Too many Americans lack the know-how and provisions to adequately handle even a small disaster-be it man-made or natural. Meanwhile, the image of the disaster prepper as either paranoid or actively hoping for social disruption has become commonplace. It's time to face the sad truth: the disaster preparedness movement in America has failed.
In Pivot Points, experienced disaster "prepper" Paul T. Martin argues for a shift in how America views disaster preparation. Instead of their dismissing prepping as a hobby or the result of an overactive imagination, Martin challenges individuals, emergency management professionals, and community leaders to answer three vital questions:
- Do we need a culture of preparedness in America?
- What should that culture look like?
- How do we create that culture?
Martin challenges readers to discover their "pivot points," those sources of motivation for preparing both themselves and their communities for disaster. For some, motivations might center on family safety. For others, a sense of citizenship or religious beliefs might drive their preparedness.
By exploring different pivot points, we create a more resilient, inclusive culture of preparedness, transforming the reader into an advocate for public safety and creating better preparation in private and public spheres.
About the Author: A lawyer by training and lobbyist by occupation, Paul T. Martin hardly fits the disaster prepper stereotype. But on his first day of law school at the University of Miami, Hurricane Andrew slammed into the city.
Martin's experiences in both urban Miami and his childhood home of rural Tennessee convinced him the nation needs to foster a culture of preparedness. A former volunteer firefighter and first responder, Martin is also a general class ham radio operator, a severe storm spotter, and a concealed handgun license instructor in Texas.
Martin is a regular speaker on the need for disaster preparedness. He is the author of Bracing for Impact: A Practical Guide to Preparing for Disasters.
Martin lives in Austin with his wife Kendel and his stepdaughter Delaney. They have two shelter dogs, Meg and Kate, who have their own food storage plan and bug-out bags.
