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10 Foundational Elements of Emergency Preparedness Planning
By Denis Korn
These 10 Foundational Elements of Emergency Preparedness Planning –
AND RESILIENCY – and the suggested links are, in my opinion, essential components for beginning, improving and solidifying an effective, successful and
beneficial preparedness and disaster survival plan. You are encouraged
to conscientiously evaluate and embrace the information given and the
guidance provided by the questions contained in the linked articles.
The wise and foolish builders
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them
into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The
rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against
that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the
rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them
into practice is like the foolish man who built his house on sand. The
rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against
that house, and it fell with a great crash.” MATT 7:24 – 27 (NIV)
1 – Attitude
The importance of a proper and confident attitude is essential and
key to not only planning for an emergency but also surviving an
emergency. The right attitude is the cornerstone and foundation of the
preparedness process. The 3 aspects of an appropriate attitude include
the pragmatic and realistic; the emotions and thoughts: the religious
and spiritual.
An appropriate attitude is essential not only to survival but also
to effective functioning during a serious emergency. Your emotional and
spiritual viewpoint are the sustaining components of enduring any
emergency circumstance. The longer the emergency the greater degree of
stress and anxiety, which will affect your health and well-being.
How serious are you? Do you believe it is essential for you and your
family to incorporate the proper emotional and spiritual attitude in
your preparedness planning? Who do you ultimately rely on for comfort,
strength, and hope? Where is your faith?
Without a thoughtful, reasoned, sincere and discerning attitude
regarding potential emergencies with potentially devastating
circumstances, conditions, and outcomes, or the possible detrimental
effects on family, friends, groups, and community – this article or any
presentation or investigation into preparedness planning and resiliency
is an exercise in futility.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last
of the human freedoms–to choose one’s attitude in any given set of
circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
— Viktor Frankl, MD, Ph.D. 1905 – 1997 Psychologist, Philosopher, Author, and Survivor of 4 Nazi Concentration Camps
“Frankl’s wisdom here is worth emphasizing: it is a question of the attitude
one takes toward life’s challenges and opportunities, both large and
small. A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and
disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A
negative attitude intensifies pain and deepens disappointments…”
William Winslade in the Afterword to Man’s Search for Meaning (2006 printing)
READ: Attitude is Everything
2 – Critical Thinking and Discernment
While many think developing critical thinking skills are for the
beginning philosophy student, they are, in fact, vital for everyone.
Recognizing and overcoming the barriers to critical thinking are
essential in creating and maintaining genuine, honest, and nurturing
relationships and making effective and appropriate decisions.
A common denominator of these barriers is that the individual has no
control over their effects. They are held captive by defective
responses and impressions. One “reacts” to a situation, idea, or
challenge, whereas the critical thinker “chooses” the process of
thoughtful evaluation – embracing – and embodiment. The critical
thinker has the freedom to rightly assess circumstances and concepts,
and the result is to arrive at an appropriate and insightful conclusion
and reasonable outcome.
In the pursuit of the embodiment of critical thinking skills, always
be mindful of the value and necessity of honesty, wisdom, discernment,
and the need to distinguish the truth from the lie. We live in an
unprecedented time of media, institutional, educational, and political
self-interest that will not hesitate to use any means possible to
achieve its objectives, including deceptive indoctrination techniques,
propaganda, deceitfulness, fallacious argumentation, and fraud.
READ: Barriers to Critical Thinking
3 – Overcoming the Normalcy Bias – The attachment to inaction
The normalcy bias refers to a mental state people enter when facing a
disaster. It causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a
disaster occurring and its possible effects. Denial is the operative
state of mind. This often results in situations where people fail to
adequately prepare for a disaster, and on a larger scale, the failure of
the government to include the populace in its disaster preparations.
The assumption that is made by many in the case of the normalcy bias is
that since a disaster has never occurred to them, then it never will
occur. It also results in the inability of people to cope with a
disaster once it occurs. People with a normalcy bias have difficulties
reacting to something they have not experienced before. People also tend
to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible, seizing on
any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation.
