Thursday, March 10, 2011
For Immediate Release from Gold Leaf Press
To schedule an interview with James Stevens, Author of
Making the Best of Basics,
Contact: Rebecca J. Ensign, Gold Leaf Press, Detroit, MI
rebecca@goldleafpress.com Phone: (313) 331-3571 Fax: (313) 308-3063
Visit:
http://www.bestofbasics12thedition.com
In-home Emergency Preparedness Surges Past Y2K Heights
The 60 Minutes episode on child poverty which aired Sunday, March 6 affected viewers and prompted discussion in every corner of the country. In this case, the take away message wasn't "oh how sad," although it was very sad, but "this can happen to my family, any day now."
Before and since that airing, every community, family and individual in this country has increasingly accepted the reality that they are living at risk of being affected by life-changing events that are beyond their control. And many are starting to do something about it by adopting an in-home preparedness plan.
Spurred by the Y2K scare, preparedness peaked in late 1998 through 1999, but is currently experiencing a spike as more and more individuals realize they are only two or three events away from being jobless, homeless, or penniless.
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Unfortunately," says James "Dr. Prepper" Stevens, author of Making the Best of Basics, now in its 12th Edition, "
there have never been so many distractions to interfere with the establishment of a family's preparedness or self-reliance program." Stevens is referring to the myriad of potential disasters Americans have contended with – almost daily - over the past ten years.
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Y2K was a singular possible event, but over the past ten years, our nation's families have become stretched thin financially and emotionally as they have become increasingly aware that they are vulnerable on three fronts," added Stevens. The three fronts Stevens refers to are natural disasters – ferocious storms, floods and earthquakes, people-cause disasters - terrorism, bank failures, or corporate downsizing, and personal disasters - pandemics, death or disability, loss of job, home or assets.
It is this awareness that has spurred the rise in preparedness and is creating a new breed of "Preppers".
Preppers, those who are prepared in advance for any type of disaster or emergency, don't start cold. They are already "preppers", they just don't realize it. For example, according to Stevens, a prepper is someone who does any of these things: saves money; buys new tires before the ones on the vehicle go bald; buys two pair of shoes when they are on sale at ½ price; has a retirement account; advances their education on an ongoing basis; eats healthy and exercises regularly.
The 21st Century Prepper is taking additional measures to gradually diminish the potential harmful effects of a disaster or emergency – whether it be natural, people-caused or personal – by carefully planning and deliberately acting before the event. This translates to having long-term supplies of food, water, clothing, liquid assets, skills, tools and resources on hand.
Stevens, also credits the " more accepting attitude" the federal government and the media is extending toward family preparedness and self-reliance. The 21st century media is much more tolerant in the reporting of survivalist, preparedness and family self-reliance issues.
Urban farms, alternative fuel, living within one's means, and buying in bulk are now encouraged throughout this country. Coupled with the disheartening stories being reported almost daily, this "acceptance" is playing a large part in preparedness shifting from an "alternative" to contemporary lifestyle, and American's acceptance that maybe the pioneers of the frontier had a point.
For additional materials or to schedule an interview with James Stevens,
Author of Making the Best of Basics Family Preparedness Handbook,
Contact: Rebecca J. Ensign, Gold Leaf Press, Detroit, MI
email: rebecca@goldleafpress.com Phone: (313) 331-3571 Fax: (313) 308-3063
Visit: http://www.BestofBasics12thEdition.com