Are you prepared?
I’m not! But this post is not about me, it’s about you. So let’s pretend that I have multiple escape routes planned, a month’s supply of bottled water, churros and spam, and a 3rd grade desk to hide under and refocus back on you.
Natural disasters and other emergencies have a tendency to remind us a little too late of the things we should have done. I live just a short drive from the Santiago fire that is still burning as I write this. In fact, I can see the flames from our neighborhood and smell the smoke from our house. We know a number of people who have been evacuated and even more who just missed having to leave their homes. What makes this tragedy particularly upsetting is that it was arson – someone did this on purpose.
Of course, regardless of where you live, you likely face or are threatened with the possibility of some type of natural disaster. Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, floods, fires, earthquakes and so forth are a part of this life, and while some people might suggest you find a safer place to live, reasonable people know it is not as easy as that.
But it’s not only destructive natural disasters that we should be prepared for. More often it’s the minor inconveniences that get the best of us. Something as simple of a power outage can cause a lot of anxiety and frustration – especially when you find out the batteries are dead. Of course, this assumes you can even find your flashlight.
All of this is to say that we really should make the effort to be prepared for whatever situations arise. To this end, I have made a short list of resources that I would encourage you to check out. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I believe it should be all anyone needs to find peace of mind. Finally, I would also encourage you to share this information with anyone and everyone you know. While there are few things as heartbreaking as suffering through something that could easily have been avoided, we still find ourselves procrastinating preparedness.
Check out these resources, print up any checklists they offer and go buy your supplies. And don’t forget to plan for emergencies at work, in the car, at church or anywhere else you regularly find yourself. Make a plan with your family and be prepared, come what may.
I was hoping this was going to be a post describing what I should do if I may or may not have received a bar code on my forehead. What’s the deal?
Funny you say that, because after I wrote it and looked at the title again, that is almost exactly what I thought of.