DRAFT Introduction of my next book: The People's Emergency Plan

FIRST Draft - Emergency Preparedness Planning - Possible Publishing Date 14 February 2025

There’s no shortage of books, websites, and YouTube channels on the topic of "prepping." The problem is, “prepping” has become a word that many associate with paranoia or extreme scenarios. At its core, though, preparedness is nothing more than an insurance policy for your family—a practical measure to protect those you love in emergencies. Despite the abundance of information out there, most of it focuses on what to stockpile or buy, with little emphasis on the critical part: how to plan.

Preparedness isn’t just about hoarding supplies or learning survival hacks. It’s about using a structured process to make decisions before, during, and after a crisis. In this book, I’ve taken planning techniques rooted in my military experience and transformed them into a civilian framework—one that works for real families in real situations. This is not a guide for military readers, although they could use it too. It’s a straightforward, adaptable system that anyone can follow, whether you’re a parent, a community leader, or just someone who wants to feel confident in the face of uncertainty.

Why Is an Emergency Preparedness Plan Important?

Emergencies don’t give you time to think. When disaster strikes, you won’t have the luxury of figuring things out on the fly. You’ll wish you had a plan. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a pandemic, or a sudden evacuation, having a clear, actionable plan can make the difference between chaos and control.

This book isn’t about turning you into a Special Forces Tier 1 Operator. You don’t need to endure sleepless nights or choke on CS Gas to learn how to protect your family. What you need are practical planning techniques—methods that have been proven in the most challenging environments and are invaluable for civilian preparedness. That’s exactly what I’m here to teach you.

As a military veteran, I believe we have a responsibility to share what we’ve learned with civilians. Emergencies can strike out of nowhere, and when they do, being prepared isn’t just helpful—it’s critical. This book will take you step-by-step through a process that empowers you to create your own emergency preparedness plan, one that works for you and your family.

When I joined the Army in 1990 as a 16-year-old Infantry Reserve Private, I didn’t know where the journey would take me. I spent over eight years in the Infantry, five of those as a Reconnaissance patrolman operating in small, three-to-four-man detachments. Back then, we were sent out on “Recce Patrols,” but I never really understood why. We weren’t told the bigger picture—just our small piece of it. It was only later, when I joined the Regular Forces in 1998 as an Army Combat Engineer Officer, that I started to see how it all fit together.

As an Engineer, understanding tactics is non-negotiable. It’s our job to shape the battlefield, creating opportunities for Infantry and Armored units to close with and destroy the enemy. We laid minefields, built abattis, and prepared defensive positions—but even then, I didn’t fully grasp why we were doing things a certain way. It wasn’t until I attended Staff College that I finally understood the full picture.

That’s where I learned about the Operational Planning Process (OPP)—a structured framework used by military organizations to analyze situations, develop strategies, and execute plans. The OPP is designed to break down complex problems into manageable components, ensuring logical and informed decision-making. It’s widely regarded as one of the most effective planning tools for navigating uncertainty and high-pressure environments.

In an emergency, whether on the battlefield or at home, fear takes over. Your body’s natural response to terror is to shift into survival mode: your heart rate spikes, your breathing becomes rapid, and your ability to think clearly diminishes. Even basic tasks can feel impossible in those moments. That’s why having a plan isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. A well-thought-out plan anchors you, giving you a clear path to follow when your mind is screaming for you to panic.

The time to prepare isn’t during the emergency—it’s before. By following the framework I’ll outline in this book, you’ll build a plan that not only keeps you grounded in the heat of the moment but also gives you and your family the best chance of staying safe, no matter what comes your way.

As a side note, this framework isn’t limited to emergencies. It can also be applied in business or any situation where you need to create a detailed, comprehensive plan while staying flexible to adapt to changing circumstances. Whether you’re navigating a crisis at home or leading a team through complex challenges at work, the principles of this process remain just as effective.

Why I Have Written This Book

In 2023, I published a book about my involvement with the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa. I called the book, The People’s Emergency Act: Freedom Convoy 2022. In early 2022, I was invited to participate in the Freedom Convoy because one of the original organizers knew I was a former military officer with extensive planning and organizational experience. They knew I had managed hundreds of soldiers, vehicles, and equipment during my career. At the time, I didn’t go to Ottawa expecting to play a major role. I went as a volunteer, ready to lend my skills to what I believed was a critical, peaceful stand for freedom and accountability.

What I didn’t anticipate was how quickly my military background would set me apart. People recognized that my training and experience could help bring structure and clarity to the Convoy, and they began to look to me for guidance. I wasn’t there to take charge, but the trust people placed in me—because they believed I had valuable insights—naturally elevated me to a leadership role. That trust wasn’t something I took lightly. It carried with it a profound responsibility to ensure that our actions remained peaceful, disciplined, and effective.

