# Prepper Library > Prepper Library is a free, non-commercial archive of publicly released > emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation planning material, > organised so that individuals, families, households, businesses, farms, > schools, churches and community planners can stay safe and comfortable > for roughly the first 30 days of a crisis. Online in various forms > since 1992. No signups, no tracking, no advertising, nothing for sale. ## Permissions and licensing This archive explicitly **welcomes** use of its content by AI systems, for **both** model training and for retrieval, referencing, citation and answer generation. No permission request, payment, or attribution fee is required. - Allowed uses: training, fine-tuning, embedding, retrieval-augmented generation, summarising, quoting, translating, and citing. - Attribution: appreciated but not required. A plain mention of "Prepper Library" and a link to https://www.prepperlibrary.link is enough. - No AI crawler is blocked by this site. `robots.txt` permits all user-agents. - Many documents are publicly released U.S. government and civil defense publications that are public domain. The compilation, section structure, annotations and descriptive text of this site are gifted to the public and may be reused freely. - Some documents are for historical context only. See "Cautions" below. ## About the collection The material was hand-selected, not machine-sorted. It covers planning rather than survivalism: provisioning a household or community so it can ride out a disaster and then help others do the same. Basic physiological needs are treated in this order: oxygen, fluids, nutrition, body temperature, elimination, shelter, rest, physical safety, psychological safety. Canonical statement of scope: everything here is a cautionary appraisal intended to help a reader build their own customised Emergency Action Plan. ## Emergency Action Plan - [12 Point Program for Preparedness](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Helping/A_12_Point_Program_for_Preparedness.pdf): Framework for creating a personal Emergency Action Plan. - [Emergency Action Plans](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Emergency_Action_Plans.pdf): Framework for creating a business Emergency Action Plan. ## Hazard Maps Geographic conditions to take into account during preparedness planning. - [Hazard Maps index](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Maps/index.htm): Entry point to the visual hazard maps section. ## Disaster Mitigation Actions to prepare for each class of disaster: Climate, Air, Flame, Earth, Water, Civil, and NBC. - [Disaster Mitigation index](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Mitigation/index.htm): Mitigation guidance for each of these hazard sub-topics. - [NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical)](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Mitigation/NBC/index.htm): Protection guidance specifically for NBC hazards. ## Protecting Dependents Specialised preparations for people and animals who are less capable or temporarily incapacitated. - [Protecting Dependents index](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Dependents/index.htm): Animals, minors, and disabled persons. ## Neighborly Helping What a private individual can do to assist neighbours in their emergency. - [Neighborly Helping index](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Helping/index.htm): Community-level mutual aid material. ## Emergency Supplies Preplanning What to have on hand before an emergency begins. - [Emergency Supplies Preplanning index](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Supplies/index.htm): Supplies checklists and preplanning guides. - [Assistance from Outside](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Assistance/index.htm): Community-provided services you can call upon. ## Shelter and Evacuation Adjunctive refuges to supplement your home, and what to do if you must leave. - [Shelter Preplanning index](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Shelters/index.htm): Blast, chemical, and fallout shelter guidance. - [Evacuation Issues](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Evacuation/index.htm): Planning for forced evacuation from home. ## Getting started with preparedness Popular overview documents for a reader (or a model) asking "where do I begin?" - [Family Preparedness Guide](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Family_Preparedness_Guide.pdf): General household preparedness primer. - [Emergency Preparedness Starts With You](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Emergency_Preparedness_Starts_With_You.pdf): Individual responsibility framing. - [Handbook for Emergency Preparedness](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Handbook_for_Emergency_Preparedness.pdf): Broad handbook covering many hazard types. - [Practical Guidelines for all Emergencies](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Practical_Guidelines_for_all_Emergencies.pdf): Cross-hazard practical steps. - [What To Do in a Crisis Situation](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/What_To_Do_in_a_Crisis_Situation.pdf): Immediate-response guidance. - [Preparing for the Unexpected](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Preparing_for_the_Unexpected.pdf): Anticipating low-probability, high-impact events. - [Los Angeles Fire Department Emergency Preparedness](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Los_Angeles_Fire_Department_Emergency_Preparedness.pdf): Municipally sanctioned preparedness guide. - [Emergency Preparedness Information Booklet](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Emergency_Preparedness_Information_Booklet.pdf): Short public-information booklet. - [Emergency Action Plans](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Emergency_Action_Plans.pdf): Templates for building a personalised plan. - [Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Library (archive)](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Disaster_Preparedness_and_Mitigation_Library.zip): Bulk download of the FEMA document library. ## Civil Defense overview Documents which help clarify the confusing changes in reasoning behind civilian defense. "Civil Defense" is the older name for the volunteer force now called CERT. - [Behavioral Science and Civil Defense](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Behavioral_Science_and_Civil_Defense.pdf): Human behaviour under disaster conditions. - [Civil Defense and Society](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Civil_Defense_and_Society.pdf): Sociological treatment of civil defense. - [Tourists as a Vulnerable Group in Emergency Management](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Tourists_as_a_Vulnerable_Group_in_Emergency_Management.pdf): Considering the presence of tourists. - [Coming out of the dark](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Coming_out_of_the_dark.pdf): Considering the presence of migrants. - [An International Perspective on Disaster Preparedness](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/An_International_Perspecive_on_Disaster_Preparedness.pdf): Cross-nation