Inquisitive Minds Want To Know...

What are the basics of emergency preparedness

in a retirement apartment building?

Here's a poster that boils it all down:

source 

In some 'independent living' retirement apartments, 

many residents lack ready access to the following:

Information

1) Important facts regarding likely local disaster scenarios 

2) Easily understandable instructions ("infographics") regarding what is expected of them as individuals in a building-wide emergency

3) Who of their neighbors will be most able to help as well as who will need the most assistance on a floor-by-floor basis

source

A Plan

1) What plans already exist in the broader neighborhood and community?

2) What minimum emergency response team structure* is appropriate for our building?

3) What is the most expeditious way to recruit and train those interested in participating on each floor?

A Grab-n-Go-Kit

Priority one: 

Put together a 72-hour kit in case there is a need to evacuate the building.

Priority two: 

Lay in personal supplies in the delightful event that we actually get to "shelter in place".

Priority three:

Coordinate with neighbors on our floor regarding pooled resources ('stone soup').

source

*A sampling of campus housing and student evacuation plans:

Floor Captain Safety Liaison (UT, SanAntonio, TX)

Floor Evacuation Coordinator (CSU, Chico, CA) 

Emergency Preparedness (OSU, Corvallis, OR)

Emergency Procedures (UO, Eugene, OR)

Plus:
A nifty little PowerPoint presentation called Emergency Evacuation by the State of North Dakota...

Oh yes,

and they all lived happily ever after...

A shift in perspective

As the weeks go by ~ and still no 'Really Big One' Hallelujah!!! ~ the light of thankfulness shines in my heart. We all need 'wake up' calls from time to time, yes? I truly appreciated The New Yorker article's author, Kathryn Schulz, following up 8 days later with: 'How to Stay Safe When the Big One Comes'. Ms. Schulz mentions navigating "between the twin obstacles of panic (which makes you do all the wrong things) and fatalism (which makes you do nothing)."

It is interesting to me that, following a tenant's newsletter piece about emergency preparedness, there was -- at last report -- very little initial response from the residents of this retirement apartment complex (2 out of 250). Huh. Perhaps aging lends itself well to fatalism?? A very unscientific sampling of opinions netted responses from, "I'm not interested in apocalyptic thinking", to "We'll lock the doors to our hallway to keep everyone else out". Again, huh.

 

source

A trolling of the web for preparedness information nets many 'hoarding' recommendations. I suppose that is worldly-wise in many instances, given the massive scale of destruction possible on this planet coupled with the need to protect and provide for oneself and one's family. The spirit of hoarding doesn't set well with me, however.

A 'share and share alike' model is far more practical and practicable in this place of very close neighbors. If organized by floor, the sheer number of people and things is far more manageable to consider. We can assess who we are, what skills we can contribute, what supplies we are willing to share, and what challenges we may face without being overwhelmed by the enormity of what we are undertaking.

In theory, at least! Onward and upward!!

Connecting with the neighbors in a retirement community

Reflecting on how to connect with my neighbors, it became clear that there would be widely varying responses to my initiating a dialog regarding disaster preparedness. Thus, doing significant research and planning would be warranted prior to any public presentation.

In the event of a disaster scenario affecting the whole neighborhood,  

three types of individual preparation would be important to consider.

Mental preparation likely encompasses:
- Considering realistic scenarios (updated, current information)
- Identifying areas of provision needed (“everyday carry”, journey/”Go” bag, shelter-in-place supplies)
- Prioritizing what time, energy and financial resources you are willing to invest in preparedness

Physical preparation can mean:
- Taking time for building your bodily strength, flexibility and endurance
- Making a shopping/procurement list for items needed
- Designating containers and storage space, and gathering and organizing supplies

Spiritual readiness is very personal and may include:
- Working on honest self-assessment
- Staying connected with those you trust
- Taking care of ‘unfinished business’ (ref. medical) Dr. Ira Byock - http://irabyock.org/

(To whom would you say,
“Please forgive me.”
“I forgive you.”
“Thank you.”
“I love you.”?)

An introductory meeting with one neighbor proved delightful, as we sensitively and respectfully explored what we as members of this retirement community were likely facing, given the recent alerts regarding the Cascadia Subduction Zone. We tossed around ideas/possible scenarios regarding  how and when to connect with others of like mind in the 250-person complex. It seemed good to us to think about floor-by-floor preparedness with a view to sharing resources among floor residents in the event that we were stranded with no outside help available for any length of time.