The normalcy bias often results in unnecessary deaths in disaster
situations. The lack of preparation for disasters often leads to
inadequate shelter, supplies, and evacuation plans. Even when all these
things are in place, individuals with a normalcy bias often refuse to
leave their homes. The normalcy bias also causes people to drastically
underestimate the effects of the disaster. Therefore, they think that
everything will be all right, while information from the radio,
television, or neighbors gives them a reason to believe there is a risk.
This creates a cognitive dissonance that they then must work to
eliminate. Some manage to eliminate it by refusing to believe new
warnings coming in and refusing to evacuate (maintaining the normalcy
bias), while others eliminate the dissonance by escaping the perceived
danger.
4 – Scenarios
What are the circumstances or scenarios you have determined may
exist that will require you to rely upon your preparedness supplies?
What will be the severity and impact of those circumstances on your
life? (This is not only the most important and first question to
answer, but it is also often the question most overlooked, or not considered
critically enough). Given your potential scenarios, how thoroughly have
you researched the available options for food, water, medical, shelter,
hygiene, and other categories of critical supplies? Are you prepared
for emergencies during all seasons of the year? Is your family more
susceptible to certain emergencies? How would your scenarios impact you
or your family’s daily routine? Work or livelihood? How will you
protect yourself and your family against those who might do you harm? The
grid is essential to most homes and businesses – if it is down, how long
could you function? What would society look like without the grid and a
prolonged cessation of the availability of vital goods and services? Do
you have backup power?
How long will your emergency scenario last, and what is the duration of time for which you will be preparing?
This is another critical question, and while it is difficult to
envision the difficult details that might occur, the adequacy of your
preparedness planning and supplies is directly tied to honestly
answering this question. Needless to say, the longer the duration of
the emergency, the more effect it will have on multiple aspects of one’s
daily routine and lifestyle, and the need to be focused on the diversity
of situations that will surround you.
READ: Beginning and Improving Preparedness Planning
5 – Knowledge and Skills
What preparedness knowledge do you personally have that is
important in providing specific information and instructions needed
during the emergency or emergencies for which you are preparing?
How about the knowledge of family or friends? What informational
resources and references – books and other tangible items – do you
personally have or have access to? How confident are you that you have
the necessary knowledge and skills to be responsible and effective for
yourself and your family during an emergency?
The realization that you have the appropriate knowledge and have
adequately prepared for unforeseen emergencies is an essential factor in
discovering and embodying peace of mind.
READ: The 12 Crucial Questions of Preparedness Planning
6 – Preparation and Action
The first step in the preparedness planning process is the
acknowledgment that you have made a wise and sound decision and have
chosen to take responsibility for yourself and your family and to be
prepared in the event of unexpected circumstances. Be encouraged to
continue this process with diligence, motivation, and discernment.
This process is basically undertaken in three phases – each one of
which will take as much time as you wish to devote, and the degree of
urgency you are experiencing.
- First, there is an initial assessment necessary to determine the direction you are heading.
- Second, there is further evaluation, research, and planning
required to develop a firm foundation for the third phase, and to
develop the clarity required for appropriate and accurate decision
making.
- Third, there is taking action
and assembling the appropriate provisions and critical information you
have determined are necessary for your security and peace of mind. This
phase is ongoing as you continue to evaluate, research, and build up
your supplies and information.
READ: Beginning and Improving Preparedness Planning
7 – Supplies
For most people planning for emergencies is similar to planning for a
camping trip or any other outdoor adventure where the normal
conveniences of home are not available. The biggest difference is
determining whether to plan for being away from home or being in your
own residence – or perhaps both. The equipment to include in your
emergency kit or camping supplies list will be very comparable.
Differences and variations will generally depend upon the severity and
length of time you anticipate for your emergency scenario. Long-term
emergencies and outdoor explorations will require more extensive
planning and provisioning.
