What is Emergency Preparedness?
Many people ask me: “why is emergency preparedness important?” For most of us, we live in America so we have may have never really seen devastating circumstances.
In America, we have a lot of things set up in the event of an emergency. In fact, compared to other countries we don’t have a lot to worry about. Well, it seems that way.
The truth is that no matter whether we live in America or another country, being prepared for the inevitable is crucial. Below, you will learn why it’s so important to be prepared for an emergency of any kind.
Emergency preparedness means that if there is a disaster of any kind, you will be better able to survive it. When there is an emergency, you can’t always rely on someone else, or even the government to save you.
Therefore, being prepared means that you have what you need to survive for days, to weeks, after an emergency. Being prepared means you have supplies such as food, water, first aid kits, medication, and important documents on hand after an emergency.
You don’t want to be rushing to the store hoping these items are still available and not wiped out. Trust me, the store shelves will be empty.
Emergency preparedness is important for many reasons. The ultimate reason is for your immediate survival. However, even in smaller emergencies, being prepared is important. Here are just a few reasons emergency preparedness is important:
We may have meteorologists that can predict the weather accurately most of the time, but sometimes they just can’t foresee everything. Additionally, natural disasters such as forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and floods can leave us trapped and stranded for days to weeks before help can reach us.
No matter where you live, there is likely to be a weather-related threat to the area every once in a while. For example, California deals with earthquakes, mudslides, and fires. The Southwest has extreme heat, monsoons, and dust storms. The Midwest has the threat of tornadoes and floods, and the East Coast must be prepared for hurricanes.
And some areas have those nasty ice storms. These extreme weather conditions affect everyone and can leave you without the ability to get food or water for days at a time, possibly weeks, or even months.
Most people assume that the government and community organizations and agencies will help immediately after an emergency. The truth is that in the case of a widespread disaster, there is no guarantee that the government or local organizations will have the resources or the time to help everyone.
Even resources that you expect to be available such as police and emergency medical personnel will most likely have their hands full. This means you will need to have access to your own medical supplies, food, and water.
Emergency items that will disappear first include food, water, toilet paper, and first aid kits, among other necessary items. Just to give you an example: When a recent hurricane was headed towards Florida, there was literally no bottled water left on the shelves even a week before it hit.
Our bodies are made up of 70% water. You can only survive for about 3-days without water. We have come accustomed to having clean, running water in our homes.
However, when there are major emergencies and disasters, you will find water to be scarce. In fact, even if you can get water to come into your home, it may not be clean or safe to drink. Water found in ponds and lakes carries bacteria and will need to be treated and/or filtered.
This bacteria can be deadly, which is why we have water sanitation treatment systems in place. When there is a disaster of any kind, it will be very hard to find clean water to drink and cook with. Please get a water filter you like.
The effects of any disaster can last longer than just a few days. For example, food prices will be going up in 2020 due to flooding during the spring and summer, and an October blizzard that killed 80% of our harvests in the midwest.
Although these things happened earlier in the year, we won’t see the effects until later. Obviously, when disasters such as flooding and blizzards wipe out 80% of our harvest, there is going to be a food shortage.
We can’t even begin to imagine the effects of this food shortage, but I can tell you it will last longer than just a few days.
One thing we have become reliant on is electricity. We use electricity to bathe, cook, heat, and for entertainment. Think about it; how will you cook food on your stove if there isn’t electricity?
Even if you have a gas stove, most stoves use electricity to light the stovetop before you use the gas for the flames. If you live in the North, how will you heat your home? Thermostats and fans run on electricity even though your home uses gas to heat it.
There won’t be someone handing out blankets, firewood, or other ways to keep you warm. The stores could become completely depleted of charcoal, matches, and other ways of heating your food.
You have to be prepared to have no power and live like they did in the dark ages. Sometimes you may be without power for two weeks or longer.
When something does happen, people panic. Panic and fear can lead to someone getting shot because they grabbed the last case of water from the shelf. This means you definitely don’t want to be trying to purchase items at the last minute.
