by Lisa Bedford
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself" is a good saying to keep in mind. While there may be a great many things to fear in the moment, in the long run, fear seems to cause more problems than anything else, and it certainly doesn’t help solve immediate problems. Holding that fear at bay and taking things one step at a time will help you survive and thrive in even the worst situations. And the best way I know to keep that fear at bay is to be prepared – mentally, physically, spiritually, and materially.
A mentor of mine once gave me this great advice, “Lisa, when you’re not sure what to do, just do the next thing.”
An emergency evacuation, by its nature, is scary and stressful. Initially, it may seem overwhelming to react appropriately. In that case, pause for just a moment and ask yourself, “What is the next thing I should do right now?”
Adopting a mindset that will enable to you to get through the evacuation and then the aftermath of the crisis is crucial. Developing solid muscle memory, being prepared, and learning to conquer your anxiety will go a long way toward developing that critical mindset.
TIP: Let me teach you the 16-Second Survival Breath. This technique has seen me through more than a few scary situations, helping me stay calm and thinking clearly.
Be sure to count to four at each interval.
1 Take four seconds to slowly inhale: 1, 2, 3, 4, taking a slow, deep breath.
2 Hold that breath for four seconds and count 1, 2, 3, 4.
3 Exhale to the count of four, 1, 2, 3, 4.
4 Relax for four seconds before taking the next breath.
I’ve found that forcing myself to focus on my breathing and counting helps my brain to regain its equilibrium and I’m better able to focus on the crisis at hand.
Case study: Mental preparation
One mom, Beth, told me the story of her son’s close encounter with a swimming pool and how she had mentally prepared herself for such an incident in advance.
“When my son was two years old, he fell into a pool. He had never seen one before, and walked around the edge, admiring it. Every few feet, he would bend down, splash his hand in the pool, and get back up again. No fool I, I decided to stay by his side so I would be available should the worst happen. I was not the least surprised when, during his third circuit of the pool, he slipped and fell in. I saw him sink down, down into the pool as if in slow motion.
Without thinking about it, I reached down, grabbed him by his arm, and pulled him out. He gasped like a fish, his eyes wider than dinner plates, unsure what had just happened. Apart from being shaken and very wet, he was fine. He had been submerged for less than ten seconds. When we went inside and told our family members what had happened, I laughed and joked about it. It wasn't until several hours later, when the shock wore off, that I started shaking with fear, desperately sick at the thought of what might have happened.
Since I could see what was coming, I was mentally and physically prepared (I stayed right beside him, watching closely) and reacted quickly. I did not panic because I had mentally rehearsed what I would do when, or if, he fell in. I didn't have to waste time thinking about what I could do, I simply acted.”
Because Beth had already recognized the swimming pool as a potential danger and had given some thought how she might react if her son fell in, her brain kicked into gear, causing her body to do exactly what she had imagined!
Eventually, you’ll return home
Every storm eventually passes and so will whatever event forced you from your home. The question then becomes, what will you come home to?
A house burned to the ground?
Belongings strewn for miles around?
A home or apartment vandalized?
When you return
First, don’t be too proud to ask for help! When massive tornadoes hit Joplin, Missouri, in 2011, one friend of mine packed up her kids and headed there, determined to find ways to help complete strangers whose lives had been turned upside down.
Trust me. When you need help the most, there are people just waiting to lend a hand. Don’t be too proud to ask.
If you have young children, they will need to be comforted but also kept occupied and distracted. This is the perfect task for an older teenager or another friend to cover while you get in touch with your insurance company, salvage what you can, and take photos for documentation.
Do move quickly to get a rental car or hotel, since these will go quickly as other refugees return.
If your home is damaged but still safe enough for you to enter, rent a portable storage unit to be delivered to your house. This unit will hold any furniture and other belongings you can salvage in the coming days. PODS is one such company that provides this service. If there’s not much to salvage, share the expense of this unit with a neighbor.
Review the contents of your Grab-n-Go binder to refresh your memory of companies and people you need to contact with information about your current status.
Get to work. No matter how shell-shocked you may feel, activity and routine are the best medicine. Sooner than you think, you’ll again feel in control of your situation and your life.
Case study: a real-life flood survivor
Ann Johnson, a Survival Mom in Arkansas, tells the story of returning to her home and place of business following a massive flood in 1993, once it was safe to do so:
“I suddenly realized I was homeless with no clothes except the ones on my back. My business was filled with water, and it wasn’t covered by flood insurance. Since there had not been a flood in Valley Junction in 100 years, I never thought I needed it.
Once the water receded, I was able to go to my house to clean up. There I was inside, devastated at the loss. I’ll never forget it. Paneling on the walls had bent and bulged out like it was hanging there with a thread. I went in the kitchen, and everything was ruined – washer, dryer, small appliances. Dishes covered in mud.
I opened the basement door only to see an ugly river of muddy black water staring back at me. I was in shock. My brother broke open a basement window and was able to pump out the water, but my house would never be the same.
Thanks to the Red Cross and hot meals they provided, I got some cleaning supplies and with energy from their help, I started on clean up. People from several churches came to my rescue in cleaning out a home that I would eventually have to say good-bye to.
One final task was to clean out the garage. Thanks to a wonderful friend who lent me a pair of garden boots, I was able to use a piece of plywood and scrape the muck and mire from the walls and floors. To my horror, a hundred snakes had taken refuge in my garage.
It continued to rain for several days. The day I went up against the snakes in my garage and basement it was raining so hard that when I was finished cleaning, I just stood under the eaves and allowed the fresh rain water to wash away the bad memories
Now homeless, I was able to find a blanket to put over me, and I walked for three blocks in shock looking for help at a nearby church. There, people fed me and led me to a phone bank where I called my son in D.C. The wisdom that came from this 19 year old son was like the balm of Gilead upon my bruised heart. He reminded me that I have Faith and God was still there. He convinced me to call an aunt and uncle, cousins, and nearby friends. They came from all over in groups – family, friends and strangers – to help me rebuild my building and my life.
Churches donated money. Clients helped. The local lumber yard donated everything I could ever need. Bankers came and dry walled the soggy, moldy walls. In fact, folks came from all over the United States when they heard that our little community needed help.
I applied to FEMA for aid two times. I was turned down because they thought I was too poor to pay them back. A wonderful woman banker from my church believed in me and loaned me money, not once but twice. I paid back the money in five years’ time.
God was good and eventually, my business was back up and running. I am still a hair dresser in Arkansas after 42 years. I am still thanking God and all the people th
at came to help me survive the floods of 1993.”
Your return will likely not be as traumatic as Ann’s, but her story carries a few lessons.
Prepare more, panic less
There is no place in the world that is completely safe from every conceivable disaster. There is always some known danger that you can prepare for and then those sudden unpleasant surprises that crop up.
For those growing up in coastal regions, hurricanes are a threat. Life in the arid deserts of the southwest can bring long-term drought, flash flooding, and extreme heat waves. On top of that, those unknown disasters could strike at any moment.
This does not mean you now have permission to live in constant fear! Rather, it means that with just a little forethought, you can live with the confidence that your family will be prepared to meet such a disaster should it come. Sometimes an evacuation is simply the prudent course; sometimes it’s the only course.
By creating an evacuation plan and then rehearsing it, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that you will be ready to face real danger when, or if, it arrives. This is particularly important in families. As the saying goes, “If the generals don’t panic, the troops won’t panic.” A pre-determined plan that everyone is familiar with will alleviate panic and dissipate fear.
With all the pieces in place, you’ll be ready to lead your family to safety without chaos or panic. Prepare more, panic less.
Acknowledgements
No book is an island. Every book’s author has been surrounded by supportive people, from family to friends and colleagues who have helped make its creation possible.
This book was no exception.
My assistant, Bethanne Kim, has provided excellent editorial help, honest opinions, and has been staunchly loyal to The Survival Mom brand almost from its inception.
Joyce Richardson lent a hand with her invaluable proofreading assistance.
Inspiration, real life anecdotes, and checklist help was provided by Beth Buck and Amy Van Riper, just two of the truly excellent contributing writers to my blog.
