Centralia resident Steven J. Craig has received an award from the Military Writers Society for his book titled “Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Checklist.”
Craig is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve captain and retired Oakville postmaster.
His book received a Gold Medal in the How To/Business/Self Help category at the Military Writers Society of America’s 2026 awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida, on Oct. 24.
Drawing on over 38 years of Coast Guard service and decades of emergency management experience, Craig offers readers a practical, step-by-step guide to preparing for disasters and emergencies of all types, a news release from Craig stated.
The book provides checklists for general preparedness and specific hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and more, interwoven with short stories from real-life disasters, such as Craig’s firsthand accounts from Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the Haiti earthquake.
“I wanted to create a straightforward resource that anyone can use,” Craig said. “Disasters strike without warning, and being prepared makes the difference between recovery and tragedy.”
Craig is also the author of four other books, including the award-winning “All Present and Accounted For,” which is being considered for a documentary adaptation. He holds a master’s degree in emergency management and is a certified emergency manager with the International Association of Emergency Managers.
