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Welcome to our Question and Answer postings, a dynamic forum for people to have their questions answered by a group of "wise ones". Our experts bring a rich and diverse background of skills and knowledge gained from years of experience living and breathing what they talk about. Click to Meet our Experts 

It is my desire that the Weekly Wisdom  Forum will reach out to a sea of people of all ages, from different backgrounds and levels of understanding and experience, and be a support and even a comfort to those who are looking for guidance in preparing body and mind for the days that are here. We'll be posting one or 2 Q & A's per week.

QUESTION: EMERGENCY BACKPACKS

I have begun putting together an emergency backpack for my car and I'm finding that I am including so many things, I really need a suitcase. But if I have to leave my car and walk any distance, the suitcase doesn't make sense. It seems that I want to include everything I could possible need for any situation, but that's probably unrealistic. I'm a bit overwhelmed, and it's actually keeping me from putting anything in the car.  I would love some guidelines on what to do, to make it so I put something together. Thank you so much for your response.

Abigail Haddock responds:

My car emergency kit is packed in a large fanny pack!  A backpack or a knapsack with wheels can be handy.  Now here is what I suggest. 

Sit down and visualize being at work or at the mall and a disaster occurs.  You must abandon your car and walk home.  Keep your list simple because you are going to carry what you pack. 

I suggest sturdy shoes or hiking boots stuffed with socks, knit hat, mittens and leather work gloves, windup flashlight with radio and possibly cell phone charger (the more options for powering flashlights and radio the more opportunity you will have to use it i.e. solar, wind up, batteries, ac/dc), light sticks, space blanket, whistle (hang it on the outside of your pack of choice), compass (learn how to use it of course for you actually  need to use it), street map and topographical map (so you can traverse the terrain as the crow flies when streets might be damaged or dangerous), good Swiss army knife with assorted gadgets, water proof matches and a lighter, bandana, 3 day 3600 calorie food bar, water in Mylar bags, a metal cup, hard candies, 4 plastic garbage bags (can be used for rain gear and to protect feet), toilet paper, small first aid kit including necessary medications, currency, phone car and ID information (list of phone numbers, names and addresses of family members, medical information, copy of license etc...).

I keep a complete change of warm polar fleece clothing bundled in my car and seasonally change some of it to accommodate the weather.  Think minimally.  In all probability you are not going to stop and fish or cut down a tree along the way.  You are going to get home or to your family meeting place.  Personalize your kit to meet your own personal needs.   I always have a warm blanket in the car and some energy bars.  

I do not choose to carry a 40 lb pack so I keep mine simple.  There are many products for an emergency kit and many different kits to prepare for different needs.  I have a work kit in my desk, car kit (fanny pack for me and car kit for vehicle needs) pet kit, home family kit, bug out kit or grab 'n go kit.  Each kit is designed differently for different needs. 

The first step is to make a plan and know how you and your family will respond to each possible emergency.  Second step is to prepare a kit.  Be sure to involve children in planning and kit making.  Doing so will make them part of the team and will inspire confidence and reduce fear.

Take self sufficiency classes and learn about self protection, foraging, using a compass, first aid and CPR, search and rescue (C.E.R.T.), basic car care and learn other skills that would make you and your family self sufficient and ready to face any emergency.

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5 MYTHS PEOPLE HOLD ABOUT DISASTERS

For 10 months now I have been working within Washington State's Emergency Management Division. I was called in, in response to the massive flooding that occurred as a result of severe storms in November last year. The extent of the damage in ten different counties resulted in a presidentially declared disaster, which opened the door for federal assistance for those who were affected.

What I thought was to be a 60 day assignment stretched out over months, providing me with a first hand experience of what people go through when disaster befalls them, from the initial shock and disbelief, to the long recovery process. Many never do recover, economically or emotionally.

One of the wonderful people I have been working with is John Vollmer, the Deputy State Coordinating Officer of Human Services for the Emergency Management Division, formerly the Disaster Preparedness Public Education Coordinator. John has been involved with Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management for many years. I have been privy to many stories from his extensive experience, and his unique perspective.

John willingly obliged to share some of his wisdom for my new preparedness blog. Thank you John!!

Why People Don't Prepare-The 5 Obstacles to Disaster Preparedness
by John Vollmer:

1. Disaster won't happen here.

Myth debunked:  If you have yet to experience disaster, consider yourself "lucky", but not exempt. Nearly every year, in one form or anther, disasters happen somewhere in the state (Washington), nearly every day, somewhere in the world. Just because you weren't affected by the last earthquake, windstorm, fire or flood, doesn't mean you'll be as "lucky" next time.  

2. Disaster may happen here, but it won't happen to me.

Myth debunked: This is how I felt for years. I had a career that allowed me to live in many places around the world. Before each move, I was required to attend a presentation by experts on the hazards association with moving. They warned, "be prepared, have a household inventory, get insurance, have a will, etc." Thinking myself an expert of sorts, I ignored the warnings and moved without making the preparations, until...shortly after moving to a small community in Spain, my boss came and informed me that there had been an accident and 100% of your belongings were destroyed. Over $35,000 worth of household goods-we had lost everything! From this tragedy, which produced many of the same effects as a flood or earthquake, we learned that disaster could happen to anyone.

3. If we do have a disaster, it won't be that bad.

Myth debunked: On October 17, 1989 the San Francisco area experienced an earthquake that lasted just 15 seconds. In those 15 seconds, 3,200,000 people experienced a 7.1 earthquake that did 7 billion dollar in damage, displaced 12,053 people, killed 62 people, and injured 3,757 people....... 

4. If it's that bad, there is nothing I can do about it anyway.

Myth debunked:  A schoolteacher told an associate she was terrified of earthquakes. When asked if she had done anything to prepare, she commented, "There is nothing you can do to prepare for an earthquake, they just happen."  While I agree that there is nothing you can do to control when an earthquake occurs or how bad it will be, I do believe you can control, to some extent, the quality of your life following almost any type of disaster by preparing ahead of time.

5. We don't need to prepare, the government will help.

Myth debunked: Many overlook the fact that the local government we count on in emergencies may be affected and taken clear out of the picture in a disaster (they may be in the same earthquake, or flood, etc.). Have you ever considered how many emergency services people work in your community? How many people do they serve? Do the math and you will realize that even when government is not affected, there still are not enough emergency responders available to meet the overwhelming need for help created by most disasters.  You are far better off depending on your own resources in a disaster.

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Thank you again, John.

And what about you readers? Do any of these obstacles stand in your way? For me, I tend to default to #2 - "It won't happen to me." I realize this comes from my optimistic outlook on life, and my hopefulness (translate as naïve) that my mind is strong enough to create something different. I forget that I'm still in kindergarten, dealing with the garden variety of manifesting fabulous realities. I choose to be prepared, regardless!

For useful information on preparedness in our state visit the Washington State Emergency Preparedness site. This site covers a lot of ground.

          To find out about emergency preparedness in other states: Click Here