Preparing for the Worst

Preparing for the Worst details the best practices in antiterrorism tactics and preparing for disaster. This book is for typical American families, business travelers, corporate executive management personnel, emergency first responders, school administrators, and local government officials responsible for public safety and emergency management.

Americans are regularly bombarded with reports of disaster and tragedy in the daily news. Catastrophes like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, violent crimes, and terrorism are so common and routine that many of us have become numb to the stories. Without a heightened awareness, focused concern, and effective planning, we have lost the edge that can save lives.

Do you know what you should do to protect your family during a disaster? Does your neighbor have the knowledge required to survive a catastrophic event? Part of the solution is rooted in common sense, but much more depends upon effectively applying learned survival skills. Americans need a helpful reference tool—a Swiss army knife for handling today's threats. This book is that tool.

A former U.S. Marine and Desert Storm veteran, Schaefer-Jones has experienced calamity firsthand. He is also a concerned husband and the father of three young children. While considering how he would personally handle a disastrous event close to home, he came to realize that a comprehensive how-to guide was not available—until now.

James (Jay) Schaefer-Jones is Director of Night Vision Programs for a government subcontractor in Fairfield, N.J., where he supports a domestic and international network of sales representatives responsible for night vision and security product sales to military, federal, local law enforcement, and broadcast and media customers. He is an active volunteer with his local Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). An engineer by training, he also served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Chief Communications and Electronics Technician at Camp LeJeune, N.C., writing Standard Operating Procedures and operator's manuals. He was formally recognized through official correspondence for improvising unique solutions during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.