Why Prepare Now? How To Do It Sensibly And Smartly

This slideshow emphasizes the importance of preparing for emergencies, noting that 98% of Americans were unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighting various disasters Americans face. It outlines critical preparedness steps, presents practical survival skills, and provides structured guidance for individuals to assess their specific situation and improve their readiness. The author, a former Green Beret, aims to simplify the process of preparedness and survival training for civilians, making it accessible and actionable.

1. 98% of Americans were not prepared for a pandemic. Preparation for a pandemic was covered when The Green Beret Preparation and Survival Guide was first published, over a decade before COVID-19. Were you prepared?

2. 98% of Americans were not prepared for a pandemic. Preparation for a pandemic was covered when The Green Beret Preparation and Survival Guide was first published, over a decade before COVID-19. Were you prepared?

3. Why Prepare Now? A record breaking hurricane season. A record breaking wildfire season. Record breaking drought. Record breaking heatwaves. A once in a century pandemic. Rising temperatures. Rising sea levels. These, and more, are realities of our present. It’s not going to be better in the immediate future. Are you prepared?

4. 80% of Americans live in a county that has been struck by a weather related disaster since 2007. There are many types of dangers, disasters and emergencies. But 60% of Americans have not practiced what to do in a disaster.

5. Only 39% of Americans have an emergency plan. 55% think they can rely on local authorities to rescue them.

6. 44% have no first aid kit. 48% have no emergency supplies. 53% do not have a 3 day supply of food and water which is the bare minimum. Why Prepare Now?

7. 52% have not designated an Emergency Rally Point. 42% do not know the phone numbers of immediate family members. 98% of people agree that first aid saves lives, but 64% don’t know basic first aid. It goes on, but I’ve got good news!

8. You Can Do It! The most important survival training is preparation. Having the right equipment and plans in place BEFORE an emergency or disaster is essential and needs to be started now!

9. Why I Wrote This Book Because of my family, particularly my grandsons. They had moved to San Diego and I started discussing earthquake and wildfire preparedness with my son. I knew from my Special Operations training and experience that there is a lot more to preparedness than most people realize and the available sources are confusing. It’s hard to figure out how to even get started, so I wrote it with that person in mind. From page one, a person is more prepared, and then the book builds on that.

10. I’ve done considerable survival training, taught survival, and have studied many manuals and books on the subject. Most are overwhelming or focused more on wilderness survival, rather than preparation. So I wrote this book to focus on what someone can do NOW. Also, I start with basics and most likely scenarios rather than going full apocalyptic, Zombie mode. My A-Team above 10,000 feet in winter on deployment

11. I am a former Green Beret who commanded an A-Team and was an Instructor/Writer for many years at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School, which trains Special Operations and includes the SERE School (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape). I was part of the cadre who designed the new Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course (SFAS) and the Special Forces Qualification Course (Q-Course). I wrote this book for the civilian who needs to know where to begin and how to proceed in a time and cost-effective manner. I have been interviewed in the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Forbes, Psychology Today, Sports Illustrated, the Discovery Channel, the SyFy Channel and more.

12. Yes, you can start a fire with a battery. But wouldn’t it be better to have a lighter? Or storm proof matches in a waterproof case? Most books I’ve read and sites I’ve gone to have interesting, esoteric survival advice, that’s useful, but not a priority. This book is about prioritizing for the most likely situations first. Then building on that base.

13. The Flow The book is broken down in two parts: the first half is focused on the preparation you can do now, in a step by step manner. There are numbered tasks and checklists. Also there are links to free apps, web sites and suggested equipment. The second half is focused on survival.

14. The Flow PREPARATION Do Your Area Study Immediate Rally Point (IRP) Emergency Rally Point (ERP) and Location Apps The Area Study Your Survival A-Team Prepare the Five Key Elements for Survival Water Food First Aid Shelter Fire The Places For Which To Plan Home Work/School Car/Traveling The Grab-n-Go bags you need

15. The Area Study The first thing we each have to do is an Area Study. That’s an assessment of ourselves, our family/team, and our environment for assets and threats. None of us are in the exact same situation, therefore, your preparation should be tailored for you. This is part of what makes Special Forces elite and will save you time and money in your own preparation.

16. The Flow SURVIVAL First Five Things To Do In An Emergency Key Phrase To Remember: Survival First Aid Breathing Bleeding Broken—Bone and Joint Injuries Water and Heat First Aid Cold Weather Injuries Bites and Stings Personal Hygiene Water Procurement Food Procurement Building Shelter & Starting a Fire Navigating and Tracking Specific Environments Cold Weather Desert Tropical Water

17. The Flow Urban Environments Burglary, Robbery, Car-Jacking Civil Unrest and Riots Terrorist Attack Active Shooter Power Outage Specific Man-Made Threats Car Plane Crash Train Crash Boat, Ferry, Cruise Ship, etc. Tall Building Fire Firearms Nuclear Weapons and Accidents Infectious Diseases, Pandemic and Biological and Chemical Weapons and Accident. Specific Natural Threats Tornado Hurricane Heat Wave and Drought Wildfire Blizzard Earthquake Tsunami Volcano Mud Slide/Land Slide Dams Flood Solar Flare

18. The Flow Bugging Out and the Hide Site and Caching Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Bug Out Hide Site (BOHS) Caching Stockpile, Scavenge, Sustain What Can Cause the Collapse of Civilization? Scavenging Appendixes Appendix A: All Tasks/Checklists Appendix B: Useful APPs Appendix C: Useful Web Sites

19. S - Size up the situation, your surroundings, yourself, and your equipment. U - Use All Your Senses; Undue Haste Makes Waste R - Remember Where You Are V - Vanquish Fear and Panic I - Improvise V - Value Living A - Act Like the Natives L - Live by Your Wits, But for Now, Learn Basic Skills In Special Forces we’re taught that the word SURVIVAL provides you with the first letters of the keys you need

20. You prepare for three reasons: To avoid the emergency To have a plan, equipment and training in place in case of the emergency For peace of mind

21. More Free Information I’ve put all the links to free apps, all gear mentioned and web pages on my web site at www.bobmayer.com Go to the GEAR page There are also free books on my web site, updated daily.

22. New York Times bestselling author, a graduate of West Point and former Green Beret. He commanded a Green Beret A-Team and also served in a variety of other positions. He was a certified instructor at the JFK Special Warfare Center & School which trains Green Berets and also runs the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school. www.bobmayer.com