View Full Version : Would you like an Emergency Preparedness Forum?
iris lily
3-17-14, 11:43pm
There is still interest on this board in a forum about Emergency and Disaster Preparedness. In our homes, in our communities--how can we make wise choices, surviving and thriving challenges and adversity?
I closed the last poll about "preppers" and am now checking people's interest level in a forum about "Emergency Preparedness," a broader topic than the last poll. This poll will close in ten days.
I voted yes to support the idea of emergency preparedness realizing that different scenarios would require different types of preparedness. Others might have wild forest fires or earthquakes, I might have flooding or severe extended cold. One still needs to be prepared even it is the 72 hour prep that is so highly recommended.
happystuff
3-18-14, 3:50pm
I voted yes in the hopes that a forum would lead to a level of detail beyond packing grab-n-go bags to actual use of items, recipes for stocked-up food, etc.
I also voted yes. Like the topic myself even if it gets wild and weird! I'm wondering what list of "emergencies" we can come up with, and how each may need special preparedness. Lets see.... The natural ones like wildfires, floods, hurricane, tornados, mudslides, rock slides, ice flows, avalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis, blizzards, droughts, asteroid collisions, umm...?? that's all I can think of. I guess also things like pandemics, power grid outages, EM pulses, solar flares, wars and invasions, alien invasions, zombie invasions, bird invasions (oh Alfred Hitchhock we all miss you :-)!), bee (and thus pollen spreader) die off, peak energy and it's die off, financial collapse, infrastructure collapse, umm...?? that's all I can think of.
I also voted yes. Like the topic myself even if it gets wild and weird! I'm wondering what list of "emergencies" we can come up with, and how each may need special preparedness. Lets see.... The natural ones like wildfires, floods, hurricane, tornados, mudslides, rock slides, ice flows, avalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis, blizzards, droughts, asteroid collisions, umm...?? that's all I can think of. I guess also things like pandemics, power grid outages, EM pulses, solar flares, wars and invasions, alien invasions, zombie invasions, bird invasions (oh Alfred Hitchhock we all miss you :-)!), bee (and thus pollen spreader) die off, peak energy and it's die off, financial collapse, infrastructure collapse, umm...?? that's all I can think of.
chemical explosions. That happened twice in neighborhood's wher eI lived, once in Iowa and once in St. Louis.
chemical explosions. That happened twice in neighborhood's wher eI lived, once in Iowa and once in St. Louis.
Oh yeah - I think I mentioned that somewhere else here as that is a common thing after an earthquake (and even a hurricane, tornado, or "super storm like Sandy) when natural gas lines break.
Another thing is the NBC - nuclear, biological, chemical - releasel. I live (for now) right next to a huge Naval weapons station that has God knows what stored in their many underground bunkers. If that stuff ever goes I'm not sure if the old "Duck and Cover" will help :-)! Chemical and germ warfare (Syria!) too. Then I guess on a smaller scale there are trains hauling huge containers of chemicals that derail (seems to happen often) creating huge clouds of toxic gas over large areas. Oh and lets not forget nuclear power plant meltdown (Chernobyl anyone? Three Mile Island? Fukishima?). OK now I think I'll go read a good book to relax to get my mind off EOTW stuff. Maybe "The Stand" or "The Road" :-)!
Don't forget the Yellowstone Caldera.
While I'm not EXACTLY sure what the connection is between simple living and emergency preparedness, other than the fact that if there is an emergency you better be able to adapt to a simple life, I voted yes.
I think it will probably be really educational and helpful in a general sense.
ToomuchStuff
3-19-14, 9:12am
Not sure how the "name change" makes this different from the last poll. Plus we have all those E.P. threads that have "magically appeared" on the different aspects they associate with.
Not sure how the "name change" makes this different from the last poll. Plus we have all those E.P. threads that have "magically appeared" on the different aspects they associate with.
People were more receptive to the forum with the name "Emergency Preparedness. For me, it didn't make that much of a difference.
I threw up a few threads to see what kind of discussion got going on them.
Not sure how the "name change" makes this different from the last poll. Plus we have all those E.P. threads that have "magically appeared" on the different aspects they associate with.
It appears that the "name change" makes all the difference in the world. Based upon comments received, the term "preppers" provokes negative imagry for many, while "emergency prepardness" is generally seen as a positive.
To me, it's a tomato/tomahto, potato/potahto sort of thing. One worthy of further exploration in order to truly gauge the communities interest.
