As I watched the fires unfold in Spokane this last weekend, my feelings were all over the place.
Being born in Spokane, the area holds fond memories. It’s where my grandparents lived. Just the Monday before, I was at the VA hospital for an appointment. Now, the entire area was evacuated, including the hospital. I scrambled to get in touch with family and friends, feeling helpless sitting just an hour away.
Then we go through this week, as the absolute destruction comes to light. Sadness sweeps over me thinking of all the families that lost everything. Many ran from their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Everything lost forever.
Disaster can strike at a moment’s notice. I’m positive the 3,000 people watching the volleyball tournament at the park didn’t expect that an hour later they would be running for their lives.
It also left me thinking, if I were away from home, could I be ‘ready’ enough to survive the disaster?
We often talk about 72-hour kits. In a moment of panic, your kit brings you a remnant of home. It has familiar clothes. A good kit even has the niceties like a toothbrush. Sometimes clean teeth can make an overwhelming day feel much better.
Another bag that you need to make (and make room for) is the get home kit. This one goes in your car and is intended to get you home or to safety with at least some key items. In winter it has coats, gloves, spare food, and flashlights. In summer, coats swap out for lighter clothes, extra water, and sunscreen. To save cargo space, items like blankets and first aid kits stay stashed under the seats.
No matter what you pack, the idea is to help you survive and feel a shred of comfort. Or to drop everything and help a neighbor. 72-hour kits and car get-home kits are a key part of your readiness.
If you haven’t started building yours yet, we put together a guide with a free checklist: Preparing for short term emergencies
An emergency will always find someone who is unprepared. But when we make the choice to prepare, our world opens up options, making the worst scenario just a smidge better.