We humans are notoriously bad at predicting the future. I personally was blindsided by all three of the life-threatening crises we faced in 2020 in western Oregon – a global pandemic, a deadly heat dome, and an air quality crisis from wildfires that made it unsafe to go outdoors or even open the windows. Disaster preparedness in our region, such as it is, has been focused on preparations for a major earthquake. And certainly, given the seismic history of the Pacific Northwest, there could be a catastrophic earthquake here anytime. But the next disaster might also be something no one is thinking much about.
As the climate destabilizes along with America’s political and social fabric, I’ve been wondering if it’s possible to prepare for events you never saw coming.
Maybe, maybe not. I really have no idea. But here is what I do know: Taking actions to increase our household’s disaster preparedness and resilience feels worthwhile and empowering. So I’ve developed a kind of three way test to decide what steps to take.
- Does the action have benefits in some imaginable crisis situation?
- Does the action have other benefits that I can feel or see in my daily life?
- Is the action relatively easy and affordable?
Here are some of the actions I’ve taken because the answer was yes to all three questions. I put together a go bag. I put a box in the back of my car with several bottles of water, an emergency blanket, a map, a large garbage bag, and a few snacks. We now keep one of our vehicles fully fueled up and ready should we need to leave quickly. I bought a radio that can be recharged with a solar battery or by winding a crank. I made a list of things to grab in case of an evacuation and put it on my bulletin board. I started maintaining a non-perishable food supply in our garage that includes about a week’s worth of water and gas for our camping stove. We also put together an earthquake kit in a big duffel bag.
There are other things I’m giving extra attention to as I focus more on resilience. These include gardening for food and pollinators, connecting more with our neighbors, shopping more at the farmers’ markets, and seeking other ways to build and support a vibrant local food system. I signed up for emergency text alerts from the city and county. We have a fully electrified home, so I was able to get the gas line to our house shut off permanently.
I’ve also been thinking about ways to connect with other people nearby who want to build local resilience and share ideas and support. I haven’t found a local resilience group yet, so it’s possible I’ll need to try to start one. That’s a topic for another day!
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