One thing we’ve been working on around here is emergency preparation.

One teacher I follow on YouTube said this about her stash: These are my earthquake-fire-emp-mayan calendar-bible apocolypse – economic disaster – zombie apocalypse supplies.

To which I say, “Exactly.” You see, you never-ever-ever know what can or is going to happen. Never.

Right now, I think the country is on a dangerous, teetering precipice. It could all go really really good, or really really bad, really really fast. In addition there are a ton of spiritual teachings about times we seem to be in, everything from ultimate natural disaster, to Biblical end times, to human enlightenment. And finally, I live in southern California. Can anyone say “earthquake?” And believe me when I say – that’s not fear speaking. In 1989, I remember watching the footage of the Loma Prieta quake. I remember the 1994 Northridge quake.

But the kicker for me was the 1987 Whittier Narrows quake. It was an experience I will never ever forget. It happened at 7:42am on October 1st. It was a 5.9 whose epicenter was a mere 15 miles from us. Three days later there was a 5.6 aftershock. One person died when he was caught in a landslide. One person died at CalState L.A. when a concrete slab fell on her. There were 5 more indirect deaths.

I was in 7th grade. School started at 7:50am. My first period was P.E., so I was in the locker rooms under the gym, changing my clothes. Because of the time, pretty much everyone was on campus, but not in their homerooms yet. When it hit, I was literally standing on one foot trying to put on a sock. At first, I sincerely thought I was going to pass out, ’cause the room started spinning. I though, “Oh God – how embarrassing.” Then the tiles started falling off the showers. Then the lockers started falling into each other like dominoes. I got hit in the head by one. We ran out, and ran over to the football field. That was a bit difficult, as since we weren’t in our homerooms, the teachers didn’t have any attendance rolls yet to determine if anyone was missing. I had no shoes or socks on. Another kid from my class (also changing for PE) had no shirt. We sat on the field and watched aftershocks come through like ocean waves. When parents started coming and the group was smaller we were moved to the cafeteria. I remember when we moved, Mr. Kissell, my Algebra teacher, carried me. I was barefoot, and there was broken glass everywhere. We watched, as hazmat crews came, looking like astronauts, due to all the spilled chemicals in the chemistry labs. We watched as people in hard hats came and taped off parts of the school with caution tape due to structural damage. One boy broke his leg after falling down the stairs. When the group was just a few of us, they moved us to the office.

Finally, my sister-in-law came and picked me up. She just had a feeling I was still there, and popped in to check. That was around 2pm. I burst into tears. I had spent all day there with no sign of my parents. When she took me home, my mom was there all nonchalant. “Oh, you mean they closed the school?” “Oh, you mean the lack of electricity, phones, and major earthquake wasn’t a CLUE?” First, she went out to check on my grandmother, then just went home, figuring the school would take care of me. I’m still bitter. We have had a couple of emergencies at my kids’ school, and I have been right there, front and center, every time. I never ever want my kids to feel the way I did that day. Abandoned, scared, and worried that my family was dead. Because why else would they not come and get me? It had a profound effect on me.

Then, of course, there was the Station fire, which started in our hills and turned into the largest fire disaster recorded in Los Angeles County.

My point is… Be prepared. Have a meeting place, both near your house, and away from home. Have food. Have water. Know how to turn off your water, gas, and electricity. Have a solar or crank radio so you can hear what’s going on. Think about what you would need to cook with, bathe with, etc. if you have no utilities. Have a pack ready for evacuation. Educate yourself. Prepare yourself.

We have two emergency 3-day, 4-person backpacks. One at home, and one in the truck. Food/Water, blankets, first aid kits, gloves, tools, glowsticks, emergency radios and more. I’m slowly building my water supply and freeze dried food supplies. We’re pretty prepared now for 2 weeks. I want one more week, and then I’ll start preparing for more long term. Bulk food that can be made without power sources, seeds, and more in case something REALLY bad happens and we’re on our own for longer. One problem we have in our area is that if our water gets cut off due to damage or something, we can’t drink the water here in wells. JPL’s rocket testing in the 40’s and 50’s contaminated our ground water. They’re cleaning it up but they anticipate another 30 years before that’s complete. So – we’re definitely stocking on water, as we don’t have a local source other than what comes through the tap. These are the things I’m talking about. Think. Prepare. Prepare for your local area, your local/personal needs.

Are you prepared?