Planning Together Can Be A Good Thing
By Tom Herrin
Whether people are planners or do things on the spur of the moment, some things have to have planning to be successful. For those who witnessed the recent events caused by hurricanes, there were striking examples of those who fell on either side of that coin. Even though people in Virginia may not have been as unfortunate as those near Houston, now would be a great time to re-evaluate any emergency plans and try to find ways to improve them. After all, for some people, a good plan is the only thing that may separate them from a serious crisis.
Use The Help Available
With all of the resources around these days that are dedicated to preparing for emergencies, most people have little excuse for failing to have a plan in place. All it takes is tapping those resources, doing a personal needs assessment, and getting people involved. When more people are involved in developing a plan, it is more likely to be carried out because of the stakeholders who have invested their time and efforts. It is never necessary to start from scratch but simply to build on what others have discovered to work.
Have The Most Essential Components
The basics of emergency plans don’t really change much, since the basic human needs don’t vary much from place to place. Everyone needs water. Bottled water to last a few days should be the first thing on the list. Without it, nothing else will be of much use. Food that does not require cooking should be next. It should also be in easy open containers. First aid supplies should be included along with some instructions or training on how to use them. One more thing that could be needed are copies of important papers.
Communication Problems Are Likely
Even in these days when almost everyone has some kind of device for communicating, most are dependent upon power and cell towers. If any of that is disrupted, the ability to communicate will change. Everyone should really have a list of phone numbers and email addresses for family members and any other pertinent contacts. If people are separated, they should be able to resume communication when things are restored. Even if they stay in shelters, there are usually ways to locate people within them. If you haven’t brushed up on your plan, now would be a great time to get everyone involved.
Also important is being in good health to withstand the turmoil your life will be in. Don't take your health for granted, either. It may save your life.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Stafford, Va.