This week is Emergency Preparedness Week. The proclamation of the week could easily pass without much notice.
But this year should awaken in us the need to be prepared for anything. We have witnessed — from afar, of course — devastating earthquakes, mudslides, volcanic eruptions resulting in clouds of ash and smoke, pounding rains, killer tornadoes, winds strong enough to uproot mature trees, seasonal blizzards that virtually buried cities and off-season snowstorms that brought cities to a halt. Nature has a mean streak that is unpredictable at best.
It’s not possible to prepare for accidents such as plane crashes other than to keep one’s affairs in order and to live each day like it’s your last.
But we certainly can prepare for others.
This week we are being encouraged to think about how we would survive the first 72 hours after a disaster. If we were struck by a massive earthquake tomorrow, would you or your family be able to survive until help arrives? It takes time to reach all victims in a major catastrophe.
A basic emergency kit should include enough bottled drinking water for as many people as required for 72 hours, some non-perishable food, a battery-operated flashlight, manual can opener and a first aid kit.
It wouldn’t hurt to add blankets, a battery operated radio and keep a working cellphone close at hand at the first sign of trouble.
While there are no volcanoes in the neighbourhood and flooding is unlikely, wind and snow can leave us stranded. It helps to be ready.
