Let's start the year off figuring out what we can do increase our ability to deal with an emergency situation. First we need to figure out what we need to plan for. Let's not plan for the alien invasion, please! A quick look on the internet tells everyone living in Southern California, to include my family, we should plan for an earthquake. Please do a quick search and learn what the #1 Natural Disaster for your area is. We are going to work with an earthquake for this right now.
For an earthquake we all know to drop, find something to get under for protection and hold on for the duration. What do we do after that? First thing we are going to do without thought is to check ourselves and everyone immediately around us. Once we realize we are not in immediate danger our thoughts will automatically flip to thinking about our families. "Are the kids safe? Is my spouse alright? Are my pets alright?" Ok I know for some of us the order is different. Just remember family comes before you worry about your Xbox or 1970 Mustang!! This when your prior planning kicks in.
For this situation we have to personalize our plan. The Better Half and I both commute to work which means we have to decide what to do immediately after an earthquake. Because odds are the quake will happen when we are both away from the house. Which means we need information to decide if we are heading home to take care of the kids or not. Let's say the "Big One" has struck and some of you out there are celebrating because there is a chance California might drift off into the Pacific! For our situation she can just walk away or hopefully drive away from work, she is closer to home and in all likelihood will get home before me. Now is when she would put a 'Get Home' plan into effect but for this let's keep our focus on an Earthquake and Keep It Simple Stupid. We do not want to go too far down the rabbit hole right now, going to far to fast can make planning mentally crushing!
We need to think about these situations when we are not under the pressure of the real situation and give ourselves simple ideas or goals to focus on during a real event. We have survived the earthquake, we have gathered information and we have decided we need to get home. Now we move toward the goal. You get the idea. Now sit down with a pen and paper, see what the internet thinks is the biggest threat is in your area and let's start planning.......... we will wait while you find something to write with and something to write on........ look up the biggest threat to your area......... OK here we go.
Write down the threat:
Earthquake
Is it a bad earthquake?
No, go about your life. Yes, continue.
Do you need to get everyone home? Yes, continue.
Get everyone home
Is everyone home?
Good!
Can you stay home? Is your house standing? Is your home safe?
NO!!!
Where is the nearest place, not affected by the incident you can go to, family, friends or other?
(insert answer)
Can you get there?
Yes! Good, GO!
Your home is fine and you can stay there.
Do you have Water, Food, Flashlights and alternative ways to cook food?
As you can see this planning can start to go way down the rabbit hole in a hurry!!!
Let's keep this one really simple:
GET HOME
COLLECT FAMILY
STAY OR LEAVE HOME
LEAVE, WHERE DO YOU GO?
STAY, NEED SUPPLIES.
Using the KISS system we will leave this right here. Take a moment and do some planning, make sure to tell your Better Half what you think the plan is. Yes they get some input on the plan! Just take a few minutes to plan roughly what you do when the biggest threat happens. In future posts we will flesh out the plan and slowly walk our way down into the rabbit hole!!!!!
Happy New Year's and As Always,
Stay Safe!
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