The images tell it all. How can it be? Yet again, with the advent of technology we are there, intimate in the grief, desperation, hopelessness and deep frustration that in a time of great crisis we/you/they are alone, no aid for days. As the National Red Cross Spokesperson for their Do More Than Cross Your Fingers Campaign of Disaster Preparedness, I am well aware of the need for each person's self sufficiency in the moment of crisis. In the case of Haiti, the very infrastructure, however weak, to help in the time of need was itself crippled and crumbled. In this great time of global commitment stop for a second and ask yourself, have I done more than cross my fingers?
A disaster will/could strike you and your family in your own communities. We watched Katrina. We watched how quickly anarchy and self preservation turned stunned and hungry, angry, hurting masses into mobs desperate for water, food, shelter, HELP. Trying to get aid for a sick or injured child. Are we prepared? Doubtful. I am not proselytizing about my mighty way or the highway, that I am some pillar of preparedness, just read my Christmas blog about losing power called Gridlocked out at Christmas. Yes, I am prepared here in my home in Los Angeles for a big, catastrophic earthquake but we all need to be. We cannot expect our government to help us individually in the first days after a crisis. The need is too much. Triage... Help the most needy. Rescuing where there is the greatest need. Chances are you, in your insular life will not be their priority so be your OWN. Go to the websites. Download the lists, basics, water, one gallon per PERSON per DAY and have at least a WEEKS supply. FLASHLIGHTS, FOOD, PRESCRIPTIONS, GLASSES, HEALTH DOCUMENTS, SHOES and CLOTHES and a CROWBAR to help open doors that are affected when the lintel's sag. Do more than cross your fingers.
I'm sure there were some disaster supplies in Haiti somewhere, but sadly, they were buried. We are going to need to rely on our neighbors and communities as the government agencies try to help the cities. We are all still wondering why it takes so long to get aid in, water, food. The basics. I don't know and I applaud all the efforts being made on behalf of the fallen and failing and fragile lives, hanging in the balance. Don't comment to this. Take that second to join one of the click and help agencies that HuffPost has provided, but then look at your home and start. You will sleep better tonight knowing that yes, you gave to the relief effort but much more importantly, that you created one for your own family and took the time today to put it in place.
Prepare to be helped by YOU.
You're right though. Anything could happen, at any time and we do not understand how lucky, most of us are. My mom LIVES for being prepared and so no worries there. I keep a few, little emergency kits myself. As these posters say, hope those items WILL be accessible, during a crisis, though.
What's crazy is that I am hearing so many people say that they refuse to help Haiti and the USA should not. I know our economy is bad (and we know who to thank for that) but, we need to help anyway. We'd want others to help us, if the crisis faced OUR direction.
BUT, for the low income population, stashing a week's worth of groceries is not possible.
some who didn't evacuate for katrina, argued that they couldn't afford gas to get out of town-if they even had a car. paying for a hotel was out of the question. so, where could they go? if they had, at least,had the necessities to sustain them until rescued, as you suggest, we would have a different story to tell. but, they couldn't afford to plan for the future.
how much do you, jamie lee, have in your emergency kit? how many , who didn't prepare, could you help? and where is it stored? do you think you could access it if, G-d forbid, the big one hit L.A.?
i'm just sayin'...
as an aside, when i lived in l.a., i had a box at home and in my car. thank G-d, while i was there, the obvious (earthquake) didn't occur. but during the riots of '92, when the city was under a curfew order, we were thrilled to find the food from my emergency kit! you never know when it will come in handy.
some people don't prepare our of laziness, arrogance or denial. some don't b/c they don't have extra to stash. the first group could follow your advice. the second group is another story. how do you take care of that population?
One can of peas at a time. You do not have to buy everything all at once.
Many people with kits are prepared to share with their immediate neighbors.
And part of the point is that the more people who are prepared, the less people have to rely on government help and that help can then go to those who need it instead of being spread thin.
As mentioned down thread, there are a variety of ways to store a kit so that it can be accessable.
What if your stocks are in your home, that has collapsed? Could be a big problem.
But, I am with you on this. We regularly have things like storms that cut us off, and therefore try to stay stocked up enough to last for a month or more. If a person can do it, it really is the best thing to do. Saves a lot of angst and suffering in the case of an emergency.
Kits can be located in "safe" areas or hardened containers (many sites sell "bear proof" containers, for example). But most wood and drywall single family dwellings are easily rummaged through even if completely destroyed.
We had the capacity to do that in New Orleans and we didn't. So, did we learn from that? What can we do differently if a similar disaster were to strike here at home?
So, you really are speaking for yourself and others like yourself that haven't experienced this. Those of us that have know the score on this.
Consider a hand-wound LED lamp. They need no batteries. There are no bulbs to fail. They are to all intents and purposes inexhaustible.
We can create the technology. All we need to make, is the commitment.
Oh, and those LED lamps you can wear on your head or around your neck are great too. They last a very long time on batteries, and go with you when you move around. The lights are very bright.
Sorry, it was a good column aside from it being on the wrong website.
survival skills. So much was simply handed to them by their parents. Many have a sense of entitlement and do not know how to get back to basics if a situation called upon them to have less.
Fanned for Reality and Truth.
My daughter is my karma shadow. She helps out when I volunteer in the neighborhood, she cooks with me, she helped the family develop our disaster plan and handled the conversation with genuine interest and awareness. As for the kid next door whose parents drive a Porsche to starbucks every morning and who eats takeout or frozen pizza everyday - well, he's probably screwed.
lined up, heading into Mt. Weather.
There were no announcements telling the citizens what to do.
If the attacks had continued, we would be on our own while they locked themselves away
in the bunker.
American citizens, who fund these shelters, would be turned away at gunpoint.
If 9/11 and Katrina have failed to drive home the point.
We The People will be on our own, for days, weeks, maybe months in the event of a major
catastrophy.
Our small mountain top community is better prepared than most, with plenty of natural water, firewood,
wildlife and experienced hunters and a good vantage point.
To survive, we must assume, there will be no public services, fuel for our generators, no cell service, no ATM access and no access to provisions from outside the community.
If we can't hunt, we might be able to fish from two rivers.
More supplies
A battery powered radio, fishing supplies, rope, string and climbing gear, extra socks and shoes,
blankets, sleeping bags, hot hands, Bic lighters, propane canisters, camp stove, bow and arrow, TENT and survival skills book.
Take your family on a camping trip just to get a good orientation on how to get by with
the basics of survival.
Consider joining a cave exploration club.
You never know where you might end up.