A lot of people have pulled together to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Not only first responders but ordinary people came to the rescue of others. People have donated money and goods. Some — not just Americans but also Mexicans — have volunteered. The whole Lakewood Church controversy aside, churches and mosques opened their doors to people who needed shelter. All of these acts are inspiring ways to help people affected by a natural disaster. I’d like to add one more idea to the mix: helping others by preparing for an emergency long before it hits.
Even before 9/11, I’ve believed in keeping an emergency kit ready, though I’ve found it challenging to assemble a complete, easy-to-carry kit. The U.S. government recommends a fairly basic kit including three days of food and water per person plus items such as a first aid kit, a weather radio, and a flashlight. But that’s just the basics. Once you take into account children, pets, medications, and personal hygiene needs, your kit is beginning to get complex. And serious “preppers” recommend far more than what I’ve mentioned so far. But even if you go with a fairly basic kit, it’s a good idea to have one emergency kit at work, one at home, and one in your car.
My guess is few of us are that together. But disasters like Hurricane Harvey and the threat of Hurricane Irma have reminded me of one of the greatest gifts I can give my loved ones: helping them prepare for emergencies.
Of course, if you live with family members, pulling together a kit and an emergency plan for your household is a way you can show your love and make a difference in their lives. But, while I’ve acknowledged that pulling together a kit according to even the more basic recommendations can be a challenge, I have a stretch goal for all of us: Don’t just pull together a comprehensive kit for your own household. Help someone you know get some supplies together. An elderly parent or neighbor, a young adult child living on their own, a single parent, anyone you think could use some help preparing for emergencies will benefit from your gift. In addition to or instead of that, you could have extra supplies available in your kit for someone else in need.
When we learn CPR, most of us secretly hope we’ll never have to use that knowledge. When we pull together an emergency kit, we hope it will never come in handy. But scary things happen, and if they happen where you live or work, having supplies that you can share with others could be a great way to make a difference.