident that releases toxic gases? Would you be able to grab a 72 hour kit and go?

What if you found out you had a terrible illness and wouldn't be able to work for the next month, three months, or year? Would you be financially ready? Would you have some food stored for such an occasion?

I have actually either been in or witnessed all of the above situations. It can be terrifying. Our family was luckier than others, as we were fairly prepared. You see, I served as the 72 hour specialist for my church congregation for seven years. I know that if you wait until the emergency occurs, it's too late. You need to think about it and prepare before-hand.

Today, I'm sharing and excellent book with you that's helped my family become more prepared. Preparedness Principles by Barbara Salsbury is an incredible resource.

This book covers the essential basics, surviving worst-case scenarios, principles of provident living, how to deal with and prepare for disasters, and tips for emergency evacuations. You'll also find really neat suggestions for your pantry and garden, as well as fun stuff like how to make newspaper logs.

Now, don't get over-whelmed. I know, I know . . . there's so much to do! Just take this little bit of advice: Get this book. Barabara Salsbury is a preparedness guru. She's super knowledgeable and serious. If you need help getting prepared, this is definitely the book to pick up. Then, choose one area, just one - make a goal and work on it until it's completed. Then choose another goal, and work on that one until it's completed. If you keep doing this, you'll be prepared. Trust me, even a little prepared is better than not being prepared at all.

QOTC Rating: Five Stars

Also, two other fabulous books I own by Barabara Salsbury:










Preparedness Principles Book Give-Away!

Enter this contest to win a free copy of Preparedness Principles by Barbara Salsbury. There are two ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post & tell me what the scariest item is in your food storage. If you don't have food storage, just say so. That's scary enough! (if you use the anonymous option, be sure to include your name!)

2. Write a short post on your blog announcing this contest with a link to this post or QOTC. Another option: If you don't have a blog, you can send an email with the contest info and my blog address (http://queenoftheclan.blogspot.com) to at least five people and add my email (danyelle @familyclan.org) to the list. Come back, leave a comment to let me know you linked up or sent an email & you'll receive TWO contest entries.

All comments and post links/emails must be made before 10 am (Central Time) on July 21st. Around noon, my one year old will choose a name from a hat. The winner will be posted that afternoon. Be sure to check back! The winner will need to email me within 48 hours with their mailing address. If the winner does not contact me within that time, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck, everyone!

Would you like to comment?

Unknown said...

Danyelle - thanks for blogging a review about Principles Preparedness today. It's a book that's really helped me prepare for emergencies as well. Good job.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Candace

Thanks for asking me to be a reviewer on the blog tour. Have a great day!

Rebecca Talley said...

I really need to get better prepared. Hmm, the scariest food storage item would probably be the pickles I canned years and years ago that my kids hated and I've never gotten around to dumping them.

I've been trying to build up our storage, but I don't can. I'm so not a pioneer!

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Rebecca

I'm right there with you. I've never canned anything. I really need to learn how - as soon as I motivate myself enough to try it out! I'm afraid of something exploding. :)

Barbara Salsbury said...

Danyelle,

Thanks for such a great review. I am delighted to read that some of you don't can either. I guess the benefit is that I can can if I have to (no, no not dance, but can -can) Have to - being the key word. Home storage is a lot more than that, so stay encouraged. Probably one of the most important clues for success is to be sure to remember the choclate.
Barbara Saslbury

Sara said...

Hi Danyelle,

I have been very...excited...about this topic since I moved to tornado alley. The scariest thing I have in my food storage is actually the thing that I am lacking, wheat. I don't have any and it is getting increasingly difficult to find. Unfortunately, the cannery doesn't have any white wheat anymore (although they do have red). So, if you and John ever want to do a "date night" some Friday at the cannery to get some red wheat...or other such essentials...then let Todd and I know and we'll double.

p.s. and even if I don't win this book, I'm going to get if from the library!

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Barbara - Got it! Chocolate is now on my emergency supply list. :) Thanks for stopping by & for putting together such great resources!

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Sara -

That sounds like an excellent idea! We should totally set a date to go to the cannery and work on our food storage. I'll call you and we'll see what we can set up!

Cindy Beck, author said...

Danyelle,
Good review. The book sounds like one worth having ... and giving as a gift!

By the way, you won the license plate frame slogan contest (whew, that was a mouthful) at my blog (http://bythebecks.blogspot.com). If you send me your address, your rubber ducky will be on its way.

And since I've left a comment, and posted a link to your blog when I announced that you won, does that count for entering this contest? I'd so like to win the book!

Josi said...

Scariest thing in my food storage, huh? Probably that I don't really know what's there. I know some things, but last Christmas I cleaned out the storage area and found that mice had eaten into the mylar bags--but I'm not sure what they ate. I've tried to catiloge what I have but I get overwhelmed. Right now I'm focusing on really building up the things we use on a regular basis--rice, wheat, oats, canned things. That's probably not what you were looking for, but this book looks like something I definitely need.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Cindy

Ooh! I'm so excited! Anna is going to be thrilled to get another rubber ducky - she absolutely loves them! Thanks!

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Josi

Mice sound scary enough to me! I have friends who actually have a spreadsheet of every item in their food storage - even the expiration dates. They update it every time they add or use an item.

Of course, all their kids are grown and gone. Maybe we'll have to wait until then to be that organized. :)

Annie-Savor This Moment said...

My food storage isn't very scary, we've been using and rotating it while money's been tight around here. Guess that's one way to weed through it!

This sounds like a great book, one I could really use.

cpullum said...

I have 12 year old Military food my husband has kept from when he used to be in the military and said we could eat! This is the food they take in the field with them. UGH!!!!
cpullum@yahoo.com

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Annie - We had some good food storage, then when my hubby got sick, we went through it all. We've been trying to work it back up again. But thank goodness we had it when we needed it!

C - I had a friend who made 30 year old chili from his food storage for a preparedness fair - and it actually still tasted pretty good! So, you never know . . . :)