Emergency Preparedness
Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen the devastation the wildfires have caused in Los Angeles. People have lost their homes and entire life’s possessions all in a matter of moments. In 2018, my college university community of Chico experienced similar disaster and heartbreak when Paradise, CA burned down. I remember seeing photos of the Chico sky ominously covered in dark ash and videos of people fleeing the flames, barely making it out alive. Humboldt County had a 7.0 magnitude earthquake this past December which triggered a tsunami warning along the California coast. Luckily, we didn’t have to evacuate. But, what if this could have been a similar scenario to what we saw in North Carolina this past year — water flooding in and creating havoc, ruining a community and taking peoples’ lives. All of these natural disasters have made me realize how unprepared I am if we do experience a disaster that forces us to evacuate. So, I have decided I need to consciously think about what that would look like and what that would mean for my family and our possessions. I want to ensure I have plan for a potential future disaster.
These incidents force people to put things into perspective and ask yourself, “what is most important to me in my life?” Whether we are talking about our material possessions or our people and communities, it benefits us to take stock of the important things in your life. Obviously, you, your family, friends — the people are what truly matter. And, what has been made clear to me is that there is always an abundance of possessions: clothes, furniture, household items, etc. that can usually be replaced. However, there are those special things in peoples’ lives that are irreplaceable. And, I noticed that when these disasters happen most people feel completely caught off guard. Many people don’t have a plan for these type of events - you never think it’s going to happen to you. And while life (human / animal) is the most important thing to protect, it makes sense to think about the special things in your life that you might also want to preserve if you have the opportunity. If you are given notice to evacuate and you have time to safely grab some items, what would they be?
Here are some things I am starting to consolidate so that I can take them with me in the event of an evacuation:
Meaningful letters and cards from throughout the years, my elementary school paperwork, and my children’s baby books, all consolidated in a medium sized plastic tote
Several small photo boxes that contain photos I’ve received from my mother / father and from my own from my adolescence (my sister also suggested placing these in a fireproof box)
Important documents, i.e. birth certificates, passports, and our family trust, also all contained in a small plastic tote box (also could benefit from a fireproof box)
A small jewelry box that once belonged to my great-grandmother containing meaningful jewelry
A small selection of blankets (crocheted afghans that my grandmother and I have made)
Electronics: laptop, phone, iPad, and chargers
Wallet (including our ID’s and insurance cards) and emergency money
Diaper bags and a small bag of clothes for each adult / kid
I shared this list with some friends and one made a good suggestion to add a first aid kit to this list, which got me thinking about another natural disaster we had recently experienced. In December 2022, while living here in Humboldt County, we experienced another large (6.4 magnitude) earthquake. The entire house shook, and I thought the whole house was going to slide down into the gulch that was our backyard. Thankfully we didn’t, but we were without power for a couple days with a small baby. It’s scary to be in the cold with your family, feeling like you have nowhere to go to be safe and warm. The only places with power were those that had a generator.
This incident spurred a whole new thought process for me about emergency preparedness and planning. The list above details the important things I would take with me if our house were to be compromised. But, what if it’s a different type of emergency; what if it’s the services that we rely on that are compromised? Mostly I think about losing power, or even the chaos of the 2020 pandemic and stores running out of important necessities. That’s made me think about off-grid living and/or being prepared in other ways. But, I think that’s a bigger topic for another day.
In the meantime, the list above makes me feel better. I know that if we were to evacuate and leave our home, I’ve taken time to identify the most important and irreplaceable items, and I am gathering them together in an organized fashion so that I can easily throw them in the car if we ever need to do so. My heart truly goes out to those who not only lost their homes, but just as importantly, their sense of safety and security. I do know there are atrocities happening all over the world. People live in fear, without homes, their lives at risk; so in the grand scheme of things, the possessions are never really that important. Life truly is the most meaningful gift we have - our families, our children, our friends. But, it doesn’t mean these events aren’t sad, and I have compassion for those experiencing these losses here in California and elsewhere. I encourage everyone to think about what you would do if something like this were to happen to you. If anything, it may give you some peace of mind and possibly save those truly special possessions in your life in the event of disaster.
