Preparedness

There has been quite a cluster of natural disasters that have happened around the world in just a couple of months. From the earthquakes/tsunami in Japan to the wildfires of Texas, and the tornadoes that have been devastating the southern states. Although Texas wildfires aren't uncommon, they have been HUGE and harder to control! Tornadoes always come around but not as many as we've seen tear into Alabama and surrounding states. The major earthquake in Japan was considered the strongest earthquake ever to hit Japan and the fifth largest earthquake in the world! My heart goes out to all those who have been effected by such uncontrollable events! I honestly can't imagine the devastation that has been caused.

I have learned in the past couple months that we cannot control random events. Whether it be natural disasters, terrorist attacks, crime etc.... but what we can do is prepare ourselves in an event of an emergency.

L. Tom Perry once said, "On a daily basis we witness widely fluctuating inflation; wars; interpersonal conflicts; national disasters; variances in weather conditions; innumerable forces of immorality, crime, and violence; attacks and pressures on the family and individuals; technological advances that make occupations obsolete; and so on. The need for preparation is abundantly clear. The great blessing of being prepared gives us freedom from fear, as guaranteed to us by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants: “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30)

So picture this...

It's Saturday afternoon, you are home with your family enjoying the day and all of a sudden you hear a loud "BANG, BANG, BANG" on your front door. When you answer the door... there is an officer standing there alerting you that you have exactly 10 minutes to gather anything you will need for the next 3 days and be in your car... no extra time will be alloted and an evacuation must be made within that time frame or your life could be in greater danger.

What would you do? Could you seriously be out of the house in 10 minutes with everything you need? What about food? Important documents? Water? Did you forget about your pet? Wait, where are your shoes? What about your children... did they get everything they needed? Did you forget the diapers or baby formula?

Talk about a stressful situation!

Ben and I have thought a lot about this and our desire to be prepared has increased. We have finally began to turn the "good intentions" into actions by learning and preparing ourselves for uncontrollable events ahead.

“The Lord will not translate one’s good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself” - L. Tom Perry

Being "prepared" is such a comforting thought. I don't know why we didn't jump on the intentions earlier. There is a safety that comes from having what you need and feeling secure in your decisions.

We may never personally face a disaster... then again, we could face one tomorrow or even minutes from the time I write this entry. We don't know what tomorrow holds but if we are prepared... we have no reason to fear. I think it's easy to procrastinate because we think "it will never happen to me". I guarantee you that the people who have been effected by such tragic events thought the same thing.

You are right... It will never happen to you... UNTIL ...it happens to you!

It is also important to keep in mind that your preparedness may not end up being for you and your family... but perhaps it will allow you to help someone else who may be in need. “A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return.” - Henry B. Eyring

No amount of philosophizing, excuses, or rationalizing will ever change the fundamental need for self-reliance. - Spencer W. Kimball

Preparation does take time. We've realized that as we've been working on our 72 Hr. Kits. If you don't know what a 72 hr. Kit is... it is a kit that contains "a collection of basic items that members of a household may need in the event of a disaster (FEMA)." These items are things such as food, water, flashlight, waterproof matches, cash, extra clothing, important documents etc.

Go HERE for a great list/pictures of 72 hr. kit items. The kit she shows is for the kids but you still get a great visual of items that can go into your kit. The kits are customizable. Find what works best for your family while working with the basics. Ben and I use old back packs to hold our items. Back packs are nice because you can stick them in a designated closet and grab n' go when you need to evacuate immediately.

Obviously the food/water in the kits will eventually expire. It is recommended to rotate such items every 6 months. I found a really fun idea from another blog (can't remember the name of it). The family has a tradition to open up their kits every General Conference (every 6 months) for our church. They empty the food from their kits and those become their snacks while watching conference! What a great tradition and reminder all in one!

I am grateful to be a part of a church that encourages and lives preparedness. I know the Lord wouldn't have it any other way. Our life's journey is all about preparedness, whether it's physically, or spiritually. Preparing ourselves and our families for the future provides safety in the soul.

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. - Spencer W. Kimball.

My hope is that Ben and I can continue with our "preparedness kick" and make it our own way of life. I hope this inspires you to jump on the band wagon and get your family involved too! Make it fun and have comfort knowing that you won't have to stress, scramble and forget stuff in the event of an emergency.