Prepare to Prosper! CARD’s Blog

Many preparedness items that will prove valuable to you could be tempting for others, too. Storing a few key items in secret places can help you feel doubly safe – you’ll have access to what you need and won’t have to fear losing it.

This could be something as simple as putting some money inside the sole of your shoe! Paper, cash or spare keys can be stored in tiny spaces: inside seat cushions; sewn into fabric lining; or taped under or behind innocuous objects.

One piece of paper can hold much valuable information: contacts; medical needs; financial accounts; and even passcodes. That single sheet can then be rolled, folded or stashed where no one would ever think to look.

Look for secret spaces in your life. Feel safer by knowing others won’t find your secret safety places!

For people living in small spaces, one concern is the lack of space for storing disaster supplies. This is shared by nonprofits, faith agencies and businesses of all types. Emergency supplies – extra whistles, flashlights, water pouches, printed material, etc. – can often fit in oddly shaped or dead spaces. Spend five minutes looking for spaces that can hold emergency supplies, or where other things can be stored to free up space for safety gear.  Some found spaces:

-    inside suitcases/roller-bags.
-    inside shoes and boots that sit in a closet.
-    wheel-wells where spare car tire is stored.
-    behind desks or furniture not flush against a wall.

Use these oddly shaped, awkward or dead spaces to store things that you won’t need to quickly grab and go. Save prime real estate for kits that can be accessed immediately!

One often-overlooked resource your neighborhood might have is simple open space.  Parks, parking lots, golf courses, fields and similar areas provide a place to gather during evacuations or for longer-term sheltering.   Take note of all open spaces near you, and mark them on your Local Area Map.  You can use maps to look up new locations, but this is a great opportunity for staff and volunteers who know the neighborhood to contribute to agency preparedness.

Visit these sites, so you know exactly what you can expect.  Make a point of talking to the owners, caretakers or managers of any space you include in your planning.  There may be other planned uses for the space, safety hazards to consider, fees to pay, or additional resources they can share. Remember: other groups may also be planning on using the space.

Along with removing hazards, safer spaces can be made by adding a simple preparedness color scheme to help staff, guests and consumers stay safe and make good decisions.  Consider using the stoplight approach: red for danger, yellow for caution and green for safety.  For example, put green underneath tables to help even a 3-year-old learn where to take cover, or use it to mark exit routes or the locations of key supplies.

You could use dots, markers, frames, rugs, ribbons or anything to color-code: shutoff switches, Rally Points, safety information, Shelter-in-Place rooms and countless other things.

Make sure everybody understands the color scheme; teach it to newcomers and visitors; and help keep your color-coding meaningful by using it consistently. For blind, low-vision or color-blind people you’ll need other components, e.g., Braille labeling, and tactile guides.

Get the free poster:  www.CARDCanHelp.org/color

Having the physical space around you support your safety in an emergency is an important preparedness step. And for people unable to quickly evacuate or Drop, Cover and Hold – such as infants or people with physical limitations – it’s absolutely critical.

One of the simplest actions you can take is to clear out key areas. Space under desks, tables etc. needs to have room for people to take cover. Emergency exits must safely open all the way, and the paths to reach exits must be free of clutter and potential blockages. Remember that space is only “clear” if people can move quickly through it even during a confusing, stressful crisis.

Sustain safety by: doing some spring cleaning; dedicating storage elsewhere; scheduling regular cleanups; establishing fines and perks for various safety-related actions; or simply labeling these areas to help people remember.

The 2008 movie Sex in the City – based on the book and HBO TV series of the same name – follows the lives of four female friends: Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. These friends nurture and support each other through the extreme highs and lows of love and life. Together they are a deeply-bonded, committed support system – a great safety net and preparedness asset to have. Each one has the others on speed dial; they know each others’ addresses, habits, medical conditions, and significant relationships.

Encourage everyone to recognize and build upon existing resilient relationships – filling in whatever kind of specific emergency information may be missing. A bridge club, AA group, or neighborhood association may just be a short information exchange away from being that special level of preparedness that benefits us with or without a disaster.

The Sound of Music tells the story of an Austrian family — with seven singing children — in the days before the Holocaust. It’s a Couch Potato Preparedness classic for its sustainability and the sheer number of preparedness lessons.

– Maria is resourceful, making new clothes out of curtains.
– Captain von Trapp demonstrates using whistles as communication tools.
– He stays aware and informed of the situation, to make good decisions.
– To escape, they make a plan, share it, and adapt it as things change.
– The adults protect the children and the children help each other.
– In crisis, the family finds sanctuary and help from old friends.
– Of course: “My Favorite Things” is about thinking positively when bad things happen!

Use this family favorite to help people recognize diverse preparedness skills and actions.

The 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, and the award-winning 1997 movie about it, offer many lessons to disaster planners.  Possibilities: the dangers of overconfidence; the wisdom of practicing evacuations; the need for adequate emergency supplies for all people; and the importance of having multiple communication systems. One often-overlooked lesson from Titanic is that while it is a “disaster movie”, its true success is as a love story.

For many people, no compilation of facts and threats, no degree of rational, logical thinking about disaster statistics will ever compel them to address preparedness the way love and other strong, positive emotions can.  Create safe environments to invite feedback on the emotional competence of your community outreach methods and messages. Reach beyond just pushing rational disaster-based arguments for getting prepared, to emotionally compelling, self-sustaining behaviors that leave people being prepared.

Movies and television shows can provide insight and inspiration for your preparedness, so happy Star Wars Day (”May the Fourth” be with you)! Consider the many times communication saved the day in Star Wars, and the different ways they communicated: from sending R2-D2 as a runner with vital plans, to well-organized radio networks during the big space battle, to the valuable multi-lingual droid C-3PO who helps people — from literally different worlds — communicate. Star Wars also shows the power of organizing for an inspiring cause and triumphing over fear and threat.

Use Star Wars or your favorite movie to highlight important lessons. Parents, seize the teachable moment with your movie-loving children. Community educators, add fun to presentations with some Stars Wars preparedness trivia. Defeat the “Evil Empire” of fear, avoidance and denial by embracing couch potato preparedness!

If you’re looking for answers about staying safe around the H1N1 virus, known as “Swine Flu”, post them here! In the meantime, you can take a peek at our Flu Page at www.CARDCanHelp/flu for good flu season practices and the latest advice from the CDC!