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Three BIG Questions: Kathy Harrison

Three BIG Questions: Kathy Harrison   Prepping-101.jpg

Preparing for life’s unexpected emergencies

By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com

When it comes to being prepared, Kathy Harrison knows what she’s talking about. Author of the recently-released “Prepping 101 – 40 Steps You Can Take to be Prepared” – a complete guide to preparing your home and family for all types of natural and man-made disasters – as well as the previously published “Just In Case“ – this writer, blogger, gardener and teacher of all things preparedness and homestead–related lives on a tiny farmstead in Western Massachusetts where she and her husband raise bees and chickens.

Prime found “Prepping 101” an intriguing guide, and reached out to Harrison for her take on why she felt a book like this is important in our Internet-connected world, and what we should all do to be prepared for the next local disaster.

Here’s what she had to say:

Q: Today’s society runs on convenience – ATMs, cars, freezers, microwaves. Do you think this makes us less ready to handle a natural disaster – or other lifestyle disruption – than previous generations? “I do. We operate under something you might refer to as a normalcy bias. We make assumptions based on what we see as normal for us. Normal is supermarkets full of food, water that gushes from the tap, medical care available around the clock and friends and family a phone call or keyboard away.

“We forget how fragile normal really is. It would take very little for the shelves to be empty, the water tap to be dry, 911 to stop responding and a blank screen to greet us when we pick up our cell phones. A terrible storm, a cyber attack or a failed power grid could leave us sitting in the dark and completely unprepared with the skills, supplies and tools you need to handle the situation. Panic is never good and a lot of people would panic.”

Q: Several organizations – The Red Cross, Ready.gov, etc. – offer disaster planning lists and tips online. What makes your newest book, “Preparing 101,” different from these other resources?

“There is some very good information on all those sites but if it’s all online that doesn’t do you much good if he power is out. These sites also tend to be a one-size-fits-all, kind of strategy and most of us need a more personal plan.

“Of all the things you need to be well prepared, information is the most important. I wrote both of my books, “Just In Case: How To Be Self Sufficient When The Unexpected Happens” and “Prepping 101: 40 Steps You Can Take To Be Prepared” to go beyond the basics and get into the nuts and bolts of designing a plan that fits your family.”

Click here to register to win a copy of the book!

Q: If you had to create a bare-bones preparedness kit from scratch – what essential items would you make sure you included?

“I would start with three days. You need one gallon of water per person per day. Water is heavy and bulky but you can’t live long without it. Pick three breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners you can make with shelf stable ingredients and put the them away in a dedicated bin. Add some comfort foods like hot chocolate, coffee and tea and your favorite cookies. Include extra water if the meal requires it. Pick things that require little or no cooking. Canned beans are fine but dry beans won’t work for this kit. You need some kind of camp stove to cook on although if you have propane you can cook on your stovetop if you light it with a match.

“Lighting is important. Kerosene lamps are inexpensive. Keep a couple filled and be sure you can get to the matches. A few flashlights and fresh batteries will be useful. A woodstove is very nice in frigid weather but healthy adults can manage in a pretty cold house as long as they have enough to eat and lots of layers. Make sure you have back up critical medications and sanitary supplies. A good book and some cards may keep you from going stir crazy. Finally, a good emergency radio can keep you abreast of what’s happening.”

You can find copies of “Prepping 101,” “Just in Case” and Harrison’s other books at most larger book stores – and most small bookstores will order them if you ask. Her titles are also available on Amazon.

For more info and tips on preparing for what may come and homesteading, visit Harrison’s blog at www.practicallypreparedinfo@wordpress.com or find her on Facebook at Practically Prepared.