Important questions to answer as you do your planning:
Are the equipment and supplies necessary to fulfill your needs going
to be based on how cheap they are, or on the quality, value, and
reliability of the product? What are the repercussions or benefits of
the choices that are made? Who is affected? What chances are you
willing to take with inferior and inadequate provisions? What will the
climate be during the emergency or adventure? What is
the probable availability of essential goods and services where you are
going for your adventure or during your anticipated emergency?
Be clear about the time factors, persons involved, and situations
that you anticipate will occur in an emergency or an outdoor experience.
Knowing this information is crucial to stocking the appropriate items
in the appropriate quantities. Many of these items will be essential for
bartering if supplies are exhausted and the emergency you are preparing
for is long term. Proper provisioning is about safety, health,
protection, comfort, and peace of mind – for not only you but also your
family and friends. Don’t forget the special needs – medical, food, or
otherwise – of you or your family.
Do you have a list of essential supplies you believe will be necessary to have on hand during your estimated emergency?
Is it prioritized? Do you have a list of the essential categories your supplies fall under? What do you have on hand now?
During an emergency, what facilities, stores, resources, supplies,
and assistance are available in your area apart from family and friends?
This includes not only information and education, but also essentials
such as food, water, shelter, energy, communication, and medical
supplies. What utilities in your area are vulnerable to disruption or
elimination? What will you do to compensate for the loss of
electricity, water, gas, or phone service?
READ: Checklist of Essentials for Emergency Preparedness & Outdoor Adventure Planning, Including Vehicle Preparedness
READ: The 12 Crucial Questions of Preparedness Planning
8 – Considering Others
Many conscientious preparedness planners are realizing that
individuals, groups, and churches should provide for the most vulnerable
and those in need, especially in times of emergency. They feel it is the
groups’, churches’, or an individual’s responsibility to take a
leadership role in promoting contingency planning education and action
for its members or others. There is ample historical precedent for this
perspective.
As far as churches are concerned, some feel that much time, effort,
and money is spent on spiritual issues and teaching activities (which are,
of course, primary and essential), missions, and new facilities, but not
enough on basic physical essentials such as food and daily
necessities. There is a desire to make sure that church members, or
anyone seeking the help of the church, such as the elderly, widows,
disabled, single parents, and the poor, are secure with the essentials
during times of adversity and disaster – especially when primary sources
of supplies may not be available.
Family and neighbors often do not take responsibility for providing for
themselves during emergencies. Considering others while one engages in
the preparedness process is a very personal and important factor to
consider. Whether it is provisions, education, or a desire to teach and
motivate, all planners need to contemplate whether or not they will
address the essential needs of others.
9 – Communication
What means of communication do you have available to you during an emergency, and with whom do you need to communicate?
This includes both two-way communication with others, including
family, friends, and associates, and one-way communication from radio
stations, emergency broadcasts, or individuals via short wave. Do you
have a cell phone? Will towers be functioning? Landlines? Internet?
Hand held walkie-talkies? Satellite phone? Short wave radios? Citizens
band radios? Emergency radios and/or ham radios with two-way
communication capability? During a serious emergency, accurate
information and updates are essential for survival. What if an EMP
(electromagnetic-pulse) from a solar flare or nuclear device renders
all unprotected electronics useless? How will this affect the equipment
you are relying upon?
READ: The 12 Crucial Questions of Preparedness Planning
10 – Networking
Are you dependent upon someone or something else to get you
through and supply your needs during the emergency scenarios you presume
will occur?
Are your neighbors or friends stocking up on enough supplies for you
also? Do you honestly believe some level of government will be there to
assist and resolve the situation? Do you have a community support
network available? What skills and knowledge do you possess that you
can contribute?
During a serious and/or prolonged emergency, it will be vital to have
available to you and your family the support and expertise of others in
your neighborhood and community. Everyone has a skill that they can
share during challenging times. The sooner you discover those who are
compassionate and sympathetic enough to network with others, the better
it will be if an emergency occurs.
READ: The 12 Crucial Questions of Preparedness Planning
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