Those who do not prepare will be scared, panicked, and overreacting. This is a common survival mode. You don’t want to be one of those people who is in panic mode.
You want to know that you have what you need, your family is safe, and that you don’t have to worry. Additionally, you don’t want to have to be going anywhere that could put you in danger when everyone is panicking.
If you are just now realizing the importance of being prepared for an emergency, here are some tips to get you started!
Being prepared isn’t just something to think about. It’s something we all should do. Even if you don’t think there will be an economic collapse or a zombie apocalypse, it is always good to be prepared for an emergency situation.
Begin by having emergency essentials that will help you to survive for at least a two-week period. May God bless this world, Linda
Don’t forget to pin this so you can find it later!
Hi Linda. While sitting here and watching the local news of trees falling across the hiway and on houses and cars due to high winds I thought, With everything else you should carry in your vehicle perhaps, if you are able bodied, it would be a good idea to also carry a chain saw if you have one. It could save your life by clearing the way and allowing you to keep going to your destination.
I also want to constantly tell people to carry several hand warmers found in the hunting aisles of stores.
They aren’t only for hands but feet, and body. No need to freeze to death if you have plenty of those.
Good idea, Diane. However, having one with the needed gasoline stored inside you car can be dangerous. Instead, I would recommend a small electric chain saw with a properly sized inverter. This would allow one to run the saw off of the car battery. And, of course, leave the car running, so you don’t kill the battery. Of course, you would also need an appropriate heavy duty extension cord. I thought about this since I already have this setup for trimming low-hanging limbs from my numerous oak trees.
Hi Harry, great idea on the electric one. I bought one for my emergency preps. I live in the desert and I don’t want to store gasoline on my property. Great tip! Linda
There are also battery operated chainsaws. Several brands and not too expensive. I do have electric but don’t like messing with cords. So, I suggest battery with a back up battery.
That will work, too, Diane. I just already have all the elements for my solution. So, it is easy.
HI Diane, great idea on the chainsaw if you have a truck. I would worry about the gasoline in my car trunk. I remember cutting wood for our wood-burning stove and it had a strong gasoline smell. I love those hand warmers, you can get them fairly inexpensive at Costco. Great tips! Linda
Such good information as always Linda, keep up the good work, just because i don`t comment on every post, does not mean i don`t read and keep them for a reminder later on.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and family, God Bless…
Hearl
Hi Hearl, thank you so much, you are always so kind to me. Happy Thanksgiving and God bless you! Linda
A chainsaw does seem like a good idea, but if not, at least a couple of axes and a shovel plus block and tackle along with straps and a large pulley or two to get your vehicle out of a muddy hole or ditch.
I do own a 120 watt inverter and my Toyota has a 115 volt plug and I have USB adapters. They even sell cables and adapters at Dollar Tree.
I’ve been thinking more and more about a mill to grind wheat and nuts in addition to a good dehydrator. I’d like a Food Saver vacuum machine, but would prefer to stock up on jars and not rely solely on the bags. They both have their place or functions. Food storage is always a top priority.
Just as this article and most of your others always point out, preparation starts today otherwise we’ll suffer later for what we fail to do now. And I still have things I want to learn and do.
Hi, Linda,
Do you ever do a monthly preparedness calendar, with specific items to add to our preparedness ‘stash’ each month?
Hi Deb, I need to do that!! I have a Facebook group where I challenge the group every Saturday. I like to share with my readers compared to charging my readers for so many things. Yes, I have ads to pay for my expenses, but I feel as though God asked me to teach the world. For free. I do have a book my publisher asked me to write but that’s it. Everything else is free. Here is the link if you want to join in. We keep it friendly, no politics ever. https://www.facebook.com/groups/293154608161380/ Linda
Thank you! Yes I’ll check out the Facebook group!
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I’m Linda Loosli. I’m the owner and editor of Food Storage Moms. I’m so happy you’ve found us. Our goal at Food Storage Moms is to help “one family at a time.”
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