I also want to thank the Survival Moms who shared their stories with me.
Finally, to my wonderful family, Stephen, Olivia, and Andrew, who give me more support and love than I probably deserve, thank you. xoxoxo
Appendixes
Evacuation supplies checklist
Sustenance
All of these foods and beverages are shelf-stable and typically do very well in varying temperatures. Be sure to have a can opener.
Can opener – One per family.
Utensils – One set per person. (Plastic is fine.)
Small cup and plate – One per person.
Water bottle or canteen – One per person.
Hard candies
5 days’ worth of food
Energy bars (high calorie)
Powdered energy drink mix
V‐8 juice
Gatorade mix
Cocoa or hot apple cider mixes
Instant coffee, if ya just gotta have it!
Packets of dry milk
Shelf stable milk
Just-add-hot-water freeze dried meals
MRE’s (heat sensitive)
Ready-to-eat canned meals, such as chili and beef stew
Breakfast bars
Almonds and other nuts
Sunflower seeds
Granola
Canned pasta
Tuna packs
Peanut butter or other nut butter
Jerky
Dried fruit/fruit leather
Canned fruit
Applesauce/fruit cups
Rice cakes
Pilot bread
Triscuits or other hard cracker
Crackers
Cheese spread in jars
Cookies
Pudding cups
Sanitation supplies
Flattened roll of toilet paper or a packet or 2 of tissues
Bar of soap in a plastic box with lid
Feminine hygiene products, if necessary
Wet wipes/diaper wipes
Hand sanitizer
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Change of clothes
Small hand towel
Shampoo
A roll of dog poop bags for waste disposal (or zip-locs!)
Sanity
Small notebook
Pencil and pencil sharpener
Foam ear plugs
Deck of cards
Books on CD
Sharpie marker
Age-appropriate entertainment items
Bible or other inspirational book
Security
Firearm
Loaded magazines
Bear spray
Pepper spray
Emergency phone numbers and addresses
Cell phone charger
Cash – Enough to cover expenses for at least 5 days, including hotel, gas, and food.
Survival
A portable radio – One per family.
A first aid kit – A few basics packed in each kit, a larger kit in the family emergency bag
Prescription medication
Over-the-counter medication
Waterproof matches or lighter – Teens and adults only.
Fire starters
Flashlight or other light source
Extra batteries
Emergency blanket
Rain poncho
Duct tape
Paracord
Whistle
Maps of area
Laminated map of immediate area with marked evacuation routes
Tarp
Portable water filter
Pocket knife and/or multi-tool
Thumb drive with scanned documents, family photos, and other important information
Cotton, brimmed hat
Work gloves
Hand/foot warmers
Heavy duty trash bags
Sunblock
Insect repellent
Evacuation to-do list
Each person has shoes on and a jacket
Animals in crates
Pet evacuation/emergency kit in car
All evacuation kits in car
Grab-n-Go binder in car
Purses/wallets/cell phones/chargers in car
Fireproof safes in car
Additional suitcases or bags in car
Laptops/chargers in car
Cases of water bottles in car
Pack additional personal items and put in car.
Pack additional clothing items and put in car.
Pack additional food items and put in car.
Refer to Last Minute Packing List and make sure those items are packed and in the vehicle.
Load extra filled containers of gasoline.
Pack infants and toddlers in car seats
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Optional: based on situation & weather conditions
Turn house water off
Turn gas off
Turn off electricity
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Final Actions
Load animals in car
Lock all doors and windows
Set security alarm
Contact communications hub and alert him or her to your time of departure, route, and ex
pected arrival time.
All people in car
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Last-minute packing list
Cash – Include locations of each stash!
Example: $250/desk drawer.
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Medications – List each one and location.
Example: Adderall/hall bathroom.
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Medical equipment
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Supplies/equipment for special needs family member
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Firearms, magazines, ammunition, and related supplies
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Cold/rainy weather clothing and shoes
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Heirlooms and other valuables (list)
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Photo albums or files (if not already stored and ready to pack)