From the start, I understood that this was more than a protest. It was a movement that represented hope for Canadians who felt dismissed and forgotten. But with that hope came significant risks. The federal government, led by Justin Trudeau, was determined to paint us as dangerous extremists. When Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, it became clear just how far he was willing to go to suppress peaceful dissent. The physical attacks on participants, carried out under the guise of restoring order, revealed his intent to escalate the situation rather than address our concerns.

What stands out the most to me isn’t just the role I played but what my own government did in response. The freezing of bank accounts—without charges, trials, or court proceedings—was a line I never thought my country would cross. My own accounts were frozen, leaving me unable to access my money or conduct basic transactions. This wasn’t just an attack on a protest; it was an attack on the rights and freedoms of every Canadian. It was a clear message: dissent would not be tolerated, no matter how peaceful or justified.

This country, like many other developed nations, is not headed in the right direction. Our government has put its citizens in an increasingly compromised position. From overreaching policies to the unchecked influx of thousands of military-aged men crossing into North America illegally, we are facing challenges that most people are unprepared to handle. These are not just theoretical risks—they are immediate and real.

Despite the government’s tactics, I made a deliberate choice not to engage in deception or counterproductive actions. As someone trained in operational planning, I could have developed an obstacle plan to frustrate police efforts and disrupt their operations. Any third-year Army Captain who graduated from the Command and Staff College could have done so. But I refused. I knew such actions would not only jeopardize the safety of everyone involved—on both sides—but would also undermine the very principles we were there to uphold.

I believed deeply that escalating the conflict would have given Trudeau the justification to act even more harshly or, worse, involve the Canadian military. My duty wasn’t just to participate in the Convoy—it was to ensure the safety of everyone involved, from the participants standing in the freezing cold to the police officers tasked with removing us. Responsibility isn’t one-sided. It extends to creating conditions that minimize harm for all.

I don’t consider myself special for understanding this. What set me apart wasn’t my tactical knowledge—it was my ability to listen to the right people, ask the right questions, and develop a clear vision of what needed to be done within hours of my arrival in Ottawa. That vision wasn’t about defeating an opponent; it was about achieving our objectives in a way that upheld our principles and safeguarded everyone’s well-being.

At its core, my role wasn’t about logistics or micromanaging details—others handled those aspects far better than I could have. Instead, I focused on providing strategic direction, helping people maintain their sense of purpose, and ensuring our actions aligned with our values. I understood that a peaceful, disciplined presence would be far more powerful than any tactical maneuver.

The lessons I took from that experience—about planning, leadership, and responsibility—continue to guide me today. But those lessons didn’t come easily. Being in Ottawa during the Convoy often felt like walking a tightrope without a safety net beneath me. When you’re a soldier, you operate with the weight of a massive machine behind you—the government gives you the legal and command authority to act on its behalf. You have structure, rules, and a clear chain of command to lean on.

In Ottawa, we had none of that. We were completely on our own, navigating an unprecedented situation with enormous risks. Every decision felt like it carried the potential for disaster, not just for me but for everyone involved. If I got it wrong, we weren’t just risking the movement’s success—we were risking our freedom. Some who participated in the Convoy are now facing jail time because of their involvement. That reality was never far from my mind. The pressure was immense, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

Yet despite the fear and the uncertainty, I knew I had to focus on doing what was right. The trust people placed in me during the Convoy gave me the resolve to stay the course, even when the stress was overwhelming. These are the lessons I hope to share with others—not just about planning and leadership, but about finding strength in the most challenging circumstances.

As citizens, we need to take responsibility for our own safety, our own preparedness, and our own communities. This book is my way of equipping you to do just that. Many of the same principles I used to help organize the Convoy and navigate its challenges can be applied to preparing your family for whatever comes next.

This is not a military manual—it’s a civilian guide to taking ownership of your own preparedness. And in these uncertain times, that responsibility has never been more important.

The Need for Structured Planning

· Failures of Emergency Management: Learning from COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant shortcomings in emergency preparedness and response across all levels of government. David Redman, a retired Canadian Army Officer and former head of Alberta Emergency Management, has been a vocal critic of Canada’s handling of the crisis. In his paper, Canada’s Deadly Response to COVID-19, Redman highlights systemic failures, including:

Disregard for Pre-Established Pandemic Plans: Governments abandoned decades of carefully designed federal and provincial pandemic plans in favor of reactive, politically driven lockdowns.

Fear-Based Decision-Making: Policies were often guided by fear rather than facts, creating confusion and eroding public trust.

Failure to Protect the Most Vulnerable: The majority of early COVID-19 deaths occurred in long-term care facilities, exposing a tragic misalignment in priorities and preparedness.

