One principle of life that we all can agree on is that
tomorrow always comes and that bad things do happen.
With that in mind, we can plan our preparedness efforts
according to what is the worst case scenario that we might face given the
likelihood of risks around us. The level
of that preparedness will determine whether we will face the unexpected event
as an adventure or resort to dealing with the problem in a more primitive method.
Take a couple simple common occurrences for examples. Do you have a jack & spare tire in your
car for the unexpected flat on the highway?
(Is that not a form of emergency preparedness?) Do you know how to use the jack and other
tools to change the tire? Is the spare
tire inflated? If you are properly
prepared, you deal with the flat as an inconvenience and get back on the
road. You might even use those resources
to help someone else in need that was less prepared. On the other hand, if you are not adequately
prepared, and nobody else comes to your rescue, you are left with the most
primitive mode of transportation: namely walking (what sort of shoes are you
wearing right now?).
In February, 2015, a bitter snowstorm left over 160,000
residents of Georgia without power for several days. How often does that happen in the Deep
South? Depending on your resources, you
might have a generator to restore at least some lights and run the furnaces,
perhaps even the refrigerator. A
kerosene heater or wood stove might heat one room where everyone can huddle
together for warmth. A solar generator
could provide some lighting, and run a radio or a couple small appliances. A camp stove would enable you to heat some
soup. If you are less prepared, you may
only have a few candles, a flashlight with no spare batteries, and inadequate
winter clothing to enable going outside for more than a few minutes before
risking hypothermia. Your day may begin
and end with the rising and setting of the sun just like it did for the
Pioneers.
Can you afford to be wrong in your emergency preparations &
planning? Some people have the attitude that nothing serious is going to
happen, at least not to them. If that is your belief, you had better be
absolutely certain that you are right, because if you are wrong, you are in big
trouble. However, if you plan for the
worst and you are wrong (ie. nothing happens, or only minor problems arise), No
Problem! You have your gear and resources for another day or for a great
camping trip! Can you see the
difference? On one hand it’s OK to be
wrong, while on the other hand there is only disaster and tragedy.
The Principle of the Parachute says:
·
You must have
a parachute before you need a
parachute
·
You must have your parachute with
you when you need it
·
Your parachute must be in working condition when you need it
·
Your parachute should be made of the highest
quality materials
·
You need to know how to use your parachute and have
practiced using it before hand
so that you can use it properly during an emergency
·
Your parachute needs to have been packed by a trustworthy parachute packer