Blackdog Lin
3-19-14, 9:56pm
Late in the evening, (after 2 glasses of wine), it hits me as hilarious, the difference between "emergency preparedness" and "prepper". I see them as one and the same. Why wouldn't people see it as one and the same?
BTW, my name is Blackdog Lin, and I am a Prepper.
Don't forget the Yellowstone Caldera.Oh yeah! Another "Duck and Cover" moment :-)! And lets not forget the impending Y"3"K! Start preparing now....or not.
Funny thing in the news today about the 2012 Mayan (or was it Aztec?) calendar potent of doom. Apparently sometime in 2012 the earth missed one of the largest solar flares ever recorded by just mere days. It was strong enough to knock out the entire power grid by messing up the planets magnetic field if we had still been in it's direct path. Maybe those Mayan's actually had it right - they were just bad at math and off by a few days!
happystuff
3-20-14, 4:26pm
I saw the "prepper" thread but, honestly, had no clue what it was referring to and it didn't grab my interest enough to look - my online time is limited. "Emergency Preparedness" I understand. :)
new2oregon
3-20-14, 4:57pm
The term Prepper is associated with people building bumkers etc. getting ready for doomesday. Emergency Preparedness is being able to take care of yourself in an emergency. This is how I look at it. I don't stockpile weapons and ammo , gas masks etc.
Definition of "Prepper" from the Urban dictionary:
1. prepper
Someone who focuses on preparedness, generally for various worst-case scenarios like peak oil or armageddon. Sometimes used to avoid the more loaded term survivalist.
Some preppers focus on guns, others on sustainable agriculture.
by NYVillager March 28, 2008
This definition from a Prepper website:
Prepper
Prep-per noun
Definition of a Prepper
: a person who advocates and practices preparedness
: one who prepares for any event that would disrupt their daily routine.
Description of a Prepper
A prepper is one who practices self-reliance and independence by preparing in advance for any and all foreseeable and unforeseeable changes in normal life. These changes can be as simple as a cut finger or as great as a man made or natural disaster
I personally believe the second statement is the best definintion of a "prepper" since I think anyone who is practicing emergency preparation is a "Prepper". But I agree that for many people it does conjure up images of fully stocked and supplied bunkers full of all sorts of things - weapons included. To be honest I'm not much of a prepper or emergency planner. Have a bit to get me by in any emergency but probably not nearly enough for anything big - or if I had to leave my house for.
I think the word/phrase "prepper" kind of got hijacked. I think lots of folks consider themselves preppers. Or did. Till it became hysterical in tone. Now they are just...prepared?
onlinemoniker
3-23-14, 8:24am
Not sure how the "name change" makes this different from the last poll. Plus we have all those E.P. threads that have "magically appeared" on the different aspects they associate with.
I agree. This question was already answered with the last poll. And it appears that those truly interested in this type of topic have found a way around it.
To me, "prepper" or "emergency preparedness" or however it's named, sounds paranoid. Not like simple living at all.
And tomato, regardless of how it's pronounced, is still the same thing.
I agree. This question was already answered with the last poll. And it appears that those truly interested in this type of topic have found a way around it.
To me, "prepper" or "emergency preparedness" or however it's named, sounds paranoid. Not like simple living at all.
And tomato, regardless of how it's pronounced, is still the same thing.
To my mind, Emergency Preparedness has relation to simple living in that in a simple life where we are living our values, we are focused on the now but are prepared for the future. For some of us, financial security for the future is key and that's why we talk about frugal living (and stashing away the cash.) And how many around here have "emergency cash" stashes? I don't consider that paranoid, chit happens and money is needed to deal with it.
Preparedness means many things to me but certainly it includes building systems of self-reliance in our households and in our communities.
I find the idea of stacking cans of beans and bags of rice too boring to bring me to action, but building a reliable support system in my neighborhood is appealing. For instance, when the windstorms come through and knock down trees onto cars and into the street as happens every few years--who can we rely on with a working chainsaw? So one way we might work on community support would be: make a list of neighbors with chainsaws. That work. haha I say that because DH's chainsaw goes out of kilter often.
As for the "prepper" label, a significant number of people who spoke up about a "prepper" forum read much negativity into that term. Right or wrong, that was their perception, just like you find the entire concept of preparedness for an emergency to indicate paranoia. Most were open to the term "Emergency Preparedness" and that's what this 2nd poll shows.
Perhaps you don't live in an area where Mother Nature threatens your area and so it's not as immediate to you.
... "emergency preparedness" or however it's named, sounds paranoid. Not like simple living at all.
