Hello again, faithful friends and readers! I had the chance to once again sit and put fingers to keyboard and felt that this month being National Preparedness Month here in the USA was a more than good reason to do so. In truth, it’s a subject near enough to my heart that I’d have made time to do it!
What is National Preparedness Month? I’m glad you asked. Here’s the official statement, taken from www.ready.gov/Septemberr :
“September is recognized as National Preparedness Month (NPM) which serves as a reminder that we all must take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and also where we visit. Due to the success of last year’s theme, “Don’t Wait, Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today,” will be returning for this September with a continuing emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults, and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Thank you for taking time help make America more prepared for emergencies.”
Preparedness is something that we all can do, and in my opinion, should be doing. As the image that goes with this post says, “Today is the day before.” We have seen, here in the States, unprecedented flooding in Louisiana, a hurricane (although a weak one, thank God!) hit Florida, as well as other disasters strike in different areas. In each case, as there is in every moment of crisis, there are those who were prepared, and those who are not. Take a moment and ask yourself – if something like that happened right NOW – which side would I fall on?
It’s a scary thought when we stop and consider how quickly life and the world we are used to can change, which is why so many simply don’t do it. They rely on “The Government” or “The Police” or “The Fire Department” or “The EMS” to help them in time of need, little realizing that these groups are still run by human beings and as such, they take the most precious resource one has in a crisis – time – to respond. What do you do in the meantime?
That’s what this is all about. You CAN do something. You CAN make plans. You CAN be prepared. You owe it to yourself, to your family, to your loved ones, to your children and your spouse, your friends, your neighbors to be prepared. Contrary to TV it’s not about building bunkers, stockpiling ammo and preparing for the apocalypse. It’s about being ready in case the realistic disasters happen for the area in which you live. (Flooding, for flood-prone areas, severe weather for others, cold and snow or heat for others. Some have a chance of all of them.) It’s about preparing for the most basic essentials needed to take care of yourself: water, food, shelter, warmth, health and sanitation. Even though some may find it distasteful, don’t forget to consider ways to protect what you have and/or your loved ones if, God forbid it becomes necessary. In some people, a crisis brings out the most savage survival instincts.
Do it now – while you have the chance. ANY preparations you make are better than none. Use the link as a jumping off point, and then go from there. Remember, in a race, even the person walking is still further ahead than the one standing at the starting line, or sitting on the couch at home.
God bless, my friends!
The Belgian Takedown 