| As we approached the year 2000, there was | | | | flooding, you might seek safety on your second |
| much anxiety and dread over what would happen. | | | | floor. So, keep an emergency container where it |
| The usual "the end is near" crowd warned us, of | | | | can be easily found and moved as the disaster |
| course, but then we had real world concerns over | | | | may require. |
| our computer systems. What chaos might befall | | | | You should also develop an emergency plan for |
| us if the machines we had come to rely on | | | | your home with plans for different types of |
| suddenly stopped working or, worse, stopped | | | | disasters. Have an evacuation plan too. For |
| working properly! | | | | example, in the event of a tornado, where is the |
| Of course, we survived all that with hardly a | | | | safest part of your house? If you have sufficient |
| scratch. | | | | notice, will you be safer at home or seeking |
| Now, we face the next potential doomsday: the | | | | shelter at a neighbor's home or community |
| year 2012. | | | | shelter? |
| The Mayan clock runs out in December of 2012. | | | | Be ready to be mobile! Some disasters may |
| There are some interesting astronomical | | | | require that you abandon your home. Such |
| alignments coming in the year 2012. These things, | | | | disasters may include chemical spills, wild fires, |
| and others, have some warning of impending | | | | earthquakes, etc. You might use the emergency |
| doom, once again. | | | | supplies container you store in your home, moving |
| Will we be blasted with gamma rays from a | | | | it to your trunk or back seat if leaving your home |
| distant galaxy? Will the Earth's crust shift, moving | | | | becomes required. Alternatively, you might want |
| the continents into different temperature zones | | | | to keep a separate emergency supplies kit in |
| and causing massive land changes? Will some | | | | your car. That way, too, if disaster strikes when |
| doomsday minded people bring about the end | | | | you're not at home, you won't need to run home |
| through man-made catastrophes? If any of these | | | | to fetch your supplies. |
| things happen, how can we survive? | | | | Be kind to each other! If you believe that the end |
| The first thing we can do is to be prepared. Even | | | | of the world will be a man-made event, then |
| without the potential end of the world hanging | | | | simple acts of kindness may be your best safety |
| over our heads, we are always at risk of natural | | | | net. Spread the kindness around. You may not be |
| disasters, from tornadoes and hurricanes, to | | | | able to change the world, but you can change |
| earthquakes and flooding, and so on. Disaster | | | | your neighborhood. As the kindness moves along, |
| preparedness should be a practice of every | | | | you may just find that you can change the world |
| household! It definitely should not be something | | | | after all! |
| you only think of when prophecy comes knocking | | | | If disaster does strike, whether it's a "normal" |
| at your door. | | | | disaster or an end-of-the-world-type catastrophe, |
| Be ready to stay put! If a disaster occurs, you | | | | all the survivors will need to work together to |
| may need to be able to survive at home for | | | | ensure their long-term survival. |
| days or even weeks, depending upon the type | | | | If worries about 2012 and the "end of the world" |
| and extent of the disaster. You should make sure | | | | motivate you to get a disaster preparedness kit |
| that you have enough food and water, as well as | | | | together, that's a silver lining on the clouds of |
| medicines and other necessities, sufficient to | | | | worry. But, if the end doesn't come, don't |
| make it through several weeks without outside | | | | abandon or neglect your preparedness plans and |
| contact. You might want to keep supplies stored | | | | kits, as many did after the year 2000. No part of |
| in a mobile plastic container that can be moved | | | | the world is immune from disaster of some form |
| easily. In the event of a tornado, you may seek | | | | occurring, so be prepared and don't get caught |
| refuge in your basement but, in the event of | | | | off-guard! |