In your mind, what would you say is too much preparedness?
This past week, the area in Alabama where I reside and the surrounding regions witnessed multiple thunderstorms.
Maybe, you witnessed storms where you reside as well.
In doing so, I recently had an opportunity, not by choice, to validate my emergency preparedness plans as my electricity suddenly went out without notice.
At least, that is my side of the story.
Have you ever felt like you were in a war zone with thunder and lightning happening for hours?
Being a Soldier and having served in combat during Desert Shield/Storm, I recall being on high alert throughout the campaign with Scuds coming very close to our base camp.
I can only imagine how the people in Ukraine heard thunder all night long when specific cities were under siege.
Although war and thunderstorms are not the same thing, it is unnerving sounds hearing loud noise for hours on end.
It’s also that feeling of not knowing when the power will return or even stop working again as your pet refuses to come from underneath the bed.
My Alexa let me know a few hours earlier that we had potential storms in the area; however, I couldn’t recall when I was without power for longer than one hour.
The question is, what is too much preparedness for you?
Many of us also have cell phones that provide “Emergency Alert: Severe” messages from the National Weather Service about Flash Flood Warnings; however, are you paying attention to them?
This past week I received at least three different text messages on three other days about storms and floods.
As a good Scout, I learned years ago always to be prepared.
The question is how much lip service you give your mind to being prepared.
Some people live vicariously by reading about or watching others experience life, living someone else’s dreams instead of pursuing them alone.
In doing so, they might believe that if an emergency happens, someone will run to their rescue and take care of them.
Therefore, we must be prepared for the unexpected.
The unexpected happened last week while I was only fifteen minutes into my Toastmasters meeting and left in the dark with no power or internet to connect.
As my five uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) around the house began to sound, the alarm beeping loud, the only peace of mind was a power surge not happening on the devices plugged up to them.
You may not have UPS Battery Backup and Surge Protector at my level; however, I learned about the investment in these devices.
I learned the hard way years ago that items such as televisions and computers require a surge protector in case of a power surge.
The main job of a surge protector system is to protect electronic devices from “surges.”
Call it what you want, however, for me, it was learning about basic electricity when I earned my Bachelor of Science in Electronic Systems Technologies from SIU Carbondale.
Each of us must make specific investments toward preparedness.
I don’t have a “Generac Power System” hooked up to my electrical panel, where I’m the only house on the block with lights still on when the power goes out; however, I have a plan for extended power outages, which I exercised this past week.
That plan involves connecting my TROY-BILT 5550-Watt Portable Gas Generator as my backup power for home appliances.
I learned that all my power cords and surge protector were serviceable, allowing me to keep two refrigerators and a freezer operational during the outage.
I was also able to run various fans in the home simultaneously.
Although I didn’t have to start up my charcoal grill, I had plenty of charcoal and matches.
If you have ever heard of the analogy “hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” I try not to hope for anything. I arrived at that conclusion after reading “Hope is not a Method” by Gordon R. Sullivan.
It’s that mindset that I learned years ago related to preparedness.
Interestingly enough, not all share my vision. Ninety percent of the time, when asked if I have something, I do, why not others as well?
So, what is too much preparedness on your side of the tracks?
Sometimes we quickly forget our past when Hurricane Katrina, a Category 5 storm, resulted in 1,392 fatalities and caused damage estimated between $97.4 billion and $145.5 billion in late August 2005.
Sometimes we all need small reminders that it can also happen to us, which means we must be vigilant when a major storm is on its way.
I also recall the recent power outages in Birmingham, AL, where some were without power for over twelve hours.
The good thing about USAA, they track storms and have a process of getting your funds immediately for loss of power and property.
Because I belong to Alabama Power, part of it is knowing where to check in the area where you live and get updates.
Power Outage Information | Residential | Alabama Power
There are tips we can learn when the power goes out and what to do; however, most are oblivious to this information until it’s too late.
Entergy Outage in Birmingham, Alabama: Current Problems and Outages • Is The Service Down?
Maybe you’ve seen the headlines. “Forecasters now expect busier 2023 Hurricane Season” see below:
2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Update (richmond.com)
As you and I enjoy our warm summer nights, the water temperatures are heating up regarding tropical updates.
By August, many will “hope for the best and prepare for the worst” as weather patterns change.
Will you be one of those who look the other way that it won’t happen to you, or will you be prepared when your lights go out for an extended amount of time?
Check now what you have and find out what you need to sustain yourself while you have the time to plan.
Remember, hope is not a method. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
We can thank Benjamin Franklin for that phrase several centuries ago, and it is still applicable today.
If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail – Meaning & Origin (grammarhow.com)
Therefore, let’s not be caught off guard as you ask yourself how much is too much preparedness?
McKinley, being prepared for an emergency should not be an option. With the constant threat of extreme weather we should all be overly prepared. Being prepared often means a potential emergency becomes just a inconvenience.
“Don’t train until you get it right, train until you can’t fail”.
Scott,
Greetings,
I like your mindset! “Being prepared for an emergency should not be an option.”
As you and I listen to the news and weather, I think some are not worried about inconvenience until it hits their neighborhood.
McKinley
Putting off any plan will probably come back to bite you. Procrastination can lead to bad outcomes. We have had many hail storms which are hard to plan for, but watching the weather reports and having insurance for your house and cars are important. I don’t think you can over plan, but updating your plans is important for any situation.
Don,
Greetings,
Hailstorms is something I had not considered; however I am aware when it come to your roof, the experts can see the trail left behind.
Great points and you nailed it “Procrastination can lead to bad outcomes.”
McKinley
To be or not to be PREPARED…is really questioning whether my life, my family’s wellbeing, and/or protection of my property is worth the effort. Procrastination is the archenemy of Preparation. This type of “stalling” presents self-defeating behavior that not only plagues many but also interferes with one’s ability to react quickly and decisively. I strongly suspect that procrastinators are contrite and aware of their neglectful behaviors but then painfully exist in agony over what needs to be done rather than dive-in and “git-er-done” (courtesy of Larry the Cable Guy).
Still, I don’t believe for one minute that people just don’t care. I do believe, however, that many of us suffer from “Optimism Bias”. We tend to roll with the unrealist belief that bad things happen to other people -NOT me. For instance, sometimes I act as if “time will wait on me” experiencing a high degree of anxiety and stress because I know better than to be dragging my feet on things. The fact is tomorrow is not promised to anyone; time waits for no one; and no amount of preparation can fully restore a loss. These are not mere cliches, these are truths – the basis for sound preparation.
As much as I would love to be counted among the most perfect human beings…I fight procrastinate too. For example, I don’t have a food and water supply stash mainly because I am not in a disaster zone (hence it’s not high on my priority list). I do have an estate plan, insurance(s) is up to date, medical directives are up to date, family is aware of my legacy wishes, my pantry has enough food for at least 5 days, bills are paid ahead and are set on automatic payments, and my car meets 10/20 standards (for example, just got new tires and winterization is scheduled for the end of September). Yet, I feel like there is always room for improvement.
In short, To Be or Not to Be prepared really boils down to what is most important to me, and how fast I want to recover from or get through a crisis. If nothing else, preparation provides me peace of mind.
Frances,
Greetings, and I’m honored to get your response caught off guard. I had not thought about “Optimism Bias” whatsoever. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Your comments pointed me in various directions as I read twice to ensure I understood your comments. I would submit that it’s not about procrastination or perfection because, as you stated, we are all human beings. It is a matter of where you need the improvement once you recognize a gap needing filling. I pray that you will never experience a disaster; however, preparation is critical in all situations.
McKinley