(Sequel to: A Frankenstorm Warning, or One Gallon, Per Person, Per Day)
There are four generally understood survival necessities: Water, Fire, Shelter, Food. Food is often last since most humans can survive longer without it than water or shelter from rain and cold. The other three move up or down depending on the situation. If you happen to find yourself stuck in a snowdrift in your car overnight with no gas, you may need a fire both to help authorities find you and to stay warm. In a drawn out survival scenario you will need clean water, this may still mean you need fire first so you can boil the water for 3 or 4 minutes and make it safe. In bad weather shelter may be first. If you're home like many of us on the eastern seaboard during Hurricane Sandy, without electricity, you might be less concerned with shelter and more concerned with water or food.
Morale is the fifth survival necessity many forget. Without it, there's little energy for making tough choices. If you have a young child, as I do, you know boredom can actually become dangerous because it makes everyone careless. When kids get agitated or throw endless tantrums it depletes our mental faculties. We joke about it, but it's true. Under duress - no electric and/or heat, no gas, long lines for supplies - we don't always sleep well. Add children screaming or whining all day, every day to an already stressful situation and you have the perfect recipe for a loss of good judgement.
A silly example: I made decaf and regular coffee one morning during the storm as a morale booster (the house had been dark for days and it was wearing on us all). I thought I was paying attention to what I was doing, but somehow at the end of a laborious process that involved using a mortar and pestle to grind coffee beans, I ended up putting the decaf and caf together in a caraf without thinking. Hardly a major disaster, but the episode, miniscule as it was, reminded me again how quickly we become forgetful or clumsy, or flustered when the world pushes us out of our comfort zone. Had I mixed boiled water with unboiled it could have been a bigger problem.
Several hospitals were shut down this time around. Use your imagination. When disasters come in groups, things can get bad quickly. Some of us have the idea that only something really big will create a major disaster scenario. A total failing of government. World War Three. But if the SARS epidemic had coincided with a major hurricane and closing of major hospitals, we'd be well on our way to a disaster of epic proportions.
We can all use this storm to help us prepare for the next disaster. Stock up on dried and canned goods and water, create a good first aid kit for your home, purse and car, take care of your health since you can't care for others if you don't, and think ahead.
Links:
Disaster Prep:
http://deviprotectiveoffense.com/know_your_disaster/
http://www.allstate.com/be-aware-and-prepare/hurricane-tornado-damage-prevention.aspx
Skills and Training:
http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class
First Aid Lists:
http://mommyandmeselfdefense.com/diy_first_aid_kits/
Supplies: