What to do when sh*t hits the fan: emergency preparedness and the end of the world
Unless you are living under a literal rock, you may be at the very least mildly concerned about the state of the world these days. I thought sh*t was bad when I wrote this article on “how to save the world” after the massacre in the French capital in 2015. I thought sh*t was bad in 2016, when 49 people were shot to death in a gay nightclub in Orlando — which doubled as both the deadliest incident of violence against the LGBT+ community in U.S. history and the deadliest mass shooting by a single shooter anywhere in the world.
But — rise and shine, folks — get yourself out from under that rock and your head out of your a$$…it’s 2017, and sh*t’s not getting any better. White supremacists and neo-nazis are killing people in Charlottesville in the name of an ethnic cleanse, China is denouncing Trump’s economic sanctions in his effort to halt North Korea’s nuclear missile program, and the Spain terror attack death toll has climbed to 15 people.
You may be asking yourself: what is the world coming to? What happens when we finally nuke each other and induce a nuclear winter? Or the accelerated rate of climate change causes famine and economic collapse? Or simply: what am I going to do if/when sh*t hits the fan??
Well — luckily for you — I interviewed my friend Amanda who works in emergency management, explored the Department of Homeland Security website, and compiled all the information in one place so you wouldn’t have to. This information is helpful in the event of any sort of major disaster, whether it be a hurricane, a chemical spill, or a civil war.
Generally speaking, “blue sky days” are the best time to prepare for an emergency. Choose a day where you have a little free time and the weather isn’t particularly dreadful!
Make an emergency plan
First step is what Amanda calls: “Circling the wagons.”
“Traveling pioneers would circle up wagons to provide a barrier of physical protection against the elements, as well as marauders,” she says. “They would make camp inside of the circle so that everyone could watch each other’s backs.” She uses this term to refer to getting together with your family / friends / roommates to make an emergency plan.
Where are you and your people going to meet in case you are separated during a disaster event? If your place of residence is not available nor accessible for whatever reason, agree on one or more landmarks in your city where you can meet up, and maybe even one outside of the city. Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan.
Prepare financially
Make copies of critical financial information and keep them safe! This can include photo IDs of your family members, any birth certificates, bank statements, or social security cards in order to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. Keep these things in a waterproof box.
Consider keeping a small amount of cash safe in a hidden place, like a safety deposit box. In the event of an emergency, ATM machines / credit cards may not be working. (And try to refrain from tapping this resource for beer…)
Check your insurance coverage. Use a “blue sky day” to take pictures of your house with no damage. If there are damages that occur because of a disaster, you can use these photos to prove to your insurance company the extent of the damage.
Build a Kit
Radical self-reliance is key. “Preparing for most emergencies is easier than preparing for Burning Man!” Amanda says. “If you can build a kit to keep you prepared for 72 hours on your own, great. If you can be prepared for 7 days, that’s even better. And if you can make a ‘I’m never coming home’ kit…well, that’s the master’s edition.”
Here is a thought-out list of useful things you can start collecting and putting in your kit. “Blue sky days” are great days to go shopping for these items!
Water: If you’re wondering how much to buy, usually one gallon of water is enough for each person per day.
Food: Non-perishable food…think canned food and military meal, ready-to-eat packets (which you can order in bulk online). Make sure you check the expiration dates and replace when appropriate.
Battery powered and hand crank radio: In the event of a terrible emergency, do not expect to be able to call loved ones on your phone or contact them through the internet. Towers might be taken out and electricity may be down. Even if service is still available, localized communications might be clogged by many people attempting to call locally. You may be able to call out of the area, in which case you agree with your family to call someone far way to serve as a short term dispatcher. It’s also best to have on hand a battery-powered and hand crank radio, in case one is compromised for whatever reason.
Other essentials for the kit: Flashlight, first aid kit, extra batteries, whistle to signal for help, dust mask to filter contaminated air, plastic sheeting and duct tape in case you need to seal the room, garbage bags and moist towelettes for personal sanitation, wrench or pliers for turning off utilities in the event of a gas leak, can opener for food, local maps, and that stash of cash and critical financial documents you saved because I told you to earlier in the article.
Additional suggestions for the kit: Prescription medications, non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, glasses / contact lenses, baby supplies such as infant formula and diapers, pet supplies such as pet food and extra water, sleeping bags, extra clothes, sturdy shoes, household chlorine to disinfect water, fire extinguisher, matches or lighters, feminine supplies, mess kits (or paper plates and plastic utensils), and hey, why not a crossword puzzle. If sh*t really does hit the fan, you may not be watching Game of Thrones for a while.
Keep your kit somewhere easily accessible and make sure everyone in your household knows where it is!
Extra credit: Keep an extra kit in your car.
Stay Informed
If you are on a budget, then you are probably thinking to yourself: “Excuse me? Emergency preparedness sure is expensive. No way can I buy everything in that damn kit supply list.”
However, you are in luck. The easiest and best way to prepare for emergencies is absolutely free: stay up-to-date with alerts and warnings in your area.
Sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). These will appear like text messages on your mobile device and update you on extreme weather, threatening emergencies, AMBER alerts, and Presidential alerts during a national emergency. The messages you will receive will be tailored specifically to wherever you are with the phone, regardless of where you usually stay. Plus: WEA messages are not affected by network congestion!
In the event of an emergency, you can also use your handy-dandy battery-powered or hand crank radio to tune into the NOAA Weather Radio.
And if you don’t have a radio or phone — get in touch with your local emergency manager and tell them where you stay. They will try to keep you informed in the event of an emergency.
Extra credit: take classes and learn new skills! Local American Red Cross chapters provide first aid and CPR classes. Learn how to shut off the water, electricity, or gas in your house. Think about how you can make your preparedness sustainable! Read books on farming, foraging, and gardening. Keep a field guide in your kit about medicinal and poisonous plants.
Get Involved
Now that you know how to stay prepared for emergencies, make sure your friends do too. Share tips on social media. Join your local Citizen Corps Council or Community Emergency Response Team or America’s Prepareathon! September is actually National Prepardness Month: Make sure you know what to do in an event of an emergency and share it with everybody online.
“People are realizing that we have been insulating ourselves in a bubble — and it’s not as secure as one might think,” Amanda reminds us. “Reality intrudes in sometimes. As Americans, we can be in precarious positions.”
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Huge thank you to Jude Buffum for his video and illustrations! Check out this video for the full interview. #thaliathoughts #thursdayisforthalia #natlprep #planahead
