Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Floods. Pandemics. Wildfires. Earthquakes. Droughts. Landslides. Trillions of dollars in damages. Billions of people affected. Worldwide shutdowns. Terrorist attacks. Gas explosions. Bridge collapses. Car, train, and plane crashes. These sudden and unexpected events make it feel as if chaos rules the world, but expecting the unexpected can mitigate the damage and loss to you and your loved ones. It pays to be prepared—and to know how to react and respond when disaster does strike.

When catastrophe strikes, no matter how big or small, being ready and knowing what to do can be the difference between the loss of life and survival. The Disaster Survival Guide: How to Prepare For and Surviving Floods, Fires, Earthquakes and More shows how to prepare and respond to any crisis, man-made or natural, wherever it might occur and however small or large it might be. Using what has been learned from previous disasters, this indispensable book illustrates how others survived past crises. Critical decisions faced during an emergency are considered: whether to stay or to go, where to go, how to stay informed, and more.

Covering the basics needs from food, water and first aid to shelter, security, and self-defense, this informative guide walks readers through the steps it takes to create their own personal emergency action plan. It provides a catalog of the skills, tools, and items needed to endure and overcome a variety of situations and circumstances. It pinpoints hazards unique to different terrains, locations, situations, and settings, too, and it helps identify and understand possible threats.

Just as important as learning how to survive the worst is learning how to survive everyday emergencies ranging from bee stings, snakebites, and allergic reactions to house fires, gas explosions, and more. It’s all important, and it’s all in The Disaster Survival Guide. Truly essential, this fact-filled book takes a clear-eyed look at what to do should the worst happen.