Seriously. There is a TV program now with this theme. Again, seriously, I asked myself. How could a woman possibly NOT know she was pregnant? I had 2 children and in the second month, I was visited by the Morning Sickness Fairy, who evidently loved me and stayed with me morning and night for half of my pregnancy. During the 3rd month, I started to have Braxton Hicks contractions, which persisted until I delivered. Not to mention that basketball-sized object that appeared in my belly. So, seriously, how can you not know?
To be fair, I did hear about the one surprised mother who was quite overweight and had a very small, premature baby, even while on birth control. Ok, maybe it could happen, but...
Where I see a parallel to this blog is the person who lives in Southern California and still is in denial of where he or she lives. This is Earthquake Country, friend! You can deny it all you want, but the geology is clear. The periodic small to medium tremblers are whispers in all of our ears. The Big One is coming.
To be fair to these individuals, we really don’t know when the statistically given event will take place. It could be while I am typing this, or 100 years from now. The only problem is that the last “big one” to occur in this neck of the woods was about 150 years ago and, their occurrence has been historically about every...150 years!
I don’t like being the Chicken Little type who is constantly yelling the “Earth is going to shake, the earth is going to shake!” However, I would rather be more like your friend gently urging you to find ways, even little ways, every day to protect yourself in the event of a disaster. It might not even be an earthquake. Maybe it is a flood, or a wide-range power outage, or anything else that disrupts your daily life.
Whatever it is, you shouldn’t be totally surprised when it happens. At least you can say, “I saw it coming.”
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Prepare for Zombies
This was a title suggested by my teenaged daughter when I asked her about things to worry about in emergencies. Well, I suppose that I wasn’t real specific with my query, but it undoubtedly would be something about which to worry if you encountered one.
For the record, George A. Romero’s 1968 classic cult film, “Night of the Living Dead” probably framed the image we carry today of “zombies...,” those stiff walking, flesh-sloughing, flesh-eating creatures who come out only at night... Even though the zombie concept had been created around 50 years earlier, this was quite a terrifying film in its day.
I cannot help but worry about zombies, though. For some people in Africa and Haiti, this notion still exists in corners of their culture. Frankly, with all that has gone on in the slaughter of people over land, resources, religion and bigotry in Africa and the devastation from hurricanes, earthquakes and widespread disease in Haiti – who is to say that for many people, zombies in some form are quite real.
So, to prepare for zombies, I guess there is the only thing that really prepares us for anything – knowledge. Sometimes horrible things do happen. They happen without reason or warning. They happen whether you “deserve” them or not. They just do. So, ward off zombies by just preparing for the worst. Then, once you have, you can’t worry any more. You are ready and whatever happens, zombie or not, you are ready and you will survive to live another day.
For the record, George A. Romero’s 1968 classic cult film, “Night of the Living Dead” probably framed the image we carry today of “zombies...,” those stiff walking, flesh-sloughing, flesh-eating creatures who come out only at night... Even though the zombie concept had been created around 50 years earlier, this was quite a terrifying film in its day.
I cannot help but worry about zombies, though. For some people in Africa and Haiti, this notion still exists in corners of their culture. Frankly, with all that has gone on in the slaughter of people over land, resources, religion and bigotry in Africa and the devastation from hurricanes, earthquakes and widespread disease in Haiti – who is to say that for many people, zombies in some form are quite real.
So, to prepare for zombies, I guess there is the only thing that really prepares us for anything – knowledge. Sometimes horrible things do happen. They happen without reason or warning. They happen whether you “deserve” them or not. They just do. So, ward off zombies by just preparing for the worst. Then, once you have, you can’t worry any more. You are ready and whatever happens, zombie or not, you are ready and you will survive to live another day.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Live simply, live safely
Living Simply, Living Safely
One question often asked of me with regards to emergency preparedness is, “Where do I begin?”
It struck me recently when I heard about the conditions in Haiti that many of us lived charmed lives. Even though the economic situation in the United States (and practically everywhere in the world) is struggling, by and large, we still live in houses or apartments, we still have heating and air conditioning, we still have a refrigerator with food in it and, in even the direst of situations, we still have our cell phones. If you are reading this, you also have access to the internet.
Transport yourself to Haiti for a moment. The warm sun is shining, the ocean sparkles just a stone’s throw away and yet...much of the city of Port Au Prince is still in devastation from the January 2010 earthquake. The rains come this time of year and many are still forced to live under tarps with barely the means to survive. I heard one woman say how blessed she felt that she now has a shelter—provided by international aid agencies—which has rigid walls and is big enough for her to stand up in. It is even large enough for her to have a table and chairs upon which to eat.
It seemed to me that this situation might not be this woman’s dream, but it did allow her to truly appreciate what she did have.
Now, when you prepare for some unforeseen event, think of what you cherish. If you lost everything in a disaster, what would you miss the most? And, that is where you begin. Begin with what you want to protect most and the rest should be easy.
One question often asked of me with regards to emergency preparedness is, “Where do I begin?”
It struck me recently when I heard about the conditions in Haiti that many of us lived charmed lives. Even though the economic situation in the United States (and practically everywhere in the world) is struggling, by and large, we still live in houses or apartments, we still have heating and air conditioning, we still have a refrigerator with food in it and, in even the direst of situations, we still have our cell phones. If you are reading this, you also have access to the internet.
Transport yourself to Haiti for a moment. The warm sun is shining, the ocean sparkles just a stone’s throw away and yet...much of the city of Port Au Prince is still in devastation from the January 2010 earthquake. The rains come this time of year and many are still forced to live under tarps with barely the means to survive. I heard one woman say how blessed she felt that she now has a shelter—provided by international aid agencies—which has rigid walls and is big enough for her to stand up in. It is even large enough for her to have a table and chairs upon which to eat.
It seemed to me that this situation might not be this woman’s dream, but it did allow her to truly appreciate what she did have.
Now, when you prepare for some unforeseen event, think of what you cherish. If you lost everything in a disaster, what would you miss the most? And, that is where you begin. Begin with what you want to protect most and the rest should be easy.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Seven Habits of Highly Prepared People.
1. Driving with a half tank of gas or more. When you see it getting to the half mark, fill 'er up!
2. Know your neighbors and know which ones to trust with your spare house key.
3. Keep your cell phone charged and carry your cell phone charger in your car.
4. Have a land line phone at home and have an old phone that does not require electricity to work.
5. Check your emergency emergency supply bin every month (car, home and work). Crank your radio, check the bins for water intrusion or pests, replace old food items.
6. Test your emergency contacts. Call them every month and make sure all your family members have the same numbers.
7. Make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency, so you can leave your house with the confidence that everyone will know what to do, even if you are not there.
Sure, there are more things to consider, but if you start these simple habits, you will be far less stressed when something actually does happen...and isn’t that a good habit to have?!
2. Know your neighbors and know which ones to trust with your spare house key.
3. Keep your cell phone charged and carry your cell phone charger in your car.
4. Have a land line phone at home and have an old phone that does not require electricity to work.
5. Check your emergency emergency supply bin every month (car, home and work). Crank your radio, check the bins for water intrusion or pests, replace old food items.
6. Test your emergency contacts. Call them every month and make sure all your family members have the same numbers.
7. Make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency, so you can leave your house with the confidence that everyone will know what to do, even if you are not there.
Sure, there are more things to consider, but if you start these simple habits, you will be far less stressed when something actually does happen...and isn’t that a good habit to have?!
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