Forcing Change
It Just Makes Sense
By Carl Teichrib (www.forcingchange.org)
Forcing Change, Volume 5, Issue 4
April 2011

Traveling through the United States this past March, I was surprised
to hear numerous radio spots on “readiness.” The message of the advertisements
were straightforward: Disaster could strike - are you prepared?
What struck me was the source. These ad placements weren’t from
some survival outfitter or retailer selling camping gear, but from the
US Federal Government. Are you Ready was the theme.
Ready is a public service campaign launched in 2003 to educate
Americans regarding emergency response. Today, this campaign uses
radio advertisements, television/internet media clips, and a dedicated
webpage (www.ready.gov) to spread its message of preparedness.
 

It’s ironic, but only from the stand point of public
perception. In the 1990s the idea of preparedness was
often viewed as an extension of the extreme side of the
“right wing.” This was the domain of survival magazines,
late-night radio talk shows, niche book publishing
houses, and independent websites. While that side
has quietly existed for years and has often been ridiculed
by left-of-center commentators, the advertisements
I heard all came from Uncle Sam. And it’s not a
bad thing.

For decades the United State government has been educating people about emergency preparedness,
and although there has been much criticism regarding US Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency - with many valid concerns ranging from FEMA’s bureaucratic bungling to
the big brother powers of Homeland Security - there is a positive side to the Ready campaign that needs
to be acknowledged: Moving awareness into the public sphere. Regardless of your political or economic
ideology, the idea of preparedness makes sense.

In the past, the US Federal Government (and other Western governments) has urged its citizens to
think about and act on readiness. Rummaging through my library the other day, I found a 1976 edition
of In Time of Emergency: A Citizen’s Handbook on Nuclear Attacks and Natural Disasters, published
by the US Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. Leafing through it was like peering into a Cold War cultural
time capsule, with sections on understanding nuclear fallout and how to prepare a home shelter.
This booklet also recommended contingency planning for earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

Of course, none of these situations exist - our world is safe. Right?

Somehow I don’t think you’re buying that line. Earthquakes and tsunamis, ice storms, looming and
ongoing social unrest, regional food shortages and economic troubles, oil spills and now a nuclear disaster;
all in the space of months. For many people, our news events have shattered the myths regarding
public and individual security. It is causing people to think.

Some Forcing Change readers have dealt with these disasters at a personal level (at least one reader
was in a recent news-making earthquake), others are now cleaning up flood damage, and as I write this
a number of my American readers are anticipating a possible tornado outbreak - with almost 40% of the
US under the umbrella of potentially violent thunderstorms. In fact, when we were visiting Indiana a
few weeks ago, an auditorium we were in had to be evacuated because a tornado touched the ground a
couple of miles away (it bounced down not far from a friend’s house). And on our journey home we sat
on the interstate in central Wisconsin, stuck in traffic, waiting for a tornado to drop from the clouds (it
came down ten miles behind us).

Things happen; and whether the crisis is an act of nature or man, or whether it’s local or national, it
makes sense to be prepared. Some readers of Forcing Change have already thought through this and
have acted accordingly, for others, the idea of preparedness is foreign. Regardless where you stand,
wrestling with the concepts of readiness is an important and constructive exercise - hence this article.

In past issues of Forcing Change we’ve briefly touched on readiness planning. However, with the
seeming rise in natural catastrophes and man-made disasters, it’s important to carefully consider what
preparedness means. As it says in Proverbs 27:12, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The
simple pass on and are punished.” This is really a basic principle, with application to all walks of life.
 

In writing this article I realize that everyone’s situation will be different, and that a person can’t plan
for every contingency. Furthermore, I look at these suggestions and realize that I too am very ill prepared.
Although my part of the world is socially stable and not in an earthquake zone, I do live in a climatically
harsh region where winter can be the longest season: Sure, being stuck in your house for a
three-day blizzard can be relaxing (“sorry I can’t make that meeting... shucks, I guess I’ll have to stay
inside and enjoy a good book or a few board games with the kids...”), however, not having food supplies
or suffering from a day or more of power-loss at minus 35 can be stretching - let alone having a
medical emergency. Regardless of your location or situation, here are some thoughts to consider.

