Several months ago when the power went out unexpectedly, I realized how much I rely on electricity. Without it, the food in my fridge goes bad, my house gets cold, I walk into walls in the darkness, and I have no entertainment or information by way of computer and television.
Besides losing electricity, other types of “disruptions” could place us in various states of emergency. Forest fires heading our way, heavy rains and flooding, tornados, ice storms, droughts, and even terrorist attacks.
Each type of disaster requires slightly different preparation. A speedy evacuation would require grab-and-go, 72-hour-kits that include identification, toiletries, extra money, and a change of clothes. Flooding could necessitate having clean, bottled drinking water on hand. Severe winter storms that knock out power would require alternative heat sources such as wood stoves or generators.
Often when a natural disaster strikes, neighbouring communities reach out to help. But what if they couldn’t get to us quickly or there was a wide-spread disaster like an EMP? Would we have adequate supplies – food, water, fuel, medical supplies, toiletries, etc. – on hand so we could hunker down and be okay in our homes?
Lately, “hoarders” have been getting a bad rap on TV, but there is a big difference between carefully planning, storing, and rotating emergency supplies and actual hoarding. It makes sense to store at least 3 days of food and water in our homes, and preferably even more.
Lord Baden-Powell was on to something when he declared “Be Prepared” as the Boy Scouts of America’s motto. It’s good advice for all. Any type of preparation (getting an education, having a savings account, carrying a spare tire, practicing fire drills, attending a prenatal class) reduces stress and worry. It’s not paranoia to be prepared; it’s preparation that keeps the fear away.
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