NPM14: In an Emergency, Who Are You Going To Call?

National Preparedness Month

 

# 9049

 

One of the ironies of our increasingly connected world is that many of our closest friends need not live anywhere near us.  Facebook, Twitter, email, and texting have allowed us to interact at a distance as never before.

 

And during a disaster, that can be both a problem, and a blessing.

 

The blessing is that since many disasters are local, if you are hit by a tornado, or an earthquake, or a flood . . . having friends outside the impact area could be a lifesaver.

The downside, of course, is that increasing distance makes getting direct assistance from a friend during an emergency more difficult.

 

In 2007 I began to promote the idea of each of us having, and being, `Flu Buddies’.  I fleshed out the idea in a 2008 blog called Lifelines In A Pandemic.  

 

A `Flu Buddy’ is simply someone you can call if you get sick, who will then check on you every day, make sure you have the medicines you need (including fetching Tamiflu if appropriate), help care for you if needed, and who can call for medical help if your condition deteriorates.

Those people who care for others, like single parents, also need to consider who will take care of their dependents if they are sick.

 

Like myself, nearly 1 person in 10 in the United States lives alone.  That’s roughly 27 million people who are particularly vulnerable during an epidemic.  Add in millions of single parents taking care of small children, and you have a large number of people with no in-house lifeline in a medical emergency or disaster.

 

I returned to this theme often during the 2009 pandemic, including Pandemic Solutions: Flu Buddies,  UK: Call To Appoint Swine `Flu Friends’ and Canada Urges People To Find `Flu Buddies’.

 

With a nasty enterovirus making the rounds this fall (see Enterovirus D-68 (HEV-D68) Update), it’s not such a bad idea to revive the `flu buddy’ concept for this winter.

 

After the pandemic receded I reworked the idea into a more generic `Disaster Buddy’ concept in a blog called  In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?.

 

While we tend to think of disasters as large scale events, it doesn’t require a pandemic, earthquake, or hurricane to put you in perilous straits.

 

A house fire, car accident, sudden illness, or some other more limited emergency can overwhelm as well, and having a pre-existing support system makes a lot of sense.

 

And the best way I know is by arranging to have (and to be) a `Disaster Buddy’.

 

A `Disaster Buddy’ is simply someone you have prearranged that you can call on during a crisis, and who in turn, can call on you if they need help.

It only works if it is reciprocal.

 

Frankly, having (and being) a `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan. 

 

No one likes to impose on a friend, of course.  But if you’ve already established a `disaster buddy’ relationship  – one that is fair and reciprocal – it shouldn’t be considered an imposition.

 

In the parlance of paramedics, cops, firefighters and the military . . .  “you have their back, and in return, they have yours.”

 

It is a simple concept, but one that needs to be talked out in advance, not simply assumed.

 

While some people invest in a stockpile of freeze dried food, or buy the latest survival  gadgets, and think themselves prepared   . . .  having friends you can really depend on in an emergency is the greatest prep of all.

 

To make it easier on your disaster or `flu’ buddy, make sure you carry some kind of medical history or ID card, with instructions on what medications you are taking, any allergies, and emergency contact information.

 

I addressed that issue in a blog called Those Who Forget Their History . . . .   A few excerpts (but follow the link to read the whole thing):

 

Since you can’t always know, in advance, when you might need medical care it is important to carry with you some kind of medical history at all times.  It can tell doctors important information about your history, medications, and allergies when you can’t.

Many hospitals and pharmacies provide – either free, or for a very nominal sum – folding wallet medical history forms with a plastic sleeve to protect them. Alternatively, there are templates available online.

I’ve scanned the one offered by one of our local hospitals below. It is rudimentary, but covers the basics.

 

It is also worth mentioning that there has never been a better time to volunteer to help with the American Red Cross, The Medical Reserve Corps, CERT, or your Neighborhood watch.

 

We are truly only prepared as our friends, families, and surrounding community are.  There are roles to play for everyone, including civic organizations, schools, and church. 

 

Now - before a disaster occurs - is the time to sit down and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about how you will help one another during a personal or community wide crisis.

