Dearest Daughters,
Today, after having a lazy morning since we didn't need to bring Daddy to "Work at The BART Train" (as you say), we ran some errands, the most important of which was to get supplies for our emergency kits.
I'm more likely to be consumed by nightmares of falling to my death by impact/drowning if the Bay Bridge collapses while I'm on it. Or the Hayward Fault splitting open and sucking my house into it. Basically, the MOST improbable stuff. So, since I'm so busy being paralyzed by my fear of being eaten by either the earth or zombies, I haven't really prepared us for the more common ilk of emergencies.
Given our upcoming road trip and recent earthquakes, I've been anxious to get a kit together. But, the COST, I thought, looking online at emergency radios and mylar blankets and camp stoves. AND can you EVER really be prepared for zombies? I mean, REALLY? AND in order to get all this stuff together, I'd have to leave my house, and that would involve exposing myself to danger. As well getting the children fed and dressed. And ALL of that just sounds like a LOT of work. So, I'll just resign myself to the fact that we're all going to die.
But, Auntie Katherine in her infinite wisdom pointed out, the following to me:
1. You probably have most of the stuff in your house already; it's just about gathering it in one place for quick access in an emergency.
2. Knowing HOW to respond in an emergency is half the battle. And it's likely that an earthquake won't decimate my house. So, what you are in fact preparing for is NOT falling into a crack in the earth, but the conditions that follow. Meaning you'll survive the storm or earthquake, but the infrastructure, the electricity, the gas, the water, the roads, the stores, these things may come to a halt. We are blessed to live in a developed country, with sound infrastructure, so the amount of time that we are WITHOUT would likely be minimal. Having an emergency kit insures that you'll know EXACTLY where your supplies are when your daughter has to poop and you can't use the toilet and that you'll last until things are up and running again. No panic involved. I like not panicking.
3. For what you don't have, go to the dollar store.
4. You don't have to get EVERYTHING all at once.
5. And the list available here.
So, people, it feels so nice to finally declare, before my girls, my friends, my family and the Internet: I did it!
(Well, given #4 above, I'm still working on gathering water, food and first aid supplies, uh, probably the most important stuff, but I'm tired for today. So, let's pray an emergency doesn't happen in the next 24-48 hours. If it does, I'll fill my tub and whatever other storage I have. And we'd have to eat all that ice cream in the freezer ANYWAY! So, we're totally set, dude.)
This has been a Serious For Reals I'm Talking to You Public Service Announcement. Keep your loved ones close, keep your plastic bags for containing human waste closer.
Love,
I'm so proud of you!
Posted by: Auntie Katherine | 30 September 2011 at 06:03 PM