It’s probably not something that you would ever want to think about or even consider happening to you or to those you love. However, denial will not help you, and ignorance won’t be bliss when it comes to matters like these.
Realistically, all you have to do is turn on the TV or open the newspaper to see that disasters can happen to anyone and at anytime. Understanding and accepting this will help position you to be one of those who will be better prepared during times of crisis.
Here we will explain and give you some key foundational steps to help you begin to prepare for natural and domestic disasters.
What Happens When Disaster Strikes?
One major factor that causes incredible challenge during a time of disaster is that the normal way of life changes drastically in ways that you never would imagine. Everyday luxuries that are part of your everyday life, like electricity, clean water, food, medical supplies, your health, transportation, communication and shelter can and will be taken away in an instant.
When this happens, there is often a mass hysteria and panic that ensues with people trying to hoard and protect all the limited resources that are available. Your money and credit cards will be useless if all nearby shops are flooded, burned or blown down, and without power, your cellphone won’t work. Fights can break out over basic supplies like bread and water, and even civilized people can commit what they may have previously thought of as crimes such as looting and stealing, just to stay alive.
The rule of law that keeps order in society is dissolved so there are a lot more people doing extreme and illegal activities because law enforcement is overwhelmed. Life changes drastically and those who are prepared and able to adjust will have the greatest chance to survive.
Your Responsibility
Most people believe that when major disasters strike, the government will be the ones to help them. Although the government may provide assistance, they do not have the resources or capacity to help everyone on such a massive scale when a large area is hit.
A perfect example is what happened in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina; it took several days for any assistance to reach the people of this previously civilized and highly developed city, and when help finally arrived it was limited and sparse. Those who had stayed warm and fed were either those who stole or looted, or those who prepared in advance.
The first step to preparing for these types of situations is realizing it is your responsibility to care and provide for you and your family first and foremost, and to help those weaker and less able than yourself such as the elderly. Your attitude should be no different than it is when things are going right – you provide for yourself and family by going to the grocery store and working a job. The same goes for a time of crisis.
Preparation
Here are some basic steps to creating a plan to prepare and provide for yourself and your family.
Step One – Make a List
The first thing to do is to identify your needs. You can do this by creating a checklist in an order of necessity. Hopefully, you will never have to utilize this in a time of crisis, but it is better to be safe and to over prepare than to be under prepared in your time of need. In creating your list, identify things that are crucial to survival and make these items your first priority to get.
An example of some top priority items would be clean drinking water, food, first aid, dry clothing and protection. Don’t forget less obvious (by essential) items such as toilet paper, matches, a knife and a can opener.
One of the best ways to begin to compile your list is to go online and search for survival guide lists that have been created by experts. These often are on sites that you can purchase pre-made survival kits, which provide a level of convenience if you do not want to make your own.
Step Two – Make a Plan
The next step is to formulate a plan for yourself and for your family. This is just as important as making your list. Because disasters can strike at anytime, you need to consider that you and your family may not be together when an event can happen.
How will you communicate if cell phone lines are jammed? Where will you meet? What are the protocols that you and your family agree to follow? These may seem like worst-case scenarios to be focusing on, but when these types of events happen, you will be glad you prepared ahead.
Another important area to plan for is your vehicles. Creating emergency and disaster kits for your cars is just as vital as your home because you may need to live out of you car for an extended period of time. There are good resources that you and your family can purchase from Amazon.com or online bookstores that focus specifically on making plans for these types of situations.
Step Three – Action!
The last step is to put things into action. It’s easy to look at this as a low priority area of your life to invest in, especially if there are more seemingly urgent and important matters you are dealing with. You don’t have to buy everything at once and you don’t have to do everything overnight, but it is important that you begin to put your plan and list into action by making purchases and discussing these with family members.
Although natural disasters can’t be prevented, they can be prepared for. And someday, you will be glad that you did.
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