 

For more potentially life saving preparedness information, I invite you to visit:

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

NPM13: The Greatest Prep Of All

 

Note: This is day 9 of National Preparedness Month.  Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NPM and #NPM13 hash tags.

This month, as part of NPM13, I’ll be rerunning some edited and updated older preparedness essays, along with some new ones.

 

# 7745

One of the ironies of our increasingly connected world is that our closest friends need not live anywhere near us.  Facebook, Twitter, email, and texting have allowed us to interact at a distance as never before.

 

And during a disaster, that can be both a problem and a blessing.

 

The blessing is that since many disasters are local, if you are hit by a tornado, or an earthquake, or a flood . . . having friends outside the impact area could be a lifesaver.

The downside, of course, is that increasing distance makes getting direct assistance from a friend during an emergency more difficult.

 

In 2007 I began to promote the idea of each of us having, and being, `Flu Buddies’.  I fleshed out the idea in a 2008 blog called Lifelines In A Pandemic.

 

A `Flu Buddy’ is simply someone you can call if you get sick, who will then check on you every day, make sure you have the medicines you need (including fetching Tamiflu if appropriate), help care for you if needed, and who can call for medical help if your condition deteriorates.

Those people who care for others, like single parents, also need to consider who will take care of their dependents if they are sick.

 

Nearly 1 person in 10 in the United States lives alone.   That’s roughly 27 million people who are particularly vulnerable during an epidemic.

 

I returned to this theme often during the 2009 pandemic, including Pandemic Solutions: Flu Buddies,  UK: Call To Appoint Swine `Flu Friends’ and Canada Urges People To Find `Flu Buddies’.

 

After the pandemic receded I reworked the idea into a more generic `Disaster Buddy’ concept in a blog called  In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?.

 

While we tend to think of disasters as large scale events, it doesn’t require a pandemic, earthquake, or hurricane to put you in perilous straits.

 

A house fire, car accident, sudden illness, or some other more limited emergency can overwhelm as well, and having a pre-existing support system makes a lot of sense.

 

And the best way I know is by arranging to have (and to be) a `Disaster Buddy’.

 

A `Disaster Buddy’ is simply someone you have prearranged that you can call on during a crisis, and who in turn, can call on you if they need help.

It only works if it is reciprocal.

 

Frankly, having (and being) a `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan.

 

No one likes to impose on a friend, of course.

 

But if you’ve already established a `disaster buddy’ relationship  – one that is fair and reciprocal – it shouldn’t be considered an imposition.

 

In the parlance of paramedics, cops, firefighters and the military . . .  “you have their back, and in return, they have yours.”

 

It is a simple concept, but one that needs to be talked out in advance, not simply assumed.

 

While some people invest in a stockpile of freeze dried food, or buy the latest survival  gadgets, and think themselves prepared   . . .  having friends you can really depend on in an emergency is the greatest prep of all.

 

It is also worth mentioning that there has never been a better time to volunteer to help with the American Red Cross, The Medical Reserve Corps, CERT, or your Neighborhood watch.

 

We are truly only prepared as our friends, families, and surrounding community are.  There are roles to play for everyone, including civic organizations, schools, and church. 

 

Now - before a disaster occurs - is the time to sit down and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about how you will help one another during a personal or community wide crisis.

 

For more potentially life saving preparedness information, I invite you to visit:

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

Black Swan Events

 

# 6772

 

Black Swan events are game changing incidents that few, if anyone, had predicted. The phrase was coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his 2004 book Fooled By Randomness, and expanded upon in his 2007 book The Black Swan.

 

Yesterday, the U.S. National Intelligence Council released a report called  "Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds" that tries to anticipate the global shifts that will likely occur over the next two decades.

 

This 166-page report tries to predict the future, but admits that the course of history is often abruptly and unexpectedly changed by outlier events – black swans – that are simply impossible to predict. 

Several of these `game changers’ have been topics of previous posts in this blog.

