Planning for the Unthinkable
Planning for the unthinkable is a term used to describe stress-free preparation for an unexpected event such as natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or a pandemic. Though the United States has not seen any domestic attacks for decades, many warn that this does not mean we should stop preparing. In fact, planning for the unthinkable is becoming more important than ever because of recent events in the world and its already fragile state.
This article discusses why planning for the unthinkable is so important and reviews numerous resources you can use to prepare yourself and your family both at home and in your community.
Why should I plan?
Events like the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the bombing attempts of Christmas Day 2009 have sent our nation into a heightened state of alert. Though these events have not been at our own doorstep in decades (or ever), they have shown us that we are still vulnerable. The government has prepared response plans and emergency coordination both nationally and locally. According to the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there are nearly 400 task forces made up of nearly 50 states and territories with over 790 local emergency planning committees. In fact, a recent statistic showed that half of the nation's 10 million public safety agencies are now participating in an emergency preparedness drill.
How can I prepare?
Though you should always be prepared for whatever might come your way, there are a few ways you can prepare yourself and your family:
1. Be concerned about possible disasters – As mentioned earlier, many groups have been formed to help in the case of an emergency. You can join these groups and receive training on different aspects of disaster planning at no cost or even for free if you live in certain places like Hawaii or Alaska. You can also purchase a FEMA Individual Preparedness Plan and get even more detailed advice on disaster readiness by going online at www.ready.gov.
2. Form a plan – One of the most important steps you can take toward emergency preparedness is to form a plan with your family and discuss what you would do if disaster struck. This way, you will know who will go where (evacuation station), how you will communicate (check-in procedure), and what goods to take with you in case of evacuation or sheltering in place. This will also help in case of personal disaster, as knowing who is being cared for has been shown to relieve stress for the caregiver.
3. Be ready – The second step in emergency planning is being prepared. Plan what you will do in your home, workplace, and community to allow you to be available if an emergency arises. This can mean having a set of supplies on hand or simply knowing where people are located and how to reach them.
4. Know your resources – If a natural disaster strikes where you live, there are certain communities that have been designated as disaster response centers for immediate help after an event has occurred. You can learn more about these centers by visiting www.disastercenter.com or by contacting your local office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-3362 (24 hours).
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Conclusion
Whether your concern is with natural disasters or terrorism, it is important to be aware of any possible dangers and to prepare yourself and your family. Being prepared will allow you to respond quickly in case of an emergency, as every second matters when lives are at stake.
To find more resources and tips on preparing yourself and your family, visit ehow's article on how to plan for the unthinkable: http://www.ehow.com/how_2177_plan-unthinkable.html . In addition, the following sites may help you learn about different aspects of planning for an emergency:
https://www.ready.