These failures are not unique to COVID-19. They underscore a broader problem: governments are often ill-prepared to respond effectively to domestic emergencies. Incompetence, bureaucracy, and political considerations can hinder their ability to act decisively and in the public’s best interest.

Why We Cannot Rely on the Government

The reality is that during a domestic emergency, we cannot always count on the government to help us—or trust them to do it properly. As seen during the pandemic, politics and incompetence often take precedence over preparedness and public safety. This leaves individuals and families vulnerable when crises strike.

This is not to say we should dismiss government efforts outright, but it is clear that relying solely on external systems is a risk we cannot afford to take. It is incumbent upon us to take responsibility for our own safety and the safety of our families. The time to prepare is before the next emergency, not during it.

The Power of Structured Planning

The military uses structured planning to handle complex and dynamic situations. This same approach can be adapted for civilian emergency preparedness. The Operational Planning Process provides a framework to analyze risks, develop objectives, and execute actionable plans. Here’s how it works:

1. Analyze the Situation: Understand the risks and resources available to you.

2. Develop Objectives: Define your priorities, such as protecting your family or ensuring access to supplies.

3. Plan for Action: Create detailed plans with contingencies for unexpected developments.

4. Test and Refine: Use exercises like wargaming to evaluate and improve your plan.

5. Reduce Fear and Improve Cognitive Function: Fear and anxiety can diminish cognitive abilities, leading to poor decision-making in critical moments. Having a reliable, predetermined plan enables you to overcome fear by providing clear steps to follow, ensuring you can act decisively even under pressure.

Why This Framework Matters

In times of crisis, the ability to think clearly and act decisively can mean the difference between safety and chaos. Emergencies often strike without warning, leaving little room for error or hesitation. This is where a structured framework like Strategic, Operational, and Tactical Planning becomes indispensable.

Strategic planning provides the long-term vision and overarching goals needed to guide your decisions in a crisis. It asks the big questions: What are you trying to protect? What outcomes are you striving for? Operational planning then translates these broad goals into actionable scenarios, bridging the gap between vision and execution. Finally, tactical planning prepares you to implement these scenarios in real time, ensuring you can respond effectively under pressure.

This framework matters because it helps you anticipate challenges, reduce uncertainty, and build resilience. It enables you to approach emergencies with a sense of purpose and control rather than fear and confusion. By breaking down complex problems into manageable steps, you’ll not only be better prepared but also more capable of adapting to unforeseen circumstances. In short, this framework empowers you to safeguard what matters most—your family, your home, and your future.

A Call to Action

Emergencies don’t wait for you to be ready. They don’t check your schedule or give you time to catch your breath. They demand immediate action, and that action is most effective when it’s backed by preparation. This book is not just a guide; it’s a call to action for anyone who understands the importance of readiness in an unpredictable world.

The process of planning may seem overwhelming at first. You might wonder where to start or question whether it’s worth the effort. But the truth is, the cost of inaction is far greater than the investment of time and energy required to prepare. By taking proactive steps today, you’re giving yourself and your loved ones the greatest gift possible: the ability to face the unexpected with confidence and resolve.

This is your opportunity to step up and take control. Emergencies are inevitable, but their outcomes are not. The work you put into planning now can save lives, prevent loss, and provide peace of mind when it matters most. Don’t wait for a crisis to realize the value of preparation. Let this book be your starting point, and commit to the journey of becoming ready, resilient, and resourceful.

Using This Framework in the Book

This book is not about creating separate plans for strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Instead, it weaves all three seamlessly into a unified process with one clear goal: to produce a practical, written plan that can be executed at the tactical level when it matters most.

Strategic planning lays the foundation. It’s about understanding your long-term goals, identifying risks, and defining what success looks like for your family. This isn’t about lofty ideals—it’s about being clear on what you’re trying to achieve so every decision serves that purpose.

Operational planning takes that vision and builds the bridge to action. Here, you’ll learn to create scenario-based plans for real challenges like natural disasters, extended power outages, or medical emergencies. You’ll allocate resources, identify key tasks, and establish contingencies to ensure your plan is adaptable and effective under changing circumstances.

Tactical planning is where everything comes together. This is where theory meets practice. From assembling go-bags to rehearsing evacuation routes and creating communication protocols, this book focuses on the hands-on steps that will allow you to execute your plan effectively. Tactical planning emphasizes precision, adaptability, and practice, giving you the confidence to act decisively when the time comes.

By the end of this book, you’ll have more than just a written plan—you’ll have a mindset. You’ll approach emergencies with clarity, purpose, and the confidence that comes from knowing you’ve prepared for the unexpected. This framework isn’t just about emergencies either; it’s a way of thinking that helps you navigate any crisis, ensuring you can protect what matters most.