Referral: The Economics Of Citizen Preparedness

 

 

# 4899

 

 

One of the best things about being a blogger in the Preparedness/Flublogia arena is the company I get to keep. 

 

Terrific and insightful writers like Scott McPherson, Crawford Kilian, Indigo Girl, Jimmy Jazz at Break Glass, Maryn McKenna, Ian York, John Solomon and others make every day a veritable treat for this humble blogger.

 

Perhaps the nicest part is that we feel free to work off each others posts, enlarging on (and often improving upon) each other’s thoughts and presentations. 

 

John, Scott, Indigo, or Crof will often write on a topic and that will spark an idea in me, that I will then write about in my blog.  And I’m happy to say, every once in awhile something I write serves as a muse for one of their blogs.

 

Which brings me to today’s post by John Solomon on his In Case of Emergency Blog that builds upon something I wrote about last week.

 

I’m not surprised that John – whose expertise in citizen preparedness far exceeds mine - adds considerable value to the topic.

 

Read:

 

The Economics Of Citizen Preparedness: Should Government Officials More Openly Acknowledge Its Readiness Messaging Is Financially, Socially Tiered?

September 14th, 2010 

 

Highly Recommended.

And if you aren’t already a regular visitor to John’s blog, you should be.

A Double Referral On Sheltering In Place

 

 

# 4536

 

 

 

SIP stands for Sheltering In Place, something that the Federal government would like to see more people willing and able to do in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

 

Whether it be the aftermath of a hurricane, an earthquake, or a terrorist’s dirty bomb . . . people need to be prepared to care for themselves and their loved ones for hours, perhaps even days. 

 

It is for that reason that I’ve stressed the need for individual and community preparedness, and have urged that every household have enough supplies to last a minimum of 72 hours (food and water), a good first aid kit (and knowledge to use it), an emergency radio, and a family emergency plan.

 

As a paramedic, I’ve seen what a lack of preparedness and training can cost, in terms of suffering and even lives.  

 

And as a Floridian who has ridden out more than a few hurricanes, I know what happens to grocery store shelves before, and immediately after a big storm, and what it is like to be without power for an extended period of time.

 

Which is why I prefer to see people maintain a minimum of two-weeks of emergency supplies in their home.

 

John Solomon, writing on his In Case Of Emergency Blog, has two entries that I would refer you to this morning.   Both deal with the need for Sheltering In Place after a terrorist attack, and how that could save thousands of lives.

 

Yesterday, John wrote:

 

New Study Indicates Most Washington, D.C. Area Residents Would Be Willing To Follow Instructions To ‘Shelter In Place’ After ‘Dirty Bomb’

 

Followed today by:

 

“Gimme Shelter: The Need For A Contemporary Civil Defense Program”

 

 

Both essays raise important issues.   Highly recommended.

 

Personally, I prefer to think in terms of `all-threats’ preparedness. But for those who live in New York City, Washington D.C., or other large high-value areas, terrorist attacks certainly have to be considered. 

 

The bottom line, however, is that willingness to follow emergency instructions isn’t enough.  People have to be prepared to shelter in place before a disaster strikes if they hope to comply. 

 

Agencies like FEMA, READY.GOV and the HHS are constantly trying to get the preparedness message out, so that when (not `if') a disaster does occur, human losses can be minimized.

 

For more information on how to prepare for emergencies, up to and including a terrorist attach, the following sites should be of assistance.

 

 

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

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

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

 

And a few of my (many) preparedness essays include:

 

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

Inside My Bug Out Bag

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

The Gift Of Preparedness

The Return of `In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog’

 

 

# 4483

 

 

John Solomon, who pens the In Case of Emergency blog, has been missing from the blogging scene for several months while undergoing a bone marrow transplant.  

 

This week, he returns, with encouraging news about his treatment, and several new blogs.    You can catch up by checking these four new entries on his site.

 

 

As Forecasters Predict “Above Average” Hurricane Season, FEMA’s Fugate In Video Challenges Public: “We’re Getting Ready…Are You?”

DHS Creates Community Preparedness Task Force; Will Hopefully Include Citizen POV

Whatever Administration Decides On Its Disaster Drilling Policy Review, Include The Public In The Drills

Back (And Hopefully) Better Than Ever

 

Welcome back, John.