Prepare, Respond, Recover: Surviving Life's Earthquakes and Hurricaines

Painted in the amazing Library of Congress:  "Ignorance is the Curse of God, Knowledge the Wing Wherewith We Fly to Heaven."  

  
     Prepare, respond, recover!

    As I write this blog, I am watching CNN coverage of Hurricane Irene, the hurricane that, after leaving a path of destruction in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, hit North Carolina and swept its way into the lives of some sixty-five million Americans.  Sadly, more than a dozen people lost their lives and millions remain without power today and are facing the realities of property damage and challenging clean up.  Damage is spread across islands and nine states.  Rain, floods, and wind will persist in many areas for up to ten days as the backside bands of the tropical storm work their way back around to many areas.

     Despite the reality of hardship for hundreds of thousands and even millions of people, most people are grateful that the outcomes were not worse.  Many survivors woke up today and began digging out and moving forward, while others are expressing gratitude for "dodging a bullet."

     Prepare, respond, recover!

     Amazingly, millions of the people impacted by Irene also experienced a nerve rattling 5.9 magnitude earthquake just a few days before. The earthquake, overall, caused little damage but it did instill fear in the psyches of millions of people in the east who are unaccustomed to and perhaps a bit complacent about the risks that stem from seismic activity. 

     All of this is a reminder that in life, whether at home, work, or play, we have to be ever vigilant of the hurricanes and earthquakes of life.  We have to "Prepare, Respond, and Recover," as we have heard over and over during recent days from emergency responders.  Job layoffs, illness, accidents, and natural disasters usually surface unexpectedly, catching us off guard.  If we have not looked ahead and planned, then the impact of the unexpected challenges in our life's can overcome us.  Preparation for what could happen, effective response to what does happen, and patient recovery is the formula that will carry us through.

Benjamin Franklin Painting in State Department--"Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure"

     Benjamin Franklin said that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."   There is no doubt that we are better off when we have the vision, foresight, and opportunity to take actions in our lives that prevent harm, tragedy, or ruin. Defensive driving, routine exercise, quality eating, saving for a rainy day, emergency supplies, food storage and lifelong learning are all tools that can help us proactively prevent or at least more effectively cope with many the hardships of life.

     When we only focus our energies on the here and now and fail to maintain a broad-based, long-term plan, we limit our ability to wisely and most-effectively deal with the array of challenges that inevitably come our way--whether unforeseen disasters like earthquakes or identified oncoming hurricanes. When we proceed without planning and proper resources, we end up spending significant amounts of time aimlessly or inefficiently reacting to our problems and searching for cures.  Often, after the fact, it is easy to see that if more attention had been given to finding, anticipating, and effectively preparing for the future, we could have more ably saved life, property and resources. Prevention efforts are crucial and can hopefully protect us from the need to repair, replace, and restore. Each of us, no matter where we are, should take the time to asses our personal preparation for the  unknown. Are you prepared? Do you have a plan to respond? Can you recover?