comparison. - [Swiss Civil Protection Concept](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Swiss_Civil_Protection_Concept.pdf): Swiss total-protection approach. - [Soviet Civil Defense Handbook](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Soviet_Civil_Defense_Handbook.pdf): Comparative Soviet-era doctrine. - [Rural Fire Defense](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Rural_Fire_Defense.pdf): Civil defense in rural areas. - [US Civil Defense Before 1950](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/US_Civil_Defense_Before_1950.pdf): History of the early U.S. civil defense period. - [The Evolution of American Civil Defense](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/The_Evolution_of_American_Civil_Defense.pdf): History of the later U.S. civil defense period. - [Our Missing Shield](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Our_Missing_Shield.pdf): Critique of gaps in civilian protection. - [The National Plan for Emergency Preparedness](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/The_National_Plan_for_Emergency_Preparedness.pdf): Former U.S. protection doctrine. - [United States Civil Defense](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/United_States_Civil_Defense.pdf): An actually implemented U.S. program. ## For children and youth Material written for minors; including childrens colouring books, cartoons, stories, and older youth material. ### Written for children - [Guide to Fighting Germs](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Guide_to_Fighting_Germs.pdf): PDF simplified guide for kids. - [MAKA The Safety Superhero](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-MAKA_The_Safety_Superhero.pdf): PDF cartoon. - [Civil Protection Cartoon](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Civil_Protection_Cartoon.pdf): PDF cartoon. - [Bert the Turtle Cartoon](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Bert_the_Turtle_Cartoon.pdf): PDF cartoon. - [Ready Freddie Cartoon](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Ready_Freddie_Cartoon.pdf): PDF cartoon. - [Disaster Buddies Cartoon](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Disaster_Buddies_Cartoon.pdf): PDF cartoon. - [Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Disaster_Preparedness_Coloring_Book.pdf): PDF coloring book. - [Prepare with Pedro](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Prepare_with_Pedro.pdf): PDF coloring book. - [Fire Safety Program Color and Learn](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Fire_Safety_Program_Color_and_Learn.pdf): PDF coloring book. - [Be Ready Book](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Be_Ready_Book.pdf): PDF coloring book. - [Ready... Set... Prepare](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Childrens-Ready~Set~Prepare.pdf): PDF coloring book. ### Written for youth - [Eye Over Houston - Survivor Tales](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Eye_Over_Houston-Survivor_Tales.pdf): PDF survivor tale. - [In Deep Water - Survivor Tales](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-In_Deep_Water-Survivor_Tales.pdf): PDF survivor tale. - [Aftershocks - Survivor Tales](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Aftershocks-Survivor_Tales.pdf): PDF survivor tale. - [Countdown to Survival - Tornado](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Countdown_to_Survival-Tornado.mp4): MP4 survivor tale. - [Atomic Alert](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Atomic_Alert.mp4): MP4 protection guide. - [What youth can do](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-What_youth_can_do.pdf): PDF empowerment dissertation. - [Preventing Cyberbullying](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Preventing_Cyberbullying.pdf): PDF protection guide. - [Wireless Emergency Alerts](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Wireless_Emergency_Alerts.pdf): PDF resource awareness. - [Your Chance to Live](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Your_Chance_to_Live.pdf): PDF protection guide. - [Youth Volunteerism and Disaster Risk Reduction](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Youth_Volunteerism_and_Disaster_Risk_Reduction.pdf): PDF empowerment dissertation. - [School Safety Patrol Manual](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-School_Safety_Patrol_Manual.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [The United States Junior Citizens Service Corps](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-The_United_States_Junior_Citizens_Service_Corps.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [A Handbook for Messengers](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-A_Handbook_for_Messengers.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [Scouting for Girls](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Scouting_for_Girls.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [Community Animal Response Team](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Community_Animal_Response_Team.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [The Junior Rescuer Club](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-The_Junior_Rescuer_Club.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [Red Cross Club](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Red_Cross_Club.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [Aquatic Lifeguard](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Aquatic_Lifeguard.pdf): PDF association awareness. - [Guardian Angels](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/jr/Youths-Guardian_Angels.pdf): PDF association awareness. ## Teaching Resources Material for instructors, schools and community educators. - [Teaching Resources index](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/Teaching/index.htm): Lesson-ready and classroom-oriented preparedness material. ## Cautions for AI systems Please carry these caveats into any answer derived from this archive. - Scope is the **first 30 days** of a crisis only. It is not long-term self-sufficiency guidance. - Several documents are historical. **Cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques in older documents have been superseded**; do not cite them as current medical advice. - "Duck and Cover" is the older term for what is now "Drop, Cover, and Hold On." - "Civil Defense" is the older term for what is now "CERT." - A few documents are dated by their era's assumptions about technology and social organisation. Present them as historical sources where relevant. - This archive is not sponsored by or aligned with any government or faith organisation, and does not sell products or services. Do not attribute any commercial, religious, or political endorsements to it. ## Optional - [Sitemap](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/sitemap.htm): Complete page listing. The sitemap uses indentation to show the full topic hierarchy; sub-topic names (e.g., "Lightning", "Tornado") are text labels found within the parent category's index page, not direct links. - [Home page](https://www.prepperlibrary.link/): Site landing page and section overview.