So, I am sitting here watching Tevo'd episodes of Disaster Preppers, and it has me wondering how many people are actually trying to prepare for potential disasters. It is 2012 after all, and many people believe this is the year we will face Doomsday, those who believe we will face massive natural disasters, those who believe we are facing imminent financial collapse within the next few years, and yet others who believe the government will insigate martial law to control our increasingly discontented population. Whatever form the Doomspeakers believe the "end of our world" will take, there are many interesting (some frightening) approaches and attitudes out there about what the proper methods of preparing are or whether or not it is wacky to even think about prepping for disaster.
Personally I have never wanted to believe in disaster or conspiracy theories, but I sometimes question whether that attitude is essentially irresponsible. It seems our national zeitgeist about preparedness started getting lax about the same time the Cold War ended. Apparently all that preparation (remember the nuclear war drills we had to do in school back in the 70's and early 80's) was only necessary as long as the Soviet Union was aiming its missiles at us. Does that mean, however, that we no longer face the same types and levels of threat? What about world overpopulation, the potential for biological warfare or terrorism, economic collapse, food and water shortages, natural disaster?
I can't help replaying scenes of the turmoil in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. What would I have done to keep my family safe, free from disease, and able to eat and drink? Perhaps a little more preparedness isn't a wacky idea? Perhaps it is the responsible thing to do to ensure that should the unthinkable happen we don't become a burden on our friends and neighbors. Perhaps it is the responsible thing to do to make sure we are able to sustain our own families for a minimum amount of time should the worst occur. Perhaps we are wacky to NOT do something, after all we have been taught since we were young that we should save our pennies for a rainy day haven't we?
I don't know, my husband and I are of two separate minds on this matter. Frankly he thinks I'm nuts for even worrying about it; his faith in our American way of life has no bounds. I on the other hand am more cynical. Perhaps I will just start adding a few extra items to our grocery list each time we visit the markets to make sure we at least have the basic essentials of an emergency kit on hand. At least then I won't feel totally vulnerable!
For Fema's suggestions on what you should do to prepare yourself for an emergency situation, visit this website: http://www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm.
Personally I have never wanted to believe in disaster or conspiracy theories, but I sometimes question whether that attitude is essentially irresponsible. It seems our national zeitgeist about preparedness started getting lax about the same time the Cold War ended. Apparently all that preparation (remember the nuclear war drills we had to do in school back in the 70's and early 80's) was only necessary as long as the Soviet Union was aiming its missiles at us. Does that mean, however, that we no longer face the same types and levels of threat? What about world overpopulation, the potential for biological warfare or terrorism, economic collapse, food and water shortages, natural disaster?
I can't help replaying scenes of the turmoil in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. What would I have done to keep my family safe, free from disease, and able to eat and drink? Perhaps a little more preparedness isn't a wacky idea? Perhaps it is the responsible thing to do to ensure that should the unthinkable happen we don't become a burden on our friends and neighbors. Perhaps it is the responsible thing to do to make sure we are able to sustain our own families for a minimum amount of time should the worst occur. Perhaps we are wacky to NOT do something, after all we have been taught since we were young that we should save our pennies for a rainy day haven't we?
I don't know, my husband and I are of two separate minds on this matter. Frankly he thinks I'm nuts for even worrying about it; his faith in our American way of life has no bounds. I on the other hand am more cynical. Perhaps I will just start adding a few extra items to our grocery list each time we visit the markets to make sure we at least have the basic essentials of an emergency kit on hand. At least then I won't feel totally vulnerable!
For Fema's suggestions on what you should do to prepare yourself for an emergency situation, visit this website: http://www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm.
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