Behind the Book: Real World Survival
September 2, 2026
I asked a member of my own team what he would do in an earthquake. He said he would get under the window, without hesitating. He was not stupid. Nobody had ever told him.
Tag: Survival
Survival stories grip readers because the stakes need no explanation. This tag covers survival as a theme in fiction and nonfiction: characters against nature, systems under stress, and real accounts of people who came through. It also touches the preparedness thinking behind my disaster recovery years.
SurvivalBehind the Book: The Ultimate Bug Out Bag Guide
September 2, 2026
The Northridge earthquake threw me out of bed at 4:31 in the morning. Then the shaking stopped, we realised our son was missing, and every piece of theoretical knowledge I had was worth nothing.
EmergencyHurricane Season: Do It Now, Because You Cannot Do It Later
August 26, 2026
Everything you need for a hurricane is on a shelf right now. The day it lands on the news, the water aisle is empty and the gas lines are around the block. Decide now whether you are leaving or staying,…
historical fictionBehind the Book: Family on Ice
August 21, 2026
I wanted to write prehistoric people as they were, not as primitives. Here is how the real Toba supervolcano and a single family became Family on Ice.
Disaster RecoveryI Climbed Out of That Canyon at Eight at Night
June 28, 2026
Breathless at the top of a canyon at eight at night, explaining to a fireman named Kurt what had happened and where my father was.
Disaster RecoveryThe Fire Jumped the Road Behind Me. I Had Nothing in the Car.
May 21, 2026
Fire on both sides of the road, and when I looked back it had jumped behind me. Years of camping experience and nothing in the car that helped.
EmergencyFacing Hurricane Irma: 7 Lessons in Storm Survival
February 8, 2026
September 2017: the forecast confirmed Irma was coming straight for my corner of Florida, and we had days to get ready. I had ridden out storms before, but this one's numbers were ugly. Here are seven hard-earned lessons from preparing…
Disaster RecoveryHurricane Milton Was Truly Frightening: The Aftermath
October 12, 2024
Milton dropped a record 14.5 inches of rain and spawned two dozen tornadoes. Here is the firsthand aftermath and what it confirmed about readiness.
Disaster RecoveryPreparing for a Category 5: My Hurricane Milton Experience and Advice
October 9, 2024
Milton reached Category 5 with 155 mph winds. Drawing on decades of disasters, here is my complete preparation routine and why pets belong at the center.
Disaster RecoveryBracing for Hurricane Milton While Cleaning Up After Helene
October 6, 2024
With Milton strengthening in the Gulf days after Helene, I ran my whole preparedness checklist again. Here is exactly what I did to get ready.
Business ContinuityWhen Hurricane Helene Grazed Clearwater: A Lesson in Backup Plans
October 1, 2024
Hurricane Helene came close enough to fry two UPS units, two TVs, and my internet speed. Here is what the near miss taught me about being ready.