 

 

Global Trends 2030's potential Black Swans

1. Severe Pandemic

"No one can predict which pathogen will be the next to start spreading to humans, or when or where such a development will occur," the report says. "Such an outbreak could result in millions of people suffering and dying in every corner of the world in less than six months."

2. Much More Rapid Climate Change

"Dramatic and unforeseen changes already are occurring at a faster rate than expected. Most scientists are not confident of being able to predict such events. Rapid changes in precipitation patterns—such as monsoons in India and the rest of Asia -- could sharply disrupt that region's ability to feed its population."

6. Nuclear War or WMD/ Cyber Attack

"Nuclear powers such as Russia and Pakistan and potential aspirants such as Iran and North Korea see nuclear weapons as compensation for other political and security weaknesses, heightening the risk of their use. The chance of nonstate actors conducting a cyber attack—or using WMD (weapon of mass destruction) —also is increasing."

7. Solar Geomagnetic Storms

"Solar geomagnetic storms could knock out satellites, the electric grid, and many sensitive electronic devices. The recurrence intervals of crippling solar geomagnetic storms, which are less than a century, now pose a substantial threat because of the world's dependence on electricity," the report says.

 

While most people are loathe to think about them, these types of high-impact events are not wild-eyed Hollywood disaster movie fantasies. They are considered valid (albeit, low probability) threats by many of our nation’s planning and response agencies. 

 

Which is why agencies like the HHS, CDC, FEMA, Ready.gov and others work each day to convince citizens of the importance of being prepared for the unexpected, and why I devote a fair amount of this blog to everyday preparedness.

 

 

And it’s not just the United States that looks at and prepares for low-probability-high Impact events. 

 

Last March in UK: Civil Threat Risk Assessment, we looked at a report issued by the UK government that is essentially a short list of disaster scenarios (man-made & natural) that the Cabinet Office believe to be genuine threats.

 

The 2012 list includes:

 

Pandemic influenza – This remains the most significant civil emergency risk. The outbreak of H1N1 influenza in 2009 (‘swine flu’) did not match the severity of the scenario that we plan for and is not necessarily indicative of future pandemic influenzas; the three influenza pandemics of the 20th century (1918–19, 1957–58 and 1968–69) all had differing levels of severity. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic does not change the risk of another pandemic emerging (such as an H5N1 (avian flu)
pandemic) or mean that the severity of any future pandemics will be the same as the 2009 H1N1 outbreak.

 

Also on their list is a repeat of the 1953 severe coastal flooding event that claimed hundreds of lives and caused extreme property damage and a catastrophic terrorist attack.

 

New this year are the addition of Severe effusive (gas-rich) volcanic eruptions abroad and the potential impact from severe space weather.

 

Few are aware of it now, but In 1783 the Craters of Laki in Iceland erupted and over the next 8 months spewed clouds of clouds of deadly hydrofluoric acid & Sulphur Dioxide, killing over half of Iceland’s livestock and roughly 25% of their population.

 

These noxious clouds drifted over Europe, and resulted in widespread crop failures and thousands of deaths from direct exposure to these fumes. There are also anecdotal reports that suggest this eruption had short-term global climate impacts as well.

 

Were that to happen again today, the effects would be absolutely disastrous to Europe, and the rest of the world.

 

Sounding a bit like science-fiction, violent solar flares and earth directed CMEs are also on FEMA’s and the UK’s worry list, and are subjects we’ve discussed before:

 

A Flare For The Dramatic

Solar Storms, CMEs & FEMA

A Carrington Event

 

NASA, while admitting that a serious solar storm could happen practically anytime, also cautions that the next big one could be many decades away. It is a genuine threat, they say, but the timing is impossible to predict.

 

In June of 2011 (see OECD Report: Future Global Shocks), we saw a series of reports come out of the OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) that warned - as the world becomes more interconnected and interdependent - that `Global Shocks’ to the world economy become more likely.

 

They define a Global Shock as: a rapid onset event with severely disruptive consequences covering at least two continents.

While discussing a wide range of future shock scenarios, the authors concentrated most of their attention on five highly disruptive future shock events.

