Why I Do This

October 19, 2012

Several times I’ve been asked why I enjoy helping people to get better prepared for emergency situations.

One key reason is that it’s so satisfying to see people take steps and make changes that could actually make their lives less difficult in the event of a significant (or even a minor) emergency situation.  I can imagine that if a big one were to hit us, those people would be more comfortable, more confident, more resilient, more self-sufficient, and hopefully less stressed.  That’s a good thing.

Here are but a few examples:

  • Don volunteers for an organization that facilitates the hosting of foreign exchange students in Alaska.  After my presentation on developing family-specific communication plans, he realized that their organization would do well to add that element to their student briefings.  Imagine that you’re a teenager who has just arrived in an unfamiliar city, in a foreign country,  where you have a limited understand the language.  Getting around could be challenging enough.  But what if you were away from your host’s home during a big earthquake, with no power, no phones, no busses, and many roads and bridges out.  Having been briefed on what to do, where to go, and options for contacting your host family in such situations could make a huge difference!
  • In a workshop, Pam and (another) Don realized the additional challenges that their son (who experiences autism) might have if the smoke detector s in their home started blaring.  They began developing an evacuation plan specifically for him.  I bet they’ve completed that plan, talked about it with their son, practiced it, and tweaked it as needed. Hopefully, they’ll never have to implement it in a real emergency.  But if they do, their attention to his special needs could make all the difference in the world.
  • After several times hearing me preach one of the absolutely most important preparedness steps, Keith and Cindy began storing water to be used in the event of an emergency.  (For more info, see the Two Must-Do Actions page on this website.)  Now they’ll have that one key need readily available, no matter what.

Another reason I do this is that in every single workshop and in many follow-up support sessions, the participants give me preparedness ideas.  They are added to the examples I can provide in future workshops.  Plus, implementing those ideas myself can help me to be more ready, too.  Here are two examples:

  • After a workshop, Leon and Nancy went shopping for bins to put their emergency supplies in .  They wanted bins that could be easily discerned from normal storage in their garage, something that would stand out.  This happened to be around Halloween time, and Voila! they were inspired by the tall stack of bright orange storage bins.  Perfect!  And during the never-ending Christmas shopping season, beautiful bright red storage bins are available.
  • In a workshop Brian, a pharmacist, shared an idea for building up an emergency supply of prescription medications.  He reminded us that normally we can order our next refill a week or two before our current supply runs out.  If we do that a couple of times, before long we’ll have about an emergency supply to last a month.

Thanks to all my workshop participants.  You continue to inspire me and add to my preparedness training arsenal.  I’m so glad that you’ve taken the time to plan, to get more ready.  And I hope that you never have to implement your plans.

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One Mogul At A Time

July 8, 2012

One beautiful winter day when I was 18 and learning to downhill ski, my family went skiing with our neighbors, the McDonald’s. 

On one run, Mr. McDonald talked me through a challenging stretch of three or four moguls.  I was having fun and learning lots.  Then I turned a corner on the trail and stopped dead in my tracks, staring at the path ahead.

“What’s wrong?” Mr. McDonald asked.

Staring unblinking at the path in front of me, knowing there were no other options, I squeaked out, “I can’t do those moguls.”  I  was scared.

“Sure you can.  You did great on those moguls behind us.” 

How could he possibly think that I could get through that run, with moguls from here to the lodge? 

“No way.  That hill is solid moguls.  There are so many moguls.  And they’re so close together.” 

“Oh, I understand,” he said patiently.  Good, I thought.  He understands and will help me find another way down the mountain. Then he continued, “There ARE a lot of moguls, and you can do it.”

NO!  He doesn’t understand!  There is no way that I could ski down that mogul-filled path and survive.  I was filled with panic.  Out loud I just said, “No way.”

“Don’t look at the long path of moguls ahead of you, just look about 10 feet down the trail.  All you need to do is ski that next mogul,” pointing to a skimpy little one right in front of us.  “Once you’re past it, then ski the next mogul.  Then the next.  Then the next.  Just ski one mogul at a time, Jane.”

I did it.  I conquered that mountain one mogul at a time.  His wise advice got me through that day and many more in the years since.  Whenever I’ve felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of a challenge in front of me, I’ve heard Mr. McDonald’s reassuring voice say, “Just ski one mogul at a time, Jane.”

While getting your family better prepared for emergencies, you might feel overwhelmed, not know where to start, not think you’ll ever be able to accomplish it.  My best advice to you is from Mr. McDonald.  Keep the big picture in mind, but focus on the task at hand, one or two activities.  Then take on one or two more.  With each step you take, you will be better prepared.  Ski one mogul.  Then ski the next.  Then the next.  Ski one mogul at a time.

The same advice holds true during a crisis.  There likely will be a mogul-filled mountain of work to do.  It can feel overwhelming.  Take a deep breath and take it on one step at a time.  Keep the end point in mind, your family’s safety, security, and comfort.  Pick one of the most important tasks that needs to be done.  And focus on that one task.  Then focus on the next.  Then the next.  Ski one mogul.  Then ski the next.  Then the next.  Ski one mogul at a time.

Thanks Mr. McDonald!

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If It Happens

March 28, 2012

If “the big one” does happen, stay calm. Keeping a clear head will help you make better decisions. Know that you’ve planned well, and bravely work your plan. And through it all, have hope. You will get through this.  That sense of normalcy is likely to return sooner than if you hadn’t taken steps to be more ready.

      —  Stay calm
      —  Be brave
      —  Have hope

(Note:  This mantra is paraphrased from a sermon given by Episcopal priest, Connie Jones.  Thanks, Connie!)

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Acknowledgements

March 22, 2012

I have a blog!  Through this venue, I hope to advance my mission of helping the world to be better prepared for the “next big one” in whatever form it may hit.

There are two people who I’d like to thank for inspiring me and helping me to launch this blog.  Tyler Duswalt gave me lots of great tips in his book The Short Book on How To Become A Blogging Expert.

And the inspiration to do a blog came from Tyler’s dad, Craig Duswalt, when I participate in his awesome Rockstar Marketing Bootcamp last week (www.craigduswalt.com).

Thanks Craig and Tyler! 

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