Just in Case (20 page)
Comforter
Our house was built during the Civil War and much of the upstairs is not heated, so my children are used to sleeping in the cold. Because of this, we pay attention to our bedding. Sleeping in front of the parlor stove is fun for a night or two, but if your power goes out for an extended period, everybody will probably want to sleep in their own beds. Good bedding might make that possible. For cold climates, the list above makes sense.
BEDDING STORAGE
If you currently store blankets, pillows, and comforters in a linen closet, consider investing in vacuum-seal bags that lie nearly flat when the air is pulled from them. The bags can be slipped under a bed and the closet claimed for storage.
VACUUM-SEAL BAGS
I never thought anything could compare to down in comforters, but I bought a comforter with a synthetic fill called PrimaLoft this year, and I must say, I am impressed. It is lightweight and warm, and it cost about half what down does.
Sleeping bags are a decent alternative to a comforter and have the advantage of being portable.
If it is really cold, thermal underwear under pajamas and a cap might be necessary. Cuddling helps too.
AT THE VERY LEAST, THE BASICS!
If preparing to meet your needs for several weeks or months seems over the top, I encourage you to keep reading; you’ll find that the process is neither difficult nor expensive, and it is worthwhile. In the meantime, at the very least, every household should commit to these very simple basics:
• Food and water for all family members for one week (see page 28)
• In cold climates, a backup heat source (see page 70)
• Emergency lighting (see page 61)
• Radio with extra batteries
• If you live in anarea where an evacuation may ever be necessary, evacuation kits for every family member (see page 93)
• Emergency car kit (see page 88)
• Crisis communication and family reunion plans (see page 76)
• Backup copies of all important documents in a safe place
PART 2 PREPAREDNESS GETTING YOUR HOME AND FAMILY READY TO HANDLE CRISIS
A
S YOU MAY WELL IMAGINE, PREPAREDNESS INVOLVES
much more than food and water. It also encompasses the systems that keep your house and family running on a day-today basis. If you must rely only on yourselves and the goods and resources in your home, can you still live comfortably and safely? If you must leave your home to find safety elsewhere, can you be out of your house in ten minutes, confident that your home is secure and that all family members know where you are going, how you will get there, and how to keep in touch with each other? Some planning now will ensure that your answer will be “yes” when you need it to be.
But Bruce and I do not strive to be as selfsufficient as possible solely because we wish to be prepared for a crisis. Rather, we do not wish to be entirely dependent on a fragile web of “systems” that lie outside of our control. Every step we take that leads us closer to independence lets us feel a bit more real, a bit more whole. Our home is the heart of our family life, and as we prepare it to shelter us through storms of every kind, we know that we are investing in our most valuable asset. Our home is not a fortress and we do not wish it to be one. It is comfortable, safe, and welcoming, a true haven for our friends and family.
CHAPTER 3 PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
There is a good deal more to personal preparedness than simply acquiring more stuff. Without an investment in yourself, your knowledge, your skills, and your health, you risk having all that you acquire become just more clutter in your life.
Last summer, my youngest child, Phoebe, choked on a penny. She was losing consciousness when I found her. Did I panic? Of course I panicked, but only for an instant. Then my preparedness training took over. “Karen, call 911. Emily, go open the front door and let the EMTs in.” All the while, I am recalling my first-aid training. Mouth sweep. Turn her over. Place fist. Upward thrust. Two thrusts and the penny shot across the room. By the time the EMTs arrived, Phoebe was breathing on her own and no longer blue. A minute later, she was able to tell me what happened. Five minutes later, she was playing with a stethoscope and back to her perky little self. It took me a bit longer to recover.
How different this ending could have been. What if I hadn’t learned the Heimlich maneuver? What if panic had rendered me incapable of performing? What if Karen had not known how to dial for help or how to give the appropriate information? Suppose Emily had argued or frozen when I needed her help? In short, what would have been the outcome had we not been prepared?
This is what I think of as mental preparedness. It comes from knowing that I am capable of handling whatever life throws my way. I draw strength from knowing that my family depends on me. I am nurtured by a community that values my contributions. I take pride in the many things I have learned to do well, and I enjoy sharing what I know. I appreciate the comforts of a warm house and an excellent meal, but I know that if I had to, I could start a fire, dress a wound, change a car tire, or feed six hungry kids for a month with what’s in my pantry.
HEALTH
A
N INVESTMENT IN
your health is the best money you can spend. Make sure that you and every member of your family is up-to-date on all physicals and health screenings, immunizations, dental exams, and eye exams. If you wear glasses, get a copy of your current prescription and purchase a backup set of glasses. During an emergency, broken or misplaced glasses will compound every challenge.
Putting by a stock of prescription medication is much trickier. Most prescriptions are written for a one-month supply, and insurance companies are unlikely to pay for more than that at one time. If your doctor is willing to write extra prescriptions for noncontrolled substances and you are willing to pay for them, it may be possible to purchase an extra month’s supply of some drugs. If you decide to do this, talk it over with your physician first and be diligent about rotating, always using the oldest supply first. Otherwise, be certain to refill any prescriptions as soon as allowable. Don’t wait until you have no medication left.
Maintain your health with a sound program of healthful eating and exercise. The less you rely on drugs, including caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, the better off you’ll be, both now and in the event that you can’t purchase these things.
Avoiding junk in all forms — junk food, junk entertainment, junk acquisitions, and junk relationships — will simplify and destress your life, which is key to maintaining good health.
SKILLS
T
AKE STOCK OF
the skills and knowledge you may need in a crisis. A working knowledge in areas such as gardening, food preparation, first aid, sewing, home repair, and auto maintenance will never be wasted. Acquiring those skills will help you confront adversity without panic.
I would consider first-aid and CPR training a priority. Fortunately, that training is available through the Red Cross and through most volunteer fire departments. In addition, I would recommend first-responder training for as many community members as possible. If you are interested and want to invest the time, EMT and paramedic training is available through many community colleges. Community emergency response teams (CERTs) are in need of volunteers and will provide the necessary training to teach members how to assist in a disaster until other help arrives.
Although you can’t purchase skills in things like first aid as easily as you can purchase a box of bandages, you can purchase or borrow books and take classes. In fact, I would consider a reference library an invaluable preparedness tool.
Once you have acquired a working knowledge in a subject, practice! Seek out folks with more knowledge or experience and ask for their guidance. Libraries, church groups, community centers, and adult education centers are all possibilities for classes in any number of subjects. Right now, Bruce is advancing his woodworking skills at an adult education center, and I just updated my CPR training through our local health center. We are both participating in a group interested in local sustainability and self-reliance. We are sharing knowledge, information, and skills for the benefit of all of us. In a crisis, we will be a cohesive group, supporting and taking care of each other.
As your skills improve, share them, especially with children. Leading a 4-H group or Scout troop is an excellent way to practice skills you might not use every day and pass them on.
BOOKKEEPING
W
E BEGAN THE
adoption process for our first two daughters at the same time we were preparing financial aid documents for our first college-bound son. I spent days gathering paperwork that should have been at my fingertips. The search caused unnecessary delay and needless stress. I made the commitment to get my papers in order. It was a chore, but the results were worth it. I appreciate the ease with which I can lay my hands on vital documents, and in an emergency, all of my records are easily and readily available.
Take an afternoon and gather all of your important papers. Make a list of any that are missing and plan to replace them immediately. Include the following documents: