Now, perhaps more than any time in recent memory, people are paying attention to the increasing number of major natural disasters and incidents of social unrest which has plagued many countries around the globe, and it raises the question of how to survive this type of incident if it happened to us. Much of the social unrest is based on economic strife or ethnic conflicts, both of which could realistically ignite in any western country. No one can predict with any degree of certainty when social unrest is going to strike or what will serve as the catalyst, but when it does strike the potential for widespread chaos and violence is significant.
Adding to the mix was the recent incident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant which brought to life, again, the potential damage that a nuclear power plant mishap can cause, and the subsequent impact it has on the regional population. Imagine a worst case scenario at a nuclear power plant and how that would impact the survival of regional populations. Then of course there’s the increasing number of earthquakes (some in totally unexpected regions) which some experts say is leading up to a major, earth changing 10.0 mega earthquake. Those remarks resemble the experts who predict that global warming is setting earth up for more and more tsunamis and perhaps even a “Doomsday Tsunami” as some call it. Whether or not preparations could allow us to survive this type of incident isn’t the point, it’s that without preparation there is very little chance of survival.
Many people face very real and very significant localized natural threats, like the enormous occurrence of tornadoes that struck the United States in 2011. It hasn’t been too long since Mt. St Helen erupted and of course a major eruption from any volcano could spell disaster on regional crops and livestock, not to mention human life. And finally there’s the ever imminent threat of terrorist activity at every level and in every country around the globe. These groups will stop at nothing and have proven they’ll give their lives for the destruction or infliction of damage on their enemies.
Some experts argue that the multitude of ways that such an enemy can harm a population is so immense that it’s difficult to imagine that at some point they won’t be successful. But of course there’s little that you and I can do about a single one of these threats, right? Well, to a degree that’s correct. But what we can do is prepare for what happens after an event… any event. After all, it’s our duty to ensure that our families are protected and that we can provide for their well being and security, but surprisingly very few homes are prepared for even basic emergencies, let alone a major one.
It’s ironic that life insurance is a billion dollar industry based solely on people’s understanding that stuff happens, and that while the chance of a life altering injury or death is incredibly small, people far and wide spend the money to hedge that bet. Preparing for a disaster or emergency is really no different, and the cost and effort to prepare is so minor that it begs the question why people don’t do a better job preparing for their family’s survival.
I believe the answer is that people don’t know what to do or how to prepare. We know about life insurance and there are agents every where ready to sell us a policy for every conceivable situation, but where does an average person go to “prepare” for an emergency or disaster? In this regard the government should do a better job educating the public on better self-reliance, because the truth is most of us rely on almost everything being provided for us, from electricity and water to food, clothing and everything else. It is clear that a majority of the western world has lost touch with basic skills and the knowledge necessary to provide for themselves, whether it be planting crops or hunting and preparing wild game.
It is the responsibility of every person to avail themselves to the resources around them so that they can take basic steps in emergency preparedness. Hopefully as more and more people bring this matter to light, like this article does, then people will become more receptive to the true need for emergency preparation and the significance of that choice. I’m no doomsdayer, and I think most of that is marketing hype, but I have seen first hand the devastation of local and regional disasters and so I know what basic preparation can mean to a family.