Cyclone, flash flood, tornado, wind-storm, bushfire, hurricane, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other kinds of natural disasters can catch you off-guard and send you up shit creek in a barbed wire canoe without a paddle.
Picture a circumstance in which hundreds of trees crash through hundreds of roofs, the power grid goes down for days, roads are blocked by fallen timber or flood water, and the mobile phone network has no service.
If you think that situations like these won’t happen to you, consider the September 2016 black-out in South Australia where a widespread power outage occurred as a result of storm damage to electricity transmission infrastructure. There were 80,000 lightning strikes over a 24 hour? period along with tornadoes and wind speeds reaching up to 260km/h which knocked out 22 high-voltage power pylons, leaving 1.7 million residents without power.
If we’re serious about dealing with the unexpected, it pays to think ahead. For example, those of us who live in areas prone to tropical storms, cyclones or bushfires have probably already established precautions to protect our infrastructure. Whether it’s clearing firebreaks or building our houses in compliance with requisite standards to survive high winds and storm surges.
But preparation needs to go beyond protecting our bricks and mortar. We need to have plans and habits of behavior that position us to respond calmly and effectively when nature strikes.
So, ask yourself this: What if the electricity grid were to go down or your mobile phone reception was to cease? How would you find out what was going on? How would you connect with family and friends? What if the kids were at school, you were at work and your partner was - who knows where else? And what would you do if someone was injured and the roads were closed? Would you have the right medical supplies? What would you eat and drink if you couldn’t resupply at the local shops? There are many variables, and that’s precisely the point. You have to ask yourself – What if?
Once you’ve thought about what you need to do in an emergency, it’s time to put your preparations into place. Now. Before the emergency actually occurs.
One simple step is to create black-out kit with candles, matches, torch and batteries. Then run a drill to see if you can find them in the dark. Do this with the kids too. They’ll probably love the novelty of the activity and, having done it in ‘normal’ conditions, they’ll be less likely to panic when shit gets real.
Next: check your First Aid kit. Is it fit for purpose considering the emergency events that you may face and the particular needs of you and your family? Whether it’s dramatic loss of blood, shock, puncture injuries or pre-existing medical conditions, an emergency situation is not the time to be groping around looking for a makeshift pressure bandage or an EpiPen.
Consider too the purchase of a fireproof safe. These days they come in all sizes and shapes and don’t need to be expensive. At the very least, your bank details, mortgage and insurance papers, birth certificates and-the-like should be stored in a fire-proof container rather than in a filing cabinet in your bedroom. Fire can strike anyone, anywhere - whether due to bushfire or simple electrical failure.
When it comes to the need for food, water and warmth, ensure that you always have access to a 72 hour supply for each person. AMK SOL makes a great Go bag called the Urban Survivor. It holds items such as long life water satchels, energy bars, First Aid kit, whistle, and more. It even has a toothbrush and toothpaste! Perfect for the car or office.
At home, you’ll need more of everything – because you may find yourself responsible for more people for a longer duration. Water is the first thing to consider with a minimum of four litres per person per day? Consider keeping some in your freezer so that it will help the other contents stay colder for longer. And when it comes to food – keep non-perishable supplies in cans or boxed away, ready for when you need them. Staples like rice, flour, sugar and salt can form the basis of meals supplemented by tinned meats and vegetables and food you may be able to forage.
When it comes to finding out what’s going on in an emergency, remember that your local ABC radio channel will be transmitting information and advice from authorities. So a small battery operated radio is a must!
If any of this sounds daunting, think again. You’ll probably find that much of what you need is already dotted around your home. So it’s a matter of gathering it into one place so you can find it when you need to. As for items that you’re missing, start collecting them every time you shop in order to spread the cost. And check-out your local charity shops. In today’s throw-away society, it’s amazing how much serviceable kit you can find in second-hand stores.
In all of this, remember too that the difference between a successful emergency response and a really bad day is likely to turn on whether you’re mentally prepared to deal with the unexpected. And changing your mindset doesn’t cost a penny. It just takes commitment.
So, consider the second and third-order effects of nature’s strange sense of humor and adopt the motto of the Scout Movement: ‘Be Prepared’. Who knows: one day, your life or your loved ones’ may depend on it.
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