Dear friends, I began this blog four years ago as a place to learn, explore, and share what I know about emergency preparation. In that time, several disasters, most recently Hurricane Sandy, have blown open the conversation about preparing for a few days of self-sufficiency and a speedy evacuation. Much as I love this topic,…
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Flat Stanley Gets Prepared for Hurricane Season
In a few days I’ll be traveling to North Carolina for a planning session with my friends and professional accountability partners Janine Adams and Geralin Thomas. I am so eager to spend some time with friends who both challenge and support me. Staying on the shore, for me, can really provide the right environment for…
National Night Out is Today, August 7!
Imagine one night each summer devoted to spending time in front of your home, getting to know passing neighbors, learning things you never knew about those who live right next door, and strengthening trust in your neighborhood. Sound good? That’s what “National Night Out” aims to achieve. (Find resources and information for National Night Out…
What To Do When the Power Goes Out?
India’s massive power failures this week have put us all on notice: it’s good to be prepared for temporary and long-term power outages. How to prepare will vary depending on where you live and how you receive utilities, so consider when you rely on electricity. Does your water come from a well with an electric…
Got Soap? Go-Bag Contents for Personal Care
We take for granted certain items that contribute to our daily comfort. But imagine for a moment that you had to evacuate your home during an emergency and you were left without some basic supplies for personal care. No toilet paper? Not so pleasant. Take a moment to gather a few space supplies to add…
Making a Game of Earthquake Preparation
I laughed out loud when a friend presented me with these earthquake prep playing cards. (She also gave me a deck of cards featuring celebrity mug shots for our monthly poker games – ha!) Apart from the humor, though, these cards are a brilliant idea. Think about it: Preparation is not just about what we…
Parlez-vous Preparation? Thinking About Reaching Non-English Speakers in an Emergency
Earlier this month I attended Emergency Preparation Day at my county fair. As I strolled among booths offering information on CPR, earthquakes, and how to turn off your gas, one display caught my eye: the county government offered health information about Hepatitis B in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and more. Recently a lady came to…
Water Bob
Atlantic hurricane season is here again, and while I don’t like to play “whose natural disaster is worse?” with my friends on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, I do have one thing good to say about hurricanes versus earthquakes and tornadoes: hurricanes come with a bit more warning. Rather than storing water for seven or…
Storm Surge: The Most Dangerous Part of Hurricanes
One feature that makes Atlantic beaches so appealing to sun-bathers and shell-seekers is their long, gentle slope, so different from the sharp, dramatic drop-off along much of the Pacific coast. This long gradual elevation means that a person can travel for miles inland and still be less than 10 feet above sea level. During Atlantic…