• A Pandemic
• A Cyber Attack
• A Financial Crisis
• A Geomagnetic Storm
• Social Unrest/Revolution

 

They also make special note of the risks of increased antibiotic resistance, and the need for new classes of antibiotics to be developed. 

 

The common threats running through all of these reports are a Pandemic, a coordinated cyber Attack, and destructive solar storms.

 

But of course, by definition, a `black swan event’ comes as a surprise. The next global shock may not come from this list, it could be something we’ve not considered.

 

 

Until it happened, few people would have seriously concerned themselves that a 9.0 earthquake, and a 100 foot tsunami, could devastate northern Japan, disable four nuclear reactors, and change the view of nuclear energy in many countries around the world.

 

But regardless of the source of the next future global shock, being prepared to deal with it is of paramount importance.

 

While there is much governments can do to prepare, a nation’s resilience in the face of a major crisis –whether it be local or global - truly comes from the bottom up, not from the top down. 

 

Being prepared doesn’t mean going to extremes.  You don’t have to dig a bunker, or set aside 10 years worth of canned goods. Nor should you focus on one particular threat, or scenario.

 

Instead, the smart money is on taking basic preparedness steps against `All Hazards', including those you may not automatically assume are a threat where you live.

 

Everyone should have a well thought out disaster and family communications plan, along with a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

Based on 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 of supplies isn’t an unreasonable goal, particularly if you live in earthquake or hurricane country.

 

The L.A. guide may be downloaded here (6.5 Mbyte PDF).

 

For more information on preparedness, you may wish to visit:

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

 

And lastly, you may wish to revisit some of my earlier preparedness essays, including:

 

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

 

The Gift of Preparedness 2012

 

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

 

Because, by the time you recognize the onset of a black swan event, it is probably too late to prepare for it.

NPM12: Disaster Buddies

Note: This is day 16 of National Preparedness Month.  Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NPM and #NPM12 hash tags.

 

This month, as part of NPM12, I’ll be rerunning some edited and updated older preparedness essays, along with some new ones.

 

# 6557

 

 

One of the ironies of our increasingly connected world is that our closest friends need not live anywhere near us.  Facebook, Twitter, email, and texting have allowed us to interact at a distance as never before.

 

And during a disaster, that can be both a problem, and a blessing.

The blessing is that since many disasters are local, if you are hit by a tornado, or an earthquake, or a flood . . . having friends outside the impact area could be a lifesaver.

 

The downside, of course, is that increasing distance makes getting direct assistance from a friend during an emergency more difficult.

 

In 2007 I began to promote the idea of each of us having, and being, `Flu Buddies’.  I fleshed out the idea in a 2008 blog called Lifelines In A Pandemic.  

 

A `Flu Buddy’ is simply someone you can call if you get sick, who will then check on you every day, make sure you have the medicines you need (including fetching Tamiflu if appropriate), help care for you if needed, and who can call for medical help if your condition deteriorates.

 

Those people who care for others, like single parents, also need to consider who will take care of their dependents if they are sick.

 

Nearly 1 person in 10 in the United States lives alone.   That’s roughly 27 million people who are particularly vulnerable during an epidemic.

 

I returned to this theme often during the 2009 pandemic, including Pandemic Solutions: Flu Buddies,  UK: Call To Appoint Swine `Flu Friends’ and Canada Urges People To Find `Flu Buddies’.

 

After the pandemic receded I reworked the idea into a more generic `Disaster Buddy’ concept in a blog called  In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?.

 

While we tend to think of disasters as large scale events, it doesn’t require a pandemic, earthquake, or hurricane to put you in perilous straits.

 

A house fire, car accident, sudden illness, or some other more limited emergency can overwhelm as well, and having a pre-existing support system makes a lot of sense.

 

And the best way I know is by arranging to have (and to be) a `Disaster Buddy’.

 

A `Disaster Buddy’ is simply someone you have prearranged that you can call on during a crisis, and who in turn, can call on you if they need help.

 

It only works if it is reciprocal.

 

 

Frankly, having (and being) a `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan. 

 

No one likes to impose on a friend, of course.

