Philip Churchill on Preparation, Essay 1, January 3, 2007

Alan mentioned that his essay on "appropriate technology" brought several complaints that it was too philosophical and requests were made for step by step plans for dealing with a crisis situation. And since Alan has labeled me a "preparedness expert", he asked me what I thought about it. So I've decided to write a little about what preparedness means to me and how to become prepared.

According to the dictionary "preparedness" means "a state of readiness" Pretty vague. The second definition I found was "a plan of action". I like this definition better. So how do we make our plan of action? The first thing we need to do is decide what type or types of crisis we want to prepare for. These types will vary according to our location or the location of our home. There are five main area types- desert, forest, seashore or coastal, mountains and plains scattered across the US in various combinations. Plus there are several climate zones to consider. Also whether we are in a city or a rural area. The second thing we need to look at is frequency of crisis events. Make a list of possible events starting with the most likely and ending with the least likely. For instance, if you live on the coast you're likely to see a hurricane or tropical storm. Where if you live in the mountains you're unlikely to face a tidal wave.

Weather related events are most common, starting with floods, mudslides, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes and drought, in that order. Natural events such as forest fires and earthquakes are next. And finally, Manmade events such as terrorist attacks, economic collapse and peak oil.

The third thing we need to consider is the duration of a crisis. The effects of a flood or blizzard can last from a couple of days to a week or more, while an event such as economic collapse could last years. The fourth thing we need to do is study actual crisis events such as Hurricane Katrina, The San Francisco Earthquake, the Donner Party. Decide what was done right and what was done wrong. (I mention the Donner Party because it provides a gruesome example of what can happen when people are not prepared. They tried to cross the mountains in late fall with insufficient supplies despite being warned not to and were caught in heavy snow. Most of the party perished from starvation and the survivors turned to cannibalism. The real tragedy to me is the fact that they were surrounded by pine trees. Pine needles can be used to make a tea high in vitamin C and the inner bark is edible. They starved to death surrounded by food.)

The fifth thing we need to do is think about what skills or training we need. A course in CPR or first aid is an excellent start. Books on edible plants and wilderness survival are recommended. Basic carpentry and mechanic skills are good. The more things you know how to make or repair the better of you'll be. If you know a friend or relative that is a craftsman or outdoorsman, ask them to teach you a few of the basics. After that you can decide how far you want to take your training. I don't expect everyone to take it as far as I have, I've been studying and training for over 35 years, since I was 7 or 8 years old. But take it as far as you can. Above all, practice what you learn. Practice until you're comfortable with what you know. In a crisis, it's much easier if you don't have to stop and think "how was that done again?".

The sixth thing we need to do is think about what kind of supplies we need. Food and medicine are priorities. Clothing is neccessary but I don't give it a high priority. Most of us have more than we need. The onlyexception is when traveling in cold weather. I can't tell you how many people I've seen stranded in a snowbank in subzero weather with only light clothes and tennis shoes.

When stocking up supplies for the home, start small. Start with enough supplies for a week or ten days. When you're confident you can handle a crisis of that length, start thinking about what you'll need for longer periods. Stock up on candles, matches, flashlights (I like the ones you shake or crank a handle to charge). Supplies of gasoline require a stabilizing agent if kept longer than three or four months.

And finally, we should work on changing our thinking and attitudes. Try to look at things in a positive light. If you're in a crisis and you start thinking "I hate being cold, wet, hungry, etc." or start to doubt that you've prepared enough, you're going to be in for a rough time. Instead start thinking ways you can get warm or look for food. Be glad you did tale steps to prepare. At the very least, tell yourself "I'm alive and as long as I'm alive everthing is OK". Try to be flexible in your thinking, realize there is more than one solution to a problem. Start thinking about crisis scenarios and ask yourself the question "What would I do if". As you go through your daily routine look at different objects and ask yourself "What other uses can I use that for?" or "What can I make with or from that?". After awhile you'll automatically think of a half dozen uses for something as soon as you see it.

Well, I think I've said enough for now. This is only a rough guideline on preparedness. Everyone will have to decide for themselves what fits their situation. Thanks for reading. Philip

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