Our Story

At Ready & Prepped, we believe that emergency preparedness should be practical, realistic, and accessible to everyone. After years of preparing our family for emergencies, my husband and I were asked to be self-reliance specialists in our church congregation. Each week we researched and wrote articles to help people become more self-sufficient -- not just for major disasters but also for the everyday emergencies that impact individuals and families.

While natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires are real threats, we've found that personal emergencies -- such as medical issues, job loss, unexpected vehicle repairs, mental health issues and so many other individual challenges -- are far more common. That's why our approach to preparedness goes beyond just stockpiling supplies. We focus on helping people create a solid foundation of readiness for all of life's uncertainties.

Our mission is simple: to make preparedness easier and more practical for everyday people. The more prepared you are, the better off your family and community will be. We hope that as you gain confidence in your own preparedness, you'll help others do the same -- because strong, prepared communities are safer, recover faster and thrive together.

Join us on this journey to be Ready & Prepped for whatever comes next. No fuss. No fluff. No fear

Outlook

What would a 7.0 earthquake do to the Salt Lake Valley? This question led me on a journey to discover what “the Big One” will really be like. With a desire to share what I've learned I’m currently writing a novel set in the Salt Lake Valley after a devastating earthquake—a story that’s both compelling and deeply rooted in reality. To make the book as accurate and useful as possible, I’ve spent years researching what such a disaster would truly look like for families in our community.

My work includes:

  • Interviews with the Director of Seismology at the University of Utah and the safety director of local school districts
  • Studying computer-generated earthquake models
  • Consulting experts in multiple fields including, emergency preparedness, disaster relief, firefighters and doctors.
  • Attending city-led emergency preparedness courses
  • Gathering insights from survivors of natural disasters on what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they had done differently

Beyond research, I bring hands-on experience from my time as Director of Utah Operations for Lifting Hands International, an aid organization supporting refugees and people displaced by natural disasters. There, I learned the importance of sending only what is truly needed—because in a crisis, unnecessary aid can actually become a burden. This gave me a unique perspective on what families really need when everything falls apart.

The result of this journey is a book designed not only to tell a gripping story but also to inspire readers to take real, practical steps to prepare their own families. All of my research will be included in the novel so that you can see what the fictional family did right, what they did wrong, and how you can be better prepared. I want people to feel capable, confident, and ready—no matter where they live, their budget, space, or starting point.

Sign up for our newsletter to be one of the first to know when the book is coming out. I'm excited to keep you updated on this journey as the release gets closer.

-Carlissa Larsen (Founder of Ready & Prepped)