 

But if you’ve already established a `disaster buddy’ relationship  – one that is fair and reciprocal – it shouldn’t be considered an imposition.

 

In the parlance of paramedics, cops, firefighters and the military . . .  “you have their back, and in return, they have yours.”

 

It is a simple concept, but one that needs to be talked out in advance, not simply assumed.

 

While some people invest in a stockpile of freeze dried food, or buy the latest survival  gadgets, and think themselves prepared   . . .  having friends you can really depend on in an emergency is the greatest prep of all.

 

It is also worth mentioning that there has never been a better time to volunteer to help with the American Red Cross, The Medical Reserve Corps, CERT, or your Neighborhood watch.

 

We are truly only prepared as our friends, families, and surrounding community are.  There are roles to play for everyone, including civic organizations, schools, and church. 

 

Now - before a disaster occurs - is the time to sit down and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about how you will help one another during a personal or community wide crisis.

 

For more potentially life saving preparedness information, I invite you to visit:

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

NPM11: Disaster Buddies

 

Note: This is day 14 of National Preparedness Month.  Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NPM11 hash tag.

This month, as part of NPM11, I’ll be rerunning some edited and updated older preparedness essays, along with some new ones.

# 5839

 

 

I began promoting the idea of `Flu Buddies’ in 2007, but only really fleshed out the idea in a 2008 blog called Lifelines In A Pandemic, where I wrote:

 

Each of us need, in advance, to make `Flu Buddies'.  And not just people who live alone, although they are at the greatest risk.

 

An arrangement with one or more people (or families) that you will come to their aid during a crisis, and that they will come to yours if needed. For most, these `buddies' will probably be family members, good friends, or neighbors.

 

People we care about.

 

If someone on your `buddy list' gets sick, they will have buddies to help them through it.  Someone to fetch medicine, bring food and water, and make sure they take their meds.

 

 

I returned to this theme often during the 2009 pandemic, including Pandemic Solutions: Flu Buddies,  UK: Call To Appoint Swine `Flu Friends’ and Canada Urges People To Find `Flu Buddies’.

 

After the pandemic receded I reworked the idea into a more generic `Disaster Buddy’ concept in a blog called  In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?.

 

It doesn’t require a pandemic, earthquake, or hurricane to put you in perilous straits. A house fire, car accident, sudden illness, or some other more limited emergency can overwhelm as well, and having a pre-existing support system makes a lot of sense.

 

Nearly 1 person in 10 in the United States lives alone.   That’s roughly 27 million adults.

 

Add to that the number of households with one adult caring for one or more minor children or caring for elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to fend-for-themselves individuals, and the number goes up dramatically.

 

People who live alone, or who are the sole responsible adult in a household, have the greatest need to establish some kind of disaster `safety net’ with friends, relatives, or neighbors.

 

And the best way is by arranging to have (and to be) a `Disaster Buddy’.

 

A `Disaster Buddy’ is simply someone you have prearranged that you can call on during a crisis, and who in turn, can call on you if they need help. 

 

It only works if it is reciprocal.

 

Frankly, having (and being) a `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan. 

 

No one likes to impose on a friend, of course.

 

But if you’ve already established a `disaster buddy’ relationship  – one that is fair and reciprocal – it shouldn’t be considered an imposition.

 

In the parlance of paramedics, cops, firefighters and the military . . .   “you have their back, and in return, they have yours.”

 

It is a simple concept, but one that needs to be talked out in advance, not simply assumed.

 

It is also worth mentioning that there has never been a better time to volunteer to help with the American Red Cross, The Medical Reserve Corps, CERT, or your Neighborhood watch.

 

We are truly only prepared as our friends, families, and surrounding community are.  There are roles to play for everyone, including civic organizations, schools, and church. 

 

Now - before a disaster occurs - is the time to sit down and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about how you will help one another during a personal or community wide crisis.

 

For more potentially life saving preparedness information, I invite you to visit:

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

Because It Can Happen Here

 

# 5332

 

 

For constant readers, I apologize for sounding a bit like a broken record on the need for individual, family, and community preparedness.  But events such as we’ve witnessed overnight in Christchurch are a reminder that yes . . . it can happen here.

