Disaster Planning... a subject often ignored. However, as recent Tsunamis, Hurricanes, and Ice Storms have proven, disasters can happen anytime. And the events don't have to be "big". Even something as minor as a falling tree can start a disaster, should it cut off your electrical power for several days or cause an unchecked gas leak.

When it rains, you open an umbrella and close the windows in your house. When it gets cold, you put on a jacket and turn on the heater in your house. You and your home are prepared for these everyday contingencies. And when disaster strikes, you and your home should be just as prepared, so that the disaster can be weathered just as calmly.

Disaster Preparedness is very different from "Survivalism". Survival is what you do when you wash up naked on a desert island. Disaster Preparation is carrying a lifeboat and filling it with supplies so that you don't have to wash up naked on a desert island.

The Basic Physiological Needs that must be supplied are (in order of importance): Oxygen, Fluids, Nutrition, Body Temperature, Elimination, Shelter, Rest, Physical Safety, and Psychological Safety.

Here is a collection of documents discussing disaster preparedness. These documents can help you to keep relatively safe and comfortable for several days, while cut-off from normal community infrastructure. These documents should not be considered the final word, or even long-term solutions; but rather just the start of your individualized, neighborly, preparedness planning.

Read and heed!

NOTE: "Civil Defense" is an old fashioned name for the volunteer force now called "CERT" (the Community Emergency Response Team).