Essential Preparation can Save Lives and Property

Neighborly Network:  How vulnerable were you in our recent power outage? Was it because of your age, disability, physical limitation, living alone, or because you were unprepared that you felt vulnerable?  

To those in the Intermountain West: Were you suddenly, starkly aware that you were ill-prepared for the sustained loss of power and unseasonably cold temps?  Did your home/yard sustain damage?  Were you dependent upon others near-by?  

With this emergency (Sept. 2020) now behind us we have a chance to evaluate our level of preparation, response know-how and to what degree we were dependent upon the intervention and generosity of neighbors.   

Do you have sufficient rapport with some of your nearby neighbors that you could have a frank conversation with them about your vulnerabilities and concerns about the next local or community-wide emergency?  If you lack that rapport, now would be a good time to cultivate genuine neighborly friendships.

I have done my best to prepare.  Like some of you, I have limitations that could render me unable to sufficiently respond to an emergency. So, a few years ago I contacted three different neighbors and asked them if they would put me on their radar and check on me in the event of an emergency.  They all said YES. In addition to their abundant kindness, they could take comfort knowing that I have taken personal responsibility and have acquired essential emergency supplies.  

In addition to reaching out to neighbors, I contacted my local religious congregation.  Multiple religious organizations across Utah and our nation are actively involved in emergency response services.  Additionally, religions are often the backbone of a neighborhood.  Even if you are not a participant, make yourself known to leadership that you may not be able to take care of yourself/family/ home in an emergency.  If they don’t offer, ask: “Would you kindly consider the needs of my household as you help your member families?  

In this recent sustained electrical outage, some got power (and comfort) restored before others.  It was an opportunity to say to those w/o power: “We can power your medical devices.” “We have space in our freezer for your food.” “Would you like to use our cooker or heater?” “Enjoy this hot meal.” “We can charge your phone and tablet,” etc. 

In some extreme instances, your neighbors are your survival line.  

Evacuation:  Some emergencies require evacuation.  Consider that while evacuation was not part of our wind storm and downed power scenario, families in UT, WA, OR, CA were living with that possibility because of raging Summer wildfires.  

I have rancher friends in Pear Blossom, CA who saved their house and outer buildings by spending day after day clearing brush and making repeated evacuation trips to get horses, gear, other animals and items form their home removed to safety.   

They saved their property because they had a Family Evacuation Plan for wildfires including pre-determined escape routes and destination.   However, they had unprepared neighbors who lost their homes.  

Do you have a Plan and location, should it ever be needed?  Taking COVID into account, is that location still practical/safe?  

Some threats require evacuation on-foot; others, by auto.  Information for both can be found in other articles on this BLOG.