# 5430
There is probably nothing more comforting during a major disaster than a well stocked pantry.
Yet, despite the urging of FEMA, READY.GOV the American Red Cross (and many others), relatively few families are really prepared to deal with a major disaster.
Eleven days after the Tohoku earthquake devastated northern Japan, empty store shelves are still being reported in Tokyo - hundreds of miles removed from the epicenter.
Panic buying and hoarding, combined with interrupted manufacturing and delivery of goods, have combined to make obtaining basic necessities difficult or even impossible for thousands of people.
This from Asahi.com
Quake leaves Tokyo shelves bare
2011/03/22
Panic buying continues apace in Tokyo, with food and daily necessities still in short supply after the massive earthquake in northeastern Japan disrupted the supply chain.
Despite escaping with little structural damage, the capital has been suffering from energy woes in the wake of the March 11 disaster.
Preparing before a disaster, when goods are readily available and no shortages exist, is stockpiling and is both reasonable and ethical.
Rushing to the store to stock up after a disaster strikes (or upon warning of one about to happen) is not only impractical and potentially dangerous, it may be viewed by officials, storekeepers, and your neighbors as hoarding.
Simply put, the time to prepare is before a disaster strikes.
The basic recommendation in the United States is that every household – at a minimum - have a 72-hour supply of food & water.
And that would be a terrific start for any family.
But as you can see by the events in Japan (or after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, or the earthquake in Haiti) 3 days of supplies many not be enough for a truly worst case scenario.
The County of Los Angeles Emergency Survival Guide calls for having 3 to 10 days worth of food and water.
Personally, I believe that 2-weeks (up to a month) of supplies isn’t an unreasonable goal if you live in earthquake or hurricane country.
The L.A. guide may be downloaded here (6.5 Mbyte PDF).
A couple of screen shots from this 100 page survival guide follow.
The reality is that the more people who are prepared before a crisis, the fewer people that will need emergency assistance later.
And by being prepared, you are in a better position to offer help to a friend, a neighbor, a relative, or your community.
Prepping is ethical. And it isn’t just me saying that.
In October, 2008 I wrote a blog which highlighted the John's Hopkins Study entitled Ethics and Severe Pandemic Influenza: Maintaining Essential Functions through a Fair and Considered Response.
It included the following snippet from the summary provided on the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics website.
. . . individuals and families who can afford it should do their best to prepare for any disaster. The paper notes, the more initiative the general public exercises in stockpiling several weeks' worth of food, water, paper goods, batteries medicines, and other needed supplies, the less vulnerable they will be to a break in the supply chain.
It is important for leaders to communicate to the middle class and the wealthy that it is their responsibility to prepare for self-sufficiency in order to free up scarce supplies and allow first responders to direct their attention towards those too poor or vulnerable to prepare themselves.
While this may not have been the main thrust of this paper's message, it is a powerful component. One that bloggers such as myself have been trying to promote for several years.
As long as our supply chains are intact, grocery store shelves are full and capable of being restocked, and no major shortages exist it is not hoarding, selfish, or unethical to be stockpiling a reasonable amount of emergency supplies for you, your family, and others you might be able to assist during a disaster.
During a crisis relief agencies will have their hands full trying to help those who were unable to prepare, or who lost their preps due to a disaster.
By being prepared in advance, you take some of the burden off these agencies, which will allow them to concentrate their efforts on helping those less able to help themselves.
And by being prepared, you are in a better position to help others.
And that’s a win-win situation. For you, your family, and your community.
The American Red Cross sponsors a Do More Than Cross Your Fingers preparedness campaign, with spokesperson Jamie Lee Curtis that can get you started.
You’ll find scores of other Red Cross videos on the RED CROSS YOUTUBE CHANNEL. You can also follow the Red Cross on Twitter by subscribing to @RedCross.
For more preparedness information, you’ll want to visit.
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
It’s the ethical thing to do.
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A few of my preparedness essays you may find of interest include:
Planning To Survive
An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness
In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?
Inside My Bug Out Bag
Those Who Forget Their History . . .
The Gift Of Preparedness
