The Preparedness Pyramid
A simple way to prioritize what matters: build readiness from the foundation up — planning, water, food, medical, power, and communications.
Latest Articles
View all articles → Featured 
What I Learned After a Texas Ice Storm
A week without power during a Texas ice storm taught me what really matters in an emergency — and what doesn’t. Here are the practical lessons.
Build a Backup Power Plan Without Spending $5,000
You don’t need a whole-home generator to keep the essentials running. Here’s how to build a practical backup power plan for any budget.
The 72-Hour Kit Most Families Actually Need
A simple, no-overwhelm checklist for building a 72-hour emergency kit from things you mostly already own.
Explore by Topic
View all topics →From M. T. Parsons’s Library
View all books →Not my books — just a few I think are worth your shelf. Honest recommendations, nothing more.
The Unthinkable
Amanda Ripley
The Unthinkable
The science of who keeps their head in a disaster — and how the rest of us can learn to.
View on Amazon →Deep Survival
Laurence Gonzales
Deep Survival
Why even smart, prepared people get into trouble — and the mindset that gets them out.
View on Amazon →Just in Case
Kathy Harrison
Just in Case
Calm, family-first preparedness from someone who actually lives it.
View on Amazon →Where There Is No Doctor
David Werner
Where There Is No Doctor
The classic plain-language health guide for when help is hours away.
View on Amazon →Lights Out
Ted Koppel
Lights Out
A measured journalist on why the grid is fragile — and what real readiness looks like.
View on Amazon →