On the Road Again

I am in San Diego at a conference this week with a bunch of emergency managers.  Not that I want anything to happen, but if it did, well, this is the group with whom to be!

A crack in the radiator of my son's car required me to change my mode of transportation this week.  Originally, I was going to drive my car the 100 miles or so to the conference, but now my son needed my car to get back to college.  That's OK, I thought, because I can easily take the train, and I don't have to worry about traffic.  It all seemed so easy... until I started to pack...

I feel pretty confident traveling in my car.  I have water, food, warm and comfortable clothes.  I have a flashlight, radio, toilet paper, a first aid kit, extra eyeglasses and a good, long book to read.  I even have a beach chair, umbrella and a warm and waterproof jacket.  So what do I need on the train?

As a traveler, I had extra clothes, but they weren't really the type of clothes you want not to be wearing during a disaster.  Heels, skirt and a silk blouse are simply not very functional in disaster situations, even though Karen Allen managed to pull off wearing that lovely white gown  in "Riders of the Lost Ark."

Obviously I could not nor would want to duplicate what my car has, but I an think about what I can pack that could make me better off should an emergency occur.  So I added some casual shoes, jacket and small, collapsible umbrella.  I packed a large water bottle, snacks and my purse-sized first aid kit.  I also added a flashlight, a pack of tissues and emergency contact information for my wallet.

I certainly am not completely prepared to survive several days alone somewhere, but I have some important tools for my survival and, just as important,a large peace of mind.

Prepare for Paradise

Yes, well, this does sound a little ridiculous, but preparedness does not stop at your own door. Regardless of where you are, your little pocket mouse is still there and reminding you of what you need to do to keep yourself and your family ready to face whatever it is. For example, I am writing this blog today from Hawaii. I might add that it is not just from Hawaii (the Big Island to clarify), but from a place sitting right on the ocean, from which I can glance up and see surfers riding curling waves toward a lava rock shore. Honestly, it is awesome.

When packing for this trip, I went through the same steps as I would for any trip in my car. Remember to have water, change of clothes, first aid kit, flashlight. It’s now all in a bag in our rental car. Everyone has orders to have all cell phones charged before leaving in the morning. Gas tank is never less than half full. It is remarkably easy to do. It is just something that is a part of your checklist when traveling.

Kona was hit pretty hard with the Tsunami last March and while most everyone is back in business, you can still see the effects. New walls, a house blocked up and boarded up, new furniture in many downtown restaurants that are on the ocean side of the street. It is so hard to imagine that a wave (several actually) dispatched from Japan could wreak so much havoc so far away.

But it did and it was a reminder to all – residents and visitors alike – that even Paradise can be dangerous. Just remember to be prepared and you’ll be back surfing in no time.

Aloha.