Prepare
All emergencies, even the most major ones, are ultimately local events that need to be responded to by the local community to minimize the initial damage. Look at your preparation from the perspective of yourself as an individual, and that of your family, school, company, and community. Each requires a detailed preparation and plan.
Adequate preparation, and incorporating those preparations into a daily routine that you can maintain, is an important element of being prepared.
To be prepared for an emergency, you must simulate the events as much as possible. This means going through drills seriously as though they were the actual event. A fire drill or an evacuation drill would be an example.
Have a GO (“Get Out”) Kit and a Shelter in Place Kit ready in case of emergencies. We will help you plan for these in the My Disaster Planner Journey.
An example of Resiliency and Preparation
Disaster preparation becomes powerful when it is practical. At the center of readiness are four essentials: a go kit, a rallying point, a communication plan, and a clear evacuation plan. These are not abstract ideas — they are tools that reduce panic and replace hesitation with action. When an emergency unfolds, you will not rise to the level of your intentions; you will fall to the level of your preparation. Having these elements in place allows you and your family to move quickly, stay connected, and make safer decisions under pressure.
On the day of the 9/11 attacks, thousands of people were saved due to the resiliency of one man named Rick Rescorla. Rescorla worked for Stanley Morgan, and he had his employees frequently go through drills to prepare for an emergency. When disaster struck, Rescorla and his employees were prepared, and due to that preparation, most of the employees safely escaped the building before it collapsed. Unfortunately, Rick Rescorla died when the building collapsed after running back in to make sure everyone had gotten out. Heroes like him are the resilient among us, and they are they heroes that make the biggest differences when it is time to act.
Use his story as inspiration for why resiliency is so important.
“The key to all situations is mental preparedness. In any life threatening situation, you can only react; your brain does not allow you to formulate a plan and put it into action. When people ‘see their life flash before their eyes,’ it is the mind frantically trying to come up with a prior situation from a life experience that it can use to handle the present scenario. If people do not plan for various life/death situations, they will simply panic when a real life tragedy strikes.”
Sergeant William Gleason
A strong preparedness plan should include:
- Go Kit (Ready-to-Grab Essentials):
- Water and nonperishable snacks (at least 72 hours’ worth if possible)
- Medications and copies of prescriptions
- First aid supplies
- Flashlight, batteries, phone chargers, portable power bank
- Important documents (ID, insurance, medical information) in waterproof storage
- Basic clothing, hygiene items, and comfort items for children
- Rallying Point:
- One nearby meeting place (e.g., a neighbor’s home or mailbox)
- One out-of-neighborhood location in case evacuation is required
- A shared understanding that everyone goes there if separated
- Communication Plan:
- A designated out-of-area contact person
- Agreed-upon text phrases (e.g., “Safe,” “Evacuating,” “Need Help”)
- Backup methods if cell service fails
- Evacuation Plan:
- At least two exit routes from home and neighborhood
- Transportation plan (who drives, fuel readiness)
- Pet arrangements and special medical needs accounted for
- Awareness of local shelters and official evacuation instructions
Preparation brings confidence. A packed go kit, a known rallying point, a practiced communication plan, and a mapped evacuation route transform uncertainty into coordinated action. In a crisis, these simple steps can protect not only your safety, but your peace of mind.