 

At least, in most areas of North America, and for that matter, much of the world.  We live on a seismically active planet where earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis occur with some regularity.

 

1. Based on observations since 1900. 2. Based on observations since 1990. NOTE: The NEIC estimates that several million earthquakes occur in the world each year. Many go undetected because they hit remote areas or have very small magnitudes.

Source: National Earthquake Information Center, USGS 

Seismically active areas of the world

While I grew up in hurricane country, for about 10 years I lived in the orange ring of the bullseye (New Madrid fault) in the center of our country.  

 

In 1811 and 1812, that fault produced four of the largest quakes ever felt in the United States (8.1-8.3), so I have a keen appreciation of the hazards.

 

 

Earthquakes, like Hurricanes, Tornados, Floods, and yes . . . even pandemics . . .  are hazards everyone should be aware of, and prepared to deal with.  A prime focus of this blog has always been preparedness.

 

 

If you’ve already taken my preparedness sermons to heart - feel free to skip the rest of this blog.  I’ll be back later today, I’m sure, on another subject.

 

But for those who may be new to this blog, or for those who haven’t as yet taken the essential steps to prepare for an earthquake, tornado, flood, hurricane or any other major disaster, the following is a short list of a few of the preparedness essays I’ve written.

 

Planning To Survive

 

Resolve To Be Ready In 2011 Toolkit

 

FEMA: Preparedness Gift Suggestions 

The Gift Of Preparedness: 2010 

The Gift Of Preparedness (2009)

Cold Weather Car Bag

 

Thanksgiving Is Family History Day

 

NPM10: FEMA Asks, "Are You Earthquake Prepared?”

 

NPM10: An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

 

Inside My Bug Out Bag

 

Red Cross Unveils `Do More Than Cross Your Fingers’ Campaign

 

 

And last, and perhaps most important:

 

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

 

FEMA, READY.GOV and the American Red Cross all strongly encourage you to be prepared to deal with a wide range of emergencies. 

 

They know that during a major disaster, they may not be able to provide assistance to everyone during the first crucial 72 hours.  

 

You and your family need to be capable of fending for yourselves, and hopefully helping your neighbors, until help can arrive and services are restored.

 

As Ready.gov reminds us:

Do it today.

NPM10: Everyone Should Have, And Be, A Disaster Buddy

 

 

Note:  Today is Day 13 of National Preparedness Month and a good time for a reminder of the importance of building your own support network of friends, family, and neighbors.

 

Today’s essay is a repeat of one I wrote earlier this summer.

 

Follow the month long preparedness campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NPM10 hash tag.

 

#4896

 

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

 

 

Few people ever expect to be caught up in a disaster or even a serious personal emergency, and fewer still plan for it.  Yet it happens to hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.

 

Globally, we’re talking millions of people.

 

Some disasters are personal – like a house fire or a car accident. While others are of a much larger scale – like a hurricane, a flood, or an earthquake.

 

But both types of disasters can leave you, and your family, homeless or in desperate need of assistance.

 

Yes, FEMA is there to help you in a declared disaster, and there are a number of other emergency assistance organizations and agencies like the Red Cross for disasters large and small.

 

The work these groups do is important, and invaluable.  But there are limits as to what they can do for you and your family in an emergency.

 

For several years I’ve promoted the idea of Flu Buddies – one or more persons you establish a mutual-aid agreement with if either of you get incapacitated by the flu.

 

It’s an idea that has value far beyond just flu, however. Although I go in greater detail in Pandemic Solutions: Flu Buddies, the idea is pretty simple.

 

Nearly 1 person in 10 in the United States lives alone.   That’s roughly 27 million adults.

 

Add to that the number of households with one adult caring for one or more minor children or caring for elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to fend-for-themselves individuals, and the number goes up dramatically.

 

So people who live alone, or who are the sole responsible adult in a household, have a pressing need to establish a pandemic (or even seasonal flu) `safety net’ with friends, relatives, or neighbors by arranging to have (and to be) a `Flu Buddy’.

