Have you ever googled “emergency preparedness?”
After a row of stuff for sale — survival kits, freeze dried food, first aid kits — you’ll hit the first of page after page of agencies ready to give you comprehensive and usually trustworthy advice.
Now go back and google “emergency preparedness forums.”
This is where people, not agencies, hang out! The words associated with preparedness change immediately. You’ll see references to urban survivalists, bush craft, self-protection, weapons, primitive technology – passionate entries from writers getting ready for when the SHTF or we reach TEOTWAWKI. (See below if you need a reminder about what these stand for!)
s a writer about the topic, I get deep into just about everything: self-defense, camping skills, CERT, emergency communications, dealing with authorities, preventing fires, etc.
One of my favorite topics, though, is how to build stronger neighborhood groups. (Not too common a theme in other sites, actually!) I’ve been part of my own neighborhood group for over 17 years. What I hear from members of my neighborhood group is not that they are paranoid. They are not even particularly afraid.
Rather, they actively “want to help others.” Normally, you won’t read too much about that, either!
How people responded to the earthquakes in Ridgecrest has been an inspiration.
Watching TV coverage about the California earthquakes over the past few days certainly reinforced that message. In Ridgecrest,
- Did you see how often people mentioned neighbors coming by to see if they needed help?
- How neighbors were offering to do repairs for free?
- How neighbors pitched in to help clean up?
The actions of these neighbors, victims all, encourages me to keep organizing, keep learning, and keep writing.
Oh, and here’s the quote from George R.R.Martin, author of A Game of Thrones, that got me started on this whole post, and inspired the image at the top of this page:
“When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.”
Virginia
Your Emergency Plan Guide team
- SHTF = (when the) sh*t hits the fan
- TEOTWAWKI = the end of the world as we know it
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It is heartbreaking to see all the destruction that some people have to deal with after the earthquake, but truly heartwarming to see all the all the help that comes out of the woodwork, neighbor helping neighbor. Even some who have lost all, helping those that are crippled or old. THIS, is America at it’s finest!