Spiritual:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He shall direct your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” - Psalm 118:8

“Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.” - Psalm 16:1

I’m putting the bottom line first: Place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ - allow Him to be your refuge
and rock. And when disasters come, personal or otherwise, you will be in good hands regardless of
the outcome.

Please don’t misunderstand; placing your trust in God doesn’t mean you are abdicated of responsibility.
Sadly, some people take this approach, effectively stating that because God is looking after them,
they no longer see the need to act. Yet, the prudent man recognizes danger and takes measures to mitigate
it. 1 Timothy 5 provides some context: Trust God, and don’t waste yourself on pleasures. Furthermore,
assist those in real need and work to provide for your own family: “But if anyone does not provide
for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever.” Obviously, sitting on our hands isn’t an option.

Mindset:
I’ve tried to explain this to more than one person: All the cool camping gear and a basement full of
food supplies will mean very little if you are unwilling to learn or acquire a proper mindset. Here’s
what I mean.

Recently I was visiting with a friend who lives in a large community and has always lived in some
type of city environment. Recognizing the need to prepare for natural or manmade disasters, he was
wondering what steps to take. The first was the most surprising to him: Challenge your outlook - after
living a life where convenience has always been a two minute drive up the block, consider how your
existence would change if these conveniences and public services were seriously hampered or eliminated.

This isn’t a simple or easy thought process. It requires looking at a host of issues we take for
granted: Safe roads, accessible hospitals, groceries on the shelf, the ability to send or receive communications,
working emergency services, stable electrical and gas supplies, etc. And if any of this is disrupted,
do you have the mindset to deal with it? Furthermore, do you have the knowledge or skills necessary
to meet the hurdles? And living in a rural area doesn’t give you immunity from this challenge; in
fact, a whole new set of particulars may arise.
 

The point of such a mindset challenge is simple: Are you willing to think? A crisis, be it local or regional,
always means that business-as-usual is no longer the case. Challenging your mindset now, before
a calamity occurs, means that when something happens you will start to look for working alternatives.

Please keep in mind, this is not about paranoia - it’s about constructive thinking.

Social Knowledge:

“Who are the people in your neighborhood? The people that you meet each day?” I remember this
little tune from the Sesame Street show, and it rings true today. How does it relate to dealing with crisis?
Simple: By knowing your neighbors in a positive way, you are building bridges of trust and establishing
a safety line. Hence, offers of help and assistance - ether towards them or you - is automatic and
genuine. Investing yourself in the lives of others is extremely important on many fronts. If you want to
reflect on what it means to be a true neighbor, study the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Geographical Knowledge:

I can’t stress this enough: Know where you are, what’s around you, and how to navigate through your
region. Too many times I have talked with people who have lived in a neighborhood for years, yet
geographically-speaking, don’t know what’s beyond their daily routine. It’s like they’re wearing selfimposed
blinders.
 

In 1997 we moved from Manitoba to Indiana, and on the weekends we loaded up the family in the car
and explored our new region. I had to know what was around me; where the side roads took me; which
rivers crossed my district; and the general lay of the land. Not only did this help me feel comfortable in
my new surroundings, but I used this knowledge many times afterward to skirt traffic tie-ups, constructions
projects, and other road hazard situations.
 

How knowledgeable are you beyond your home community? Ten miles out? Fifty? One hundred? On
more than one occasion my knowledge of regional roads and the lay of the land has allowed myself,
from one hundred miles away, to successfully return home when I couldn’t access the highways due to
weather extremes. Now, I’m not advocating that you disregard road closures, but you may find yourself
in a situation where traveling out of the problem area is the best (or only) option. This requires discerning
the situation, and a knowledge of where you are and how to proceed to where you need to be.
 

If you spend a lot of time regularly traveling to and from different cities, can you navigate back without
using major traffic arteries? A friend of mine has close family in another city 300 miles out, and he
has had to ask himself; if a regional crisis happened and the Interstate closed, could I get to my children?
Because this is important to him, he has taken the time to study maps, work out alternative
routes, traveled side roads, and has learned his regional geography.
 

