Steven J. Craig Receives National Award for Book
The Military Writers Society of America honored the retired Coast Guard captain for his emergency preparedness guide.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Safety
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Steven J. Craig has been awarded a Gold Medal by the Military Writers Society of America for his book, Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Checklist. The honor was presented in the How To/Business/Self Help category during a ceremony in Orlando.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the importance of professional expertise in developing actionable emergency guidelines for the public. Craig leverages his extensive background in both emergency management and disaster response to create comprehensive preparation materials.
Steven J. Craig is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve captain with 38 years of service. He holds a master's degree in emergency management and previously served as the postmaster in Oakville.
The players
Steven J. Craig
He is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve captain and former Oakville postmaster who holds a master's degree in emergency management.
Military Writers Society of America
This organization recognizes excellence in literature written by or about members of the United States military.
The details
The award-winning book offers readers structured checklists for general preparedness and specific hazard scenarios. It incorporates personal accounts from major disasters including Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the Haiti earthquake.
Timeline
October 24, 2026: Military Writers Society of America awards ceremony held in Orlando.
Seasonal Patterns
The book follows a pattern set by the National Incident Management System by standardizing procedures for public emergency preparedness. This work serves as a practical extension of existing federal frameworks designed to minimize damage during crisis events.
Residents can utilize the checklists provided in Craig's book to organize their own household emergency supplies and response plans. Preparing these documents ahead of time ensures that families are ready for the specific hazards addressed in the text.
The takeaway
Effective emergency preparedness requires both academic training and the practical knowledge gained from real-world disaster experience. Individuals should focus on creating specific, hazard-based checklists that remain accessible during actual crises.
Further reading
Learn more about local emergency response protocols on the Safety page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Chronicle.
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