 

A `Flu Buddy’ is simply someone you can call if you get sick, who will then check on you every day, make sure you have the medicines you need (including fetching Tamiflu if appropriate), help care for you if needed, and who can call for medical help if your condition deteriorates.

 

Those people who care for others, like single parents, also need to consider who will take care of their dependents if they are sick.

 

I am already a `Flu Buddy’ to several relatives and close friends. I know that in return, should I be stricken with the flu, that I have several people who will be willing to look out for me as well.

 

This concept isn’t new of course.   It is what friends, neighbors, and families have done for each other for thousands of years.

 

But in recent years, with our increasingly mobile and transient society, many people find themselves isolated, alone, and without a built-in safety net.

 

Late last year my sister and father were involved in a serious car wreck. Both were hospitalized (then in rehab) for 5 weeks, and both needed considerable support during their hospital stay, and assistance after they came home.

 

They were lucky enough to have family, friends, and neighbors who took on those extra duties.And if you’ve got that kind of support system, consider yourself lucky.  Many do not.

 

Which is why everyone should be thinking about the idea of becoming a `Disaster buddy’.  Someone who prearranges to help a friend, relative, or neighbor during a personal or local emergency.

 

In return, you could rely on them to help you if you needed it.    It only works if it is reciprocal.

 

Frankly, having (and being) a `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan.

 

The National Hurricane Survival Initiative survey, conducted earlier this year by Mason-Dixon, polled residents from Virginia to Texas who live within 30 miles of the coast.

 

One of the questions I found of particular interest was:

 

QUESTION: If you needed to evacuate, where would you go?

 

  23% - To a local shelter
  18% – To a local hotel/motel out of harms way 
  26% - To the house of a nearby friend
  25% - As far as possible – trying to outrun the
path of the storm
   7% - You would not leave under any circumstances
   1% - Not Sure (NOT READ)

 

 

For many reasons, the `best’ answer for most people is probably the third one - To the house of a nearby friend.

• Trying to find a hotel/motel room during a major hurricane evacuation may prove impossible
• Attempting to get in your car to try to `outrun the storm’  –  amid the traffic snarls that often come with these evacuations – is a recipe for disaster.
• The fact that nearly a quarter of respondents consider their local hurricane shelters to be their first choice to evacuate to has to be of concern to emergency planners.

 

 

Few communities have the capacity to take in a quarter of their vulnerable residents during a storm.

 

Public hurricane shelters should be a `shelter of last resort’.  Reserved for those who have no other place to go.

 

No one likes to impose on a friend, of course.

 

But if you’ve already established a `disaster buddy’ relationship  – one that is fair and reciprocal – it shouldn’t be considered an imposition.

 

In the parlance of paramedics, cops, firefighters and the military . . .   “you have their back, and in return, they have yours.”

 

There has also never been a better time to volunteer to help with the American Red Cross, The Medical Reserve Corps, CERT, or your Neighborhood watch.

 

We are truly only prepared as our friends, families, and surrounding community are.  There are roles to play for everyone, including civic organizations, schools, and church.

 

Now - before a disaster occurs - is the time to sit down and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about how you will help one another during a personal or community wide crisis.

 

For more, you might want to revisit:

 

NPM10 And Building A Culture Of Preparedness

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

The Gift Of Preparedness

 

For more potentially life saving preparedness information, go to:

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

 

 

 

# 4735

 

 

Few people ever expect to be caught up in a disaster or even a serious personal emergency, and fewer still plan for it.  Yet it happens to hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.  

 

Globally, we’re talking millions of people.

 

Some disasters are personal – like a house fire or a car accident. While others are of a much larger scale – like a hurricane, a flood, or an earthquake.

 

But both types of disasters can leave you, and your family, homeless or in desperate need of assistance. 

 

Yes, FEMA is there to help you in a declared disaster, and there are a number of other emergency assistance organizations and agencies like the Red Cross for disasters large and small.  

 

The work these groups do is important, and invaluable.  But there are limits as to what they can do for you and your family in an emergency.  