Similarly, another individual explained that he has a cottage a number of hours away, and that it’s his
family’s backup location - a quiet place where people can meet. Knowing it takes more than a tank of
gas to arrive at his destination, and understanding that a regional calamity might disrupt fuel supplies,
he has rented a small self-storage unit in a community at the half-way point along a pre-determined
route. Here, he has fuel in jerry cans and some other essentials - and refreshes these items a couple of
times per year, adding and deleting items as he sees fit and as the seasons change.
 

Something to consider: Crisis travel is often slow going. It may require re-routing, driving extra distances
to cross rivers, and unexpected layovers. Moreover, alternative routes are almost always the least
direct path, automatically increasing time and distance. Conversely, an alternate route may be your only
option.
 

Our world is a highly mobile society. It just makes sense to know where you are, what’s around you,
and how to get where you need to go - whether from work to home, or from home to family.
 

RISKY NOTE: In a related way, one gentleman who often travels to Eastern Europe and Southeast
Asia carries a few silver and gold coins (they go through with his loose pocket change at airport scanners).
These coins are his emergency insurance: a way of quickly paying officials or transportation handlers
if he needs to leave his foreign destination during a national emergency.

Skills:
No matter what you do for a living, learning new and practical skills should be high on your list. Taking
a first-aid course is a great idea. If you don’t know how to swim, learn. Basic mechanical skills are
invaluable, learn to garden, buy a book on knot tying and figure out a few loops (this is far more valuable
then most people realize). Do you know how to drive a standard? Can you discern upcoming
weather conditions by reading the sky? Call your cousin who farms and ask to help with butchering,
and while you’re there, have him show you how to properly operate a chainsaw - an extremely handy
tool in many crisis situations. You get the point.
 

The rewards in developing new skills and abilities are many and ongoing. The side benefit is this: The
more practical skills you have, the better you will be equipped to handle stressful situations.

Vehicles:
Consider carrying an emergency kit or crisis pack in your vehicle. Here are some suggested items,
(think about what your needs are, weather situations, etc.), and keep these items in a back pack; something
that can be taken with you if the vehicle has to be abandoned.

- First Aid Kit (learn how to use it).
- Basic tools (learn how to use them), including a good knife and/or a combination pocket tool. However,
never replace a stocked tool kit with a multi-tool like a Leatherman. Multi-tools have their place,
but are not a replacement.
- Battery jumper cables.
- Space heat blanket (they are typically made of a silvery substance that traps heat, are very compact,
and good to have in any season). Candles and an old soup-can may be used to keep warm during a winter
road problem; obviously, matches or a lighter are necessary too. Hand warmers are good to have
too.
- Water bottles (filled - a little tougher to have during winter months!) and/or water purification tablets.
- Money. I know one person who always carries an extra $50 in his car’s supply kit, and has used it to
buy emergency fuel, pay for towing, and other roadside situations.
- Flashlight and extra batteries. Light sticks and road flares are also good to have.
- Back-up medication (especially if you have ongoing medical needs).
- A roll of toilet paper and other sanitary items.
- Shovel or small spade. If you have space this can be a very handy tool. Where I live it seems winter
lasts “thirteen months-of-the-year,” and every season I end up digging out somewhere. (Remember, a
shovel can be useful anytime of the year).
- A coil of rope or other lashings; if you have space, consider adding a tow rope.
- Dry food goods: Granola bars, trail mix, etc.
- A quality family-band radio set. These are inexpensive, can easily be kept in a vehicle, and are handy
in any situation.
- Maps.
- A pad of paper and pen/pencil.