Paranoid?
I've been spending the past several months learning the practice of technical rescue, which includes rope/high-angle rescue, confined space rescue, urban search and rescue, wilderness search and rescue, vehicle extrication and stabilization, rapid intervention team s&r work (rescuing downed firefighters), emergency command/organization, communications, and a few other odds and ends.
It's about 3-4 days a week of intensive work. For events that rarely (except for the auto wreck and wilderness s&r work) rarely happen around here. It requires me to work out 2-3 hours a day and eat a special diet just to stay in shape to attempt the work.
Yesterday, about 2pm, my team was in class. We'd been at it since 8am, solving difficult auto extrication problems and learning new techniques with a super genius instructor who came over to lend a hand. We had every single tool on the rescue truck engaged in working on a 4-car problem that had been set up for us...
When our pagers went off with a real alarm. Some fellow had fallen several hundred feet down a cliff, in a remoteish spot on this remote island.
Within an hour of that call, we had repacked up our gear, made it to the site, located the patient, got down the cliff, provided on-scene medical care with several paramedics and EMTs, and got him into a Coast Guard helicopter with a hot landing/loading in a place I wouldn't have bet could be done, with the help of the Coast Guard rescue swimmers. We had him most of the way to the landing pad of the best regional trauma center before the Golden Hour was up.
None of our team was injured during the operation, which was a minor miracle in itself.
Within 2.5 hours of the call, we were back at the station, our gear back in service, and resuming our training. The Coast Guard swimmer they left behind (because of weight restrictions) participated in our training for the rest of the day, nice to see an enthusiastic lifelong learner.
Paranoia, or preparation and practice for unlikely events with huge consequences?
Awesome job Bae!! But always making us poor coast guard rescue swimmers walk home. Oh the indignity :-)!
I also don't think of "emergency preparation" as paranoia at all. I think that we all prepare for things in life to make sure we can have a reasonably safe and sane future. That can include everything from training and education in hopes that we'll get a job someday to support ourselves, baby-proofing the house so the little ones are safe when they arrive, getting rid of slippery flooring so granny doesn't fall and break a hip, bring a life vest when you go boating, or getting the car serviced before heading out on a long trip, etc... Nothing bad may ever happen, or something bad may happen anyways even if we try and prepare for them, but I don't see emergency preparedness as any more paranoid then any other aspect of "life" preparedness. And yes there will always be people who take it all to a higher level then other would and they may be labeled "extremists" or "whacko-gun-totin'-bunker-dwelling-tin-foil-hat-wearing-preppers-who-look-for-the-Zombie-Apocolypse-round-every-corner" :-)! But I think most people who prepare for any - even all - potential emergencies are probably very mainstream folks. Probably very wise people too who may have lived thru an emergency or two and know that a little prep can go a long way to being self-sustaining (one aspect of simple living) and able to help others rather than being dependent on others.
Awesome job Bae!! But always making us poor coast guard rescue swimmers walk home. Oh the indignity :-)!
To be fair, they came back to pick him up, and return our paramedic, a couple of hours later, once they'd dropped off the patient, refueled, and had their coffee :-)
He'd had quite a day too, they'd also been drilling doing open-sea retrievals in the morning, then he was on a river S&R, then they came over to help us out. He seemed pretty glad when we handed him coffee and chili at the station :-)
To be fair, they came back to pick him up, and return our paramedic, a couple of hours later, once they'd dropped off the patient, refueled, and had their coffee :-)
He'd had quite a day too, they'd also been drilling doing open-sea retrievals in the morning, then he was on a river S&R, then they came over to help us out. He seemed pretty glad when we handed him coffee and chili at the station :-)Good to know. It's tough walking in flippers. But then CG rescue swimmers can walk on water :-)!
I wasn't a "real" rescue swimmer (meaning that wasn't my full time job) but I was the "surface" rescue swimmer on my various cutters - sort of an abbreviated rescue swimmer school. Here's a video you might enjoy since I know you are in the CG aux. and you guys get a lot of the same training. Sorry, I know I promised not to talk CG stuff again - after this I promise I won't any more ....really :-)!
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=coast+guard+surface++cutter+rescue+swimme r&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=coast+guard+surface+cutter+rescue+swimmer&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=1E4175F4686C5B255C771E4175F4686C5B255C77
onlinemoniker
3-23-14, 7:00pm
To my mind, Emergency Preparedness has relation to simple living in that in a simple life where we are living our values, we are focused on the now but are prepared for the future. And how many around here have "emergency cash" stashes? I don't consider that paranoid, chit happens and money is needed to deal with it.