Closing in on a strategy...

Have been refining and re-working this blog. It was too cluttered with peripherals, and not simple enough. There are many, many more preparedness websites, companies and resources than there were a couple of years ago when my blogging effort began. There is no need for me to reproduce what's already out there.

source

I want to try a trial run with the Abraham Backpack "simple starter kit" first before making a comprehensive 'Bug Out Bag' (72-hour refugee kit) and certainly before tackling the 'Shelter-in-Place' supplies or a 'survival kit' for camping in the wild.

Would you like to play this weekend?

The Portable Word

Supplies for critical thinking and thought control

A number of loved ones travel long distances as part of their employment, education and recreational pursuits. In addition to their own preparations, something very small and sleek can be added that will remind them that they are mightily loved, being thought of and held in prayer every day they are away.

If one does not have any other Bible to pack, 

the following reading material is highly recommended.
This small volume fits nicely into a quart-sized zip-lock bag
with enough room to spare for other important documents.

LivingWater

The book can be read online:

A free copy can be delivered by mail:

Also, a free PDF can be found HERE.

An additional resource for obtaining this booklet is Free Word Ministries.

"Gone in 60 Seconds"

Read an interesting article about a woman's experience 

with developing a 'disaster-prepared' mindset. 

She asks:

"Could you prepare to be out of your home in sixty seconds?   “Gone in Sixty Seconds” was a popular 1970’s movie about a desperate master thief who learned to steal a car within seconds. If a crook can learn to do it, then we can make it our goal to have enough prepared that we could flee at a moment’s notice."

Her heart for her family shines through as she tells the story of her wake-up call to create 'bug out bags' for every member, including the dog.

The title "Gone in 60 Seconds" also triggered for me mental images of recent news stories related to cataclysmic weather events: the earth scrubbed in a flash, whole huge areas of land decimated by what can only be described as 'acts of God'. 

I find myself asking: 

How do we prepare for a time when everything around us 

is gone but our lives have been spared? 

There may be a time when the only 'backpacks' we have are in the realm of the spirit, 

and the only aid we can expect is supernatural provision from our original Source.

I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.

Psalm 123:1

source

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 

the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

And immediately the father of the boy crying out, with tears said: 

I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief. 

Mark 9:24

Just as a father has compassion on his children, 

So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 

For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

Psalm 103:13,14

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, 

which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Homemade first aid kits for children

Supplies for wound remedy, healing and restoration to functionality

 

Make Mini First Aid Kits

source

What You’ll Need for the container:
A travel soap dish
Stickers
One large band aid (Not too small; it should be large enough to write your child's name.)
A felt tip pen or magic marker (Pick a fun color.)

First Aid Supplies:
3 Self-adhesive bandages (We like the kinds that have cartoons on them. Anything to make a boo-boo feel better.)
2 Antiseptic wipes (Make sure it's ouch-less to clean the wound.)
2 Antibiotic wipes (To prevent infection.)
1 small roll of sterile gauze
Purell hand sanitizer
Adhesive tape
1 Eye wash
2 Packets of burn gel
2 Insect bite ointment wipes
Plastic Tweezers
Travel size sunscreen suitable for children
3x5 card with important names and phone numbers (If possible have it laminated.)

Make the kit:
Adhere the large bandage on the top of your travel soap dish.
Write your child's name on the band aid.
Decorate the box with stickers. (Throw a few stickers in with the first aid kit. Stickers just seem to make everything better).
Place your supplies inside the box, close tight and you're done.

Teach your child:

Go over everything in the kit with your child and make sure they know how to use it.

Thank you to whomever first published the original PDF for this project: 

"From your friends at www.all-things-first-aid.com", 

a website that can no longer be found.

Look in Your House

Read 2 Kings 4:1-7 about the prophet Elisha 

and the Widow of a Prophet. 

 
source

Here is a children's version of the same story:

Free Stories

I appreciate this woman's exposition::

Look In Your House

What do we have in our houses already?

source

May the Lord inspire us to use and share 
what we've been given 

in new and wonderful ways.