by Elva Valenzuela
Sometimes when disaster strikes it will leave you, literally, in the dark and in the cold. That's a worst-case scenario but it's a good place to start. Ask yourself how prepared you are for a situation where you're at home and, due to weather or some catastrophic event, you can't leave... and then the lights go out. Emergencies like this can occur at any time of year and for many different reasons and, like most everything else in life, the more prepared you are the better off you and your family will be.
In 2003 a blackout struck several communities in the United States. People were surprised to find themselves not only without electricity but without water pressure or, in some cases, without phone service -- even cell phones were unusable in many areas because the blackout effected the towers that are responsible for relaying the cell phone signal. Millions found themselves totally unprepared for such a situation and panicked -- and that was just a simple blackout. What would your situation be? How about if the blackout and/or the situation that caused it lasted for three or four days and travel was either unsafe or impossible?
In the summer most people would be in a better position. Most healthy people can put up with the summer heat, without air conditioning by finding ways or places to cool off. In the winter, however, you would fight a constant, physically exhausting battle against the cold with the only thing to do being to add extra layers of clothes or use blankets. The very young or the elderly or chronically ill are in more danger any time of year. But the more prepared you are for a situation like this or for a disaster in general, the better off you will be and the better your chances of surviving until emergency services can handle the situation, restore your power or at least evacuate you to a safe, climate-controlled environment.
I like to see a home like this, a home connected with people’s thoughts and work, things they love.
—Dewitt Bodeen (1908–1988)
The Plan! Your family needs a contingency plan in the event of a disaster or a just simple black out.
If you have children at school or day care and no phone service you'll have to assume they will be safe there, well taken care of and returned home as soon as travel is possible.
Have more than 1/2 tank of gas in your car at all times. If an emergency like a blackout strikes and travel is not advisable but still possible in response to a life-threatening situation, remember that you can't get gas for your car if gas stations have no electricity.
If communication is out, have a message center set up in the house so everyone knows what everyone else is doing and where they are at. Nothing is worse than having a "missing" family member and having no way to communicate with him or her.
In colonial America, the father was the primary parent. . . . Over the past two hundred years, each generation of fathers has had less authority than the last. . . . Masculinity ceased to be defined in terms of domestic involvement, skills at fathering and husbanding, but began to be defined in terms of making money. Men had to leave home to work. They stopped doing all the things they used to do.
—Frank Pittman (20th century)
Always have a stock of emergency supplies ready, even if you don't live in an area that is prone to severe weather emergencies -- emergencies can happen any time, anywhere. Some essentials are food that doesn't have to be cooked or food that can be warmed up on a Sterno stove or a propane stove; water: at least three gallons for each family member... and, if possible, fill the bathtub with extra water as soon as you can; a complete first aid kit and first aid guide; extra clothing and blankets; flash lights, extra batteries, candles and matches (stored in a water-tight container); and a battery powered radio so you can get current information about the emergency.
If you live in a location where the nature of the emergency is most likely to be a winter blizzard, it would be a great idea to have a propane room heater, or have a wood burning stove installed -- assuming you don't have a fire place.
Defense considerations. The family should confine itself to just a few rooms and one adult should always be home with children at all times -- remember, some people are panicking and their actions are unpredictable. It's a good time to seriously consider self defense and home defense. In emergency situations, desperate people can be your greatest danger. Defending your home and family is your most essential job. Take a look at the Home Defense News for tips on securing your home: http://www.homedefensenews.com/.