 

For several years I’ve promoted the idea of Flu Buddies – one or more persons you establish a mutual-aid agreement with if either of you get incapacitated by the flu.

 

It’s an idea that has value far beyond just flu, however. Although I go in greater detail in Pandemic Solutions: Flu Buddies, the idea is pretty simple.  

 

Nearly 1 person in 10 in the United States lives alone.   That’s roughly 27 million adults.

 

Add to that the number of households with one adult caring for one or more minor children or caring for elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to fend-for-themselves individuals, and the number goes up dramatically.

 

So people who live alone, or who are the sole responsible adult in a household, have a pressing need to establish a pandemic (or even seasonal flu) `safety net’ with friends, relatives, or neighbors by arranging to have (and to be) a `Flu Buddy’.

 

A `Flu Buddy’ is simply someone you can call if you get sick, who will then check on you every day, make sure you have the medicines you need (including fetching Tamiflu if appropriate), help care for you if needed, and who can call for medical help if your condition deteriorates.

 

Those people who care for others, like single parents, also need to consider who will take care of their dependents if they are sick.

 

I am already a `Flu Buddy’ to several relatives and close friends. I know that in return, should I be stricken with the flu, that I have several people who will be willing to look out for me as well.

 

This concept isn’t new of course.   It is what friends, neighbors, and families have done for each other for thousands of years.  

 

But in recent years, with our increasingly mobile and transient society, many people find themselves isolated, alone, and without a built-in safety net.  

 

Late last year my sister and father were involved in a serious car wreck. Both were hospitalized (then in rehab) for 5 weeks, and both needed considerable support during their hospital stay, and assistance after they came home.

 

They were lucky enough to have family, friends, and neighbors who took on those extra duties.   

 

And if you’ve got that kind of support system, consider yourself lucky.  Many do not.

 

Which is why everyone should be thinking about the idea of becoming a `Disaster buddy’.  Someone who prearranges to help a friend, relative, or neighbor during a personal or local emergency. 

 

In return, you could rely on them to help you if you needed it.    It only works if it is reciprocal.

 

Frankly, having (and being) a `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan.

 

The National Hurricane Survival Initiative survey, conducted earlier this year by Mason-Dixon, polled residents from Virginia to Texas who live within 30 miles of the coast.  

 

One of the questions I found of particular interest was:

 

QUESTION: If you needed to evacuate, where would you go?

  23% - To a local shelter
  18% – To a local hotel/motel out of harms way 
  26% - To the house of a nearby friend
  25% - As far as possible – trying to outrun the
path of the storm
   7% - You would not leave under any circumstances
   1% - Not Sure (NOT READ)

 

 

For many reasons, the `best’ answer for most people is probably the third one - To the house of a nearby friend.

 

• Trying to find a hotel/motel room during a major hurricane evacuation may prove impossible
• Attempting to get in your car to try to `outrun the storm’  –  amid the traffic snarls that often come with these evacuations – is a recipe for disaster.
• The fact that nearly a quarter of respondents consider their local hurricane shelters to be their first choice to evacuate to has to be of concern to emergency planners. 

 

Few communities have the capacity to take in a quarter of their vulnerable residents during a storm. 

 

Public hurricane shelters should be a `shelter of last resort’.  Reserved for those who have no other place to go. 

 

No one likes to impose on a friend, of course. 

 

But if you’ve already established a `disaster buddy’ relationship  – one that is fair and reciprocal – it shouldn’t be considered an imposition.

 

In the parlance of paramedics, cops, firefighters and the military . . .   “you have their back, and in return, they have yours.”

 

There has also never been a better time to volunteer to help with the American Red Cross, The Medical Reserve Corps, CERT, or your Neighborhood watch.

 

We are truly only prepared as our friends, families, and surrounding community are.  There are roles to play for everyone, including civic organizations, schools, and church. 

 

Now - before a disaster occurs - is the time to sit down and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about how you will help one another during a personal or community wide crisis.

 

For more, you might want to revisit:

 

NPM10 And Building A Culture Of Preparedness

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

The Gift Of Preparedness

 

For more potentially life saving preparedness information, go to:

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/