SAVE BY PREPARING

     How devastating is it when a natural disaster strikes?    People lose homes, lives, possessions, jobs...  How could anyone possibly prepare for such horrible devastation?

   Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires...

    

I came across an article "Process of Preparedness" about the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.    

The devastation was horrible.

I can't imagine the fear the people experienced before, during or after Sandy hit.

     In this article, "Process of Preparedness" an amateur radio operator reported winds that were increasing in intensity with heavy rainfall & commercial power becoming intermittent.  Someone he was communicating with asked him if he was prepared for the overnight impact as the full storm came ashore.  He said he was prepared, had food for several months & water for several weeks.    
     Here on the west coast I have never experienced hurricanes or tornadoes, only mild earthquakes.  Several years ago I was talking to a bank teller who had the cutest little southern accent, saying she was from Mississippi.  She said - with a chuckle - that Californians are in a country all their own and that she's scared to death of the California earthquakes.  I said I was more scared of a tornado or hurricane.  She answered, "Well, at least we have a warning!  You Californians never know when an earthquake is going to hit".  
     Good point.  Who really knows?  Even when there's a warning, how fast can you move?   It's hard to say, but for us, planning and preparing ahead of time takes the edge off of worrying.   And, if you are fortunate enough to have survived a disaster, then your food storage, water supply and emergency packs will mean EVERYTHING to you - and to your neighbor who  didn't or couldn't prepare. 
    As the story in the article Process of Preparedness continued, another operator asked  him if he would need any help in the morning and his answer was, "My family is prepared, and tomorrow we will help others"  
     The article goes on to say, "Common sense tells us that when we are prepared, we are able to then help others. If we are not prepared, we are often dependent on others for help"  and "We are encouraged to plan and prepare and consider having a three-month supply of food, drinking water, financial reserves, medical and first aid supplies, and clothing and bedding"

                                       
      Lds.org says, “Members of the Church have been counseled for many years to be prepared for adversity. Preparation, both spiritual and temporal, can dispel fear. With the guidance of Church leaders, individual members and families should prepare to be self-reliant in times of personal or widespread emergency.   Widespread emergency.  Dispel fear.  Widespread emergency.

     How do we do this?  Church members are encouraged to prepare a simple emergency plan.       
     This is in no way discrediting anyone for their hardship or devaluing anyone's efforts in their split-decision making during that time.  It is not saying that if you prepared calamity would not have happened to you.  Our hearts go out to all those who've suffered and lost.  Our prayers have been with you all.  What we are simply saying is by preparing when there's a calm before the storm, you may be fortunate enough to survive the storm and if you do your preparation will help you and someone else.

          For more information on how you can prepare click on this link: 
     Preparing for the ups and downs of life - Robert D. Hales

                             

                              or 

  
        http://providentliving.org/self-reliance 


Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
 


Nancy and Barry