Emergency Preparedness: A Positive Way to Cope with Fear

We live in scary times. Between the recession and natural disasters, you never know when a crisis could hit your home. Many people are one pay check away from losing everything. We live in scary, stressful times. It makes sense that now is the time to plan and prepare for what may lie ahead. We can't predict the future, but we can do our best to prepare for it. And if we are prepared, we won't have as much fear.

There is a difference between living your life in fear and paranoia, and being realistic and smart. For me, stressful situations brings out my worst anxiety and leaves me feeling like a shell, completely crippled by my fears. This is why I am taking preventative measures to plan and prepare for the worst case scenario.

"Just as there have been calamities in the past, we expect more in the future. What do we do? Someone has said it was not raining when Noah built the ark. But he built it, and the rains came. The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30)." -Gordon B. Hinkley

Here are some ideas to swirl around:

• If you look back to Hurricane Katrina and, most recently, the devastation in Haiti, it is obvious that when disaster strikes, it could be a few days before aid can come. This is why one of the most important things we can do is have a 72 hour kit for each member of our family kept close to a home exit.

• There is debate as to whether the economy will get better or whether we could be facing another depression in our country. Wouldn't it be reassuring if a spouse lost their job to know that you had at least 3 months worth of food (food that you eat now and know how to prepare) stored away and a little extra cash for such a rainy day?

• I have put together an emergency binder with emergency contact information, all of our important documents that I wouldn't want to not have (social security cards, birth certificates, home insurance) as well as a paper for each member of my family with their name, picture, and physical description in case we were to get separated during a natural disaster. I have some extra cash tucked away in it as well. I plan to put this in a fireproof box and then if we need to leave our home quickly, I will keep it with our 72 hour kits.

• Another idea is to store a survival kit in your car. Many places sell car kits should you break down that includes survival kits and first aid.

• You can also have a survival kit in your office or cubicle at work. It is recommended to have a good pair of sneakers so you aren't running around in your high heels.

• A really great resource to help you get going on emergency preparedness is Food Storage Made Easy.

I know before going into any anxiety provoking situation that I need to prepare myself mentally if I want to make it through. So why not prepare our homes and families as well for the best outcome for potential stressful situations in the future? What are you doing to deal with the economy as it is now and how you think it may become?

Photo by Piotr Chrobot on Unsplash