The thing that really bothers me is the uncertainty of life in Japan. The nuclear reactors, although far from us, hang over our head like a cloud of radiation dust :( The suffering of so many people here makes me SO sad. I cry for them and pray for them often.
BUT, I can't let myself think this way for too long - it's paralyzing. So I have to DO something. My good friend Emily (and awesome blogger) posed a question this morning. I decided to DO something by answering it and posting it. Here's the question and my response:
Em: Hi ladies,
So, my brother-in-law in the states is a Stake President and he keeps bugging me for MORE info about how we handled the disaster and what we wish we had had, and more more MORE information. (He sent out the blog post I wrote right after the quake to his family and friends and it seems to have gone a little viral in Mormon circles.) But I feel like I've pretty much exhausted that subject in the last 352 posts I've written in the last two weeks. So I thought I'd informally poll you guys and ask
1. What did you wish you had had on 3/11 when the power went out? How could you have been more prepared?
2. What things did you have (or do) that you were happy/grateful for??
3. What am I forgetting...? Anything you want to add?
Me:
I pride myself on being a planner (did I say proud? yes, that's probably my main problem!). When I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of later-Day Saints 11 years ago, I was all over the food storage and emergency preparedness bit. We moved here almost 3 years ago without the food storage :( but with the kits loaded up and ready to handle ANY emergency. Last summer I noticed in the shed outside where we stored the kits... RAT droppings >( Urgh!!! After the rats were caught and disposed of (that's a story of it's own), I decided to tackle the cleaning of the storage unit. What a mess!! Those rats got into everything that wasn't in a plastic container. Including our 72 kits - even the clothes and bags themselves!
The next general conference we attempted the reassembly of new kits. That can be an expensive endeavor with 5 kids, so we did not complete them. Little by little I bought items they were lacking. Then 11 Mar 11 came: no power, no way to communicate. Once we stumbled around finding all our family members and came inside due to the tsunami, we analyzed what we had and didn't have. Turns out we didn't even touch our incomplete 72 hour kits, but we were glad we had plenty of candles, flashlights, bottled water, food, and blankets in our house. 3 days later we had minimal power, so we took the kits out to complete them.
Yes, I said we didn't even touch the kits, but if we had to evacuate like our neighbors just 30 min south of us, we would have been in a world of hurt. 4 days after the quake/tsunami I shopped for the rest of the items for the kits and I took my good neighbor (a Catholic) with me. My neighbors took pleasure, at times, to make fun of our kits prior to 11 Mar. They don't do that anymore :) They are GOOD people, don't get me wrong.
I mentioned that my family was scattered and locating them proved difficult. What we lacked was a plan (gasp! I know, what kind of a planner am I?!) Last night we spent family home evening with a map of our town, highlighting all the places each member of the family is during a typical day. We discussed a good meeting point and good phone numbers to call. We discussed other methods of getting messages of whereabouts to each other using a central point. We tracked the routes of everyone so we can all know who is walking/riding where. We are placing more complete contact info inside each of the kids backpacks with their info and numbers to call (even alternate numbers like family out of state or the Command Post for those of us on a military installation). We are also training the kids to call the numbers.
Watching the news of the aftermath and survivors in shelters, we have been able to analyze other items that would be handy. This time we can see extra emergency blankets would help with the cold many are enduring.
In addition to that, we saw how quickly those people had to run for higher ground.
TODAY we all know where the kits are, what's in them, where to locate important information, where everyone is during a typical day, and how to move quickly in an emergency. We are so grateful for many things, but mostly that our Lord prepares a way. We are prepared more now than we've ever been and feel at peace for doing so!
First lesson learned: keep the kits inside and protected from critters.
The next general conference we attempted the reassembly of new kits. That can be an expensive endeavor with 5 kids, so we did not complete them. Little by little I bought items they were lacking. Then 11 Mar 11 came: no power, no way to communicate. Once we stumbled around finding all our family members and came inside due to the tsunami, we analyzed what we had and didn't have. Turns out we didn't even touch our incomplete 72 hour kits, but we were glad we had plenty of candles, flashlights, bottled water, food, and blankets in our house. 3 days later we had minimal power, so we took the kits out to complete them.
Lesson 2: finish the kits right away, just adjust the budget to do so.
Yes, I said we didn't even touch the kits, but if we had to evacuate like our neighbors just 30 min south of us, we would have been in a world of hurt. 4 days after the quake/tsunami I shopped for the rest of the items for the kits and I took my good neighbor (a Catholic) with me. My neighbors took pleasure, at times, to make fun of our kits prior to 11 Mar. They don't do that anymore :) They are GOOD people, don't get me wrong.
Lesson 3: encourage friends, family and neighbors to assemble kits and help them do so, it can be an overwhelming task.
I mentioned that my family was scattered and locating them proved difficult. What we lacked was a plan (gasp! I know, what kind of a planner am I?!) Last night we spent family home evening with a map of our town, highlighting all the places each member of the family is during a typical day. We discussed a good meeting point and good phone numbers to call. We discussed other methods of getting messages of whereabouts to each other using a central point. We tracked the routes of everyone so we can all know who is walking/riding where. We are placing more complete contact info inside each of the kids backpacks with their info and numbers to call (even alternate numbers like family out of state or the Command Post for those of us on a military installation). We are also training the kids to call the numbers.
Lesson 4: have a plan and a backup plan-- and make sure everyone understands the plan as best they can.
Watching the news of the aftermath and survivors in shelters, we have been able to analyze other items that would be handy. This time we can see extra emergency blankets would help with the cold many are enduring.
Lesson 5: learn from others' experiences.
In addition to that, we saw how quickly those people had to run for higher ground.
Lesson 6: kits need to be in an easily accessible area - safe from critters.
Our kits are now in the front coat closet on top of the cases of bottled water with a list of other things to grab. We've also realized that the brain is in flight mode in an emergency and will NOT be able to recall many things including, "grab the passports and external hard drive."
TODAY we all know where the kits are, what's in them, where to locate important information, where everyone is during a typical day, and how to move quickly in an emergency. We are so grateful for many things, but mostly that our Lord prepares a way. We are prepared more now than we've ever been and feel at peace for doing so!
I feel better today after writing this and realizing I am actively engaged in DOing something everyday!
2 comments:
Thank you for your thoughts. I live here in Southern California and we are asked to prepare also. I, for one, appreciated your thoughts as I feel it's a way to measure what I am doing.
I have been at peace, because I have done all I could. Now, I will review my preparedness based on your observations and experience. Then that should do it for emergencies. I just don't know what else might happen. You've helped me on the necessities...So thanks.
I am glad all is well for you and thanks for the laugh about putting on mascara during a 6.0. That's is what we should be able to do ...if we are prepared on everything else.
Thanks again...Deb
Deb
I know this is a late comment...but thanks for the post. It's always helpful to hear specifics from those who have had to go through emergencies. I recently placed my father in an assisted living facility (it's a block and a half from home...but quite a ways from work (I work at BYU)). I'm in process of fixing up a small kit for his room. There are twenty residents and only a couple of workers...and they will be overwhelmed helping the residents if we have an event. I wanted my dad to have at least water, a little food, a space blanket and a flashlight...something to keep him going until I can reach him.
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