As for the "prepper" label, a significant number of people who spoke up about a "prepper" forum read much negativity into that term. Right or wrong, that was their perception, just like you find the entire concept of preparedness for an emergency to indicate paranoia. Most were open to the term "Emergency Preparedness" and that's what this 2nd poll shows.
Perhaps you don't live in an area where Mother Nature threatens your area and so it's not as immediate to you.
Here is the intro for the page on Simple Living on Wikipedia. The term is not defined in the Urban Dictionary because none of the users have bothered to define it.
Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplicity) one's lifestyle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_(sociology)). These may include reducing one's possessions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_property) or increasing self-sufficiency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-sufficiency), for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need) rather than want (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Want).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living#cite_note-1)[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living#cite_note-2) Although asceticism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asceticism) generally promotes living simply and refraining from luxury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxury_good) and indulgence, not all proponents of simple living are ascetics.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living#cite_note-3) Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty), as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice.
Adherents may choose simple living for a variety of personal reasons, such as spirituality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality), health (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health), increase in quality time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_time) for family and friends, work–life balance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work%E2%80%93life_balance), personal taste, frugality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frugality), or reducing personal ecological footprint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint) and stress (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(medicine)). Simple living can also be a reaction to materialism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_materialism) and conspicuous consumption (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspicuous_consumption). Some cite socio-political goals aligned with the anti-consumerist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-consumerism) or anti-war movements (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-war_movement), including conservation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_ethic), degrowth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrowth), social justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice), ethnic diversity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_diversity), tax resistance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_resistance) and sustainable development (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development).[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living#cite_note-NWTRCC-4)
According to this article, Simple Living is about simplifying one's life, living with less, aestheticism, spirituality, ecology and even anti-consumerism. The historical leaders in the movement included Buddha, St. Francis of Assisi, Gandhi and Thoreau.
Of course I live in an area where Mother Nature threatens us. I am in the mid-Atlantic and I've lost half of my trees to hurricanes. If I even think about a thunderstorm, my electricity goes out.
But when that infrequent emergency does come, I don't expect the government will fail me and I'll be on my own. And it's never failed me yet! The electricity always comes back--quickly.
When I think of "prepper" or "emergency preparedness" or whatever one wishes to call it, I think of someone who has a fundamental distrust of the US government and its ability to do what we have charged it to do. I think of people who truly believe we will be on our own with a failed economy, failed government, failed civilization and it will only be us and our wits against doom.
That seems like a big stressor to me. I don't want to think like that! I'm trying to get stress OUT of my life, not introduce more. Hence my interest in Simple Living.
Don't get me wrong. If the hurricane comes (and it has) I'm the first one out there firing up my grill to make coffee for the neighborhood. I see the idea of neighbor helping neighbor in an emergency as fundamentally good.
But I don't think I need to have a "cash stash" (or a gold reserve, for that matter) because I truly have enough faith in the US Federal Reserve (the financial arm of the US Government) to believe my debit card will always work. Apparently I'm not the only person who believes this as US debt is considered the most secure investment in the world.
I just don't want to fill my life and my mind with thoughts and plans for Doomsday. It's too depressing. And I truly believe that's not going to happen in my life. It took Rome 200 years to fall.
I know there are a number of people who are taking offense to some of the words I've used to illustrate my image of "emergency preparedness." I'm really sorry they're offended. I don't mean to offend. I also didn't pull these ideas out of thin air. This is my perception based on what I've seen/read/talked with others about.
Maybe I'm being a little hyper-sensitive. I'm wrong often enough but perception is reality. On principle I am opposed to an "emergency preparedness" thread.
Peace and joy to all.
Well emergency preparedness doesn't really have to have anything to do with the government at all. Or any kind of hording for an imminent doomsday scenario. It's can be something as simple as having copies of all your important papers stored somewhere besides your home (like a safe deposit box or at a friends house) so that if a natural disaster happens to you or in your area (like the terrible mud slide in Washington state yesterday or the many wildfires that are always happening in the west) you have access to those things if needed. For me, who a pretty hardcore minimalist, it's not about having a lot of stuff or preparing for some sort of long term situation, it's about having a few small comforts in the event of an emergency that may last a few days until the power gets restored, or the road gets dug out or the snow stops or the fire is put out.
The verdict is in, we will have a forum on Emergency Preparedness. I'll set it up this weekend. This poll is now closed.
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