Yes, there actually is a National Emergency Preparedness month. Why? Because the government and relief agencies understand they can not meet the needs of everyone after a hurricane, wildfire, tornado, EMP, solar flare, earthquake, terrorist attack or any other national or local disaster. As I listened to the media coverage of the five year anniversary of Katrina the one thing that really stood out was the statement by Michael Brown, the head of FEMA during Katrina. He lamented that although communities and the government have made changes and are better prepared, individuals have not taken steps to prepare and they have not learned from the experiences of Katrina. That baffles me. I don’t understand how anyone could have watched all the media coverage and not wondered what they would do if it happened to them. Oh…I know the problem. It won’t happen to them!  We assume we will be the exception and even though we have seen thousands crying for lack of a drink of water we still this someone will swoop in and save us. Emergency preparedness month is all about learning to care for ourselves and our family. We must understand we are responsible for our own destiny and would we really want it any other way?

Yesterday I had a discussion with my niece who told me her friend found this site had too much information and was too confusing. I am sorry for that. I will work harder to simplify for those who are just beginning. If you have suggestions please share them with me at: carolyn@TotallyReady.com I desperately want to get the message of self reliance to all I can and to make it easily doable for any and all who understand the importance of taking control of their own future.

****Be sure to check in every day this month for an Emergency Preparedness Action Item, most of them free things you can do today to avoid heartache later.

****There will be prizes you can win throughout September.

****I will be asking for your tips and advice and we will do lots of sharing.

This is the time to commit to ramp up your preparations. Just DO IT !!

Action Item # 1

Choose an out of area contact person. Call this person today and ask them if they are willing to have you and your family evacuate to their home if the need should arise. This person should live a minimum of fifty miles away. Natural disasters often cause serious disruptions to life as we know it even fifty miles from the heart of the disaster. After Katrina there were power outages more than 5o miles away from the heart of the storm. When the wind is right air that is dangerous for those with respiratory ailments can easily drift 50 miles from a wild fire. If you evacuate too close to your home others will be there in great numbers and competing for goods and services, thus, quickly emptying shelves and filling insurance offices and hospital waiting rooms. With Hurricane Earl threatening those on the east coast you  may find the need to evacuate tomorrow! Do know know where you would go if this were you?

If you are on the east coast of the United States be sure to check out the preparing for Hurricane Earl post!

Six Days until my new radio show!! Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to hear! Would you like to be a guest on the show?

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Back issues: Totally Ready Newsletters July 2009- June 2010

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