Home:
- Food supplies: It used to be that everyone had a
pantry with months of food stuffs available, something
I remember my grandparents and parents
regularly stocking. Now, most “pantries” are little
more than glorified condiment closets. Man cannot
live by ketchup alone! If you have space for a pantry
(and/or freezer), fill it, use it, and restock it often.
Think about it as your personal grocery store
away from the supermarket, and as a backup in
case of emergencies. Having food available alleviates
a multitude of worries.
- Water: If you have a well or cistern, you already have what you need. Otherwise, consider storing at
least a gallon of water per person/per day for consumption purposes. A three day supply is the minimum.
And always keep your kettle full - I grew up having to deal with regular water shortages, and the
kettle saved us many times (soap in your eyes or shampoo in your hair is no fun when the water runs
out... there better be water in the kettle!).
- Energy: Secure a good back-up generator, and if possible have it properly hooked up to your house.
You will also need a stored fuel source. NOTE: Another option is to acquire a solar back-up generator.
These units collect solar-generated power through panels and feed it into a battery pack, then using an
inverter it transfers the DC current into useable AC. Plans exist on the internet for people who can
tackle a do-it-yourself project, or you can purchase a complete unit through the Forcing Change store
(go to www.forcingchange.org and check out the top tab that says “Store”).
- Cooking: A camp stove, charcoal barbecue, or propane-fired grill is a necessity if the power goes out
for too long. Steno-stoves are also an option, as are homemade can-stoves in a pinch. Just don’t burn
your house down.
- Lighting: Candles, flashlights and batteries, and camp-lanterns are highly prized if the electricity is
out and the sun has set.
- Fire Extinguishers, a First Aid Kit, and extra medication.

- Blankets: Good and heavy blankets are a must. For winter environments this is obvious, but don’t
look at blankets as a winter-only item; summer nights can be cool, people may be in shock, and a multitude
of other uses crop-up.
- Tools: For some people there can never be enough tools! But tools are necessary; if you’re stuck in
your home you may need to quickly shut off gas or water valves, cut through or remove objects, board
up wind-shattered windows, or tear a hole through the wall. Cordless power tools are great, so long as
the batteries are up. Otherwise, keep a good selection of hand tools where they are reachable. Spades
and shovels should also be added, and if you know how to safely operate a chainsaw, this may make the
difference between clearing fallen trees and gaining mobility, or staying put and waiting for someone
else to come along. A good crow bar/pry bar and heavier hammer should be included. And don’t forget
Duct Tape; this can be so handy in a pinch situation.
- Radios: A battery powered radio is a must. Quality family-band radios should be considered.
- Emergency Pack or Bug-out Pack: A pre-packed kit that is stored in your house but designed to go
with you in case of a quick home evacuation. Such kits can be pre-purchased (see the Forcing Change
store) and then added to as needed, or they can be designed and put together by yourself. Kits should
include personal medical supplies and first aid items, water bottles and purification tablets, dry food
goods, flashlight and batteries, ponchos and/or space heat blankets, money in the form of smaller bills
and coins, at least one change of cloths per person, and sleeping bags or blankets if they fit. Go to the
Forcing Change store and check out the Evac Pack for more ideas. What’s the point of something like
this? First it will supplement your vehicle’s kit, and if you end up in an emergency shelter or in another
location, you’ll have a more robust supply to draw from - items you will be familiar with.
- Plan: Establish an emergency plan. This will include how to contact and meet with each other, if possible,
during or after a crisis. Remember, members of a household can be scattered during the course of
any working day; Parents in different job locations or at appointments, children in school, etc. Therefore,
a communication and rendezvous plan is important. Part of this plan should include a contact person
outside of your community, as local lines may be down yet an outside line could remain open.Ready.gov also recommends that every person in the household should know the contact numbers, and
either have a cell phone or a pre-paid calling card. A rendezvous point should also be pre-planned,
along with an alternative in case the first location is unworkable.
- Retreat: Some people may have friends or family in the region, yet beyond their immediate or local
area. If this is your case, talk to your friends or family about using their home as a retreat point if a local
disaster causes you to flee your home. Discuss what this would mean for a two-day event, a week,
or even ten days. This is a very real scenario: I have family who have had to leave their home due to
extreme overland flooding. Thankfully they had a place of retreat outside the crisis area.

---------------
As our world seems to be sliding into anarchy, as natural and man-made disasters appear to be on the
rise, it just makes sense to think about preparedness. But all the thinking in the world won’t do much
good unless you act; and not just for yourself, but for your family and your neighbors.
“Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.” - Psalm 16:1. FC