Preparation: A Conversation Question: This is an interesting approach to disaster preparation, but there aren’t a lot of details in it. How exactly do I start preparing? Answer: You already have. You read Next Light. You have a survival plan now, and that’s an excellent start. What you’re really asking is what’s next. Question: Okay, then, what’s next? Answer: That’s really up to you, but let’s see if I can help you along. Take any object in this room, say the light bulb in the lamp sitting next to you. Assume it’s the only bulb you own right now. Will you need it in a crisis? Asked another way, will it serve any of your four basic human needs in a crisis? Question: Shelter, no. Water and food, definitely not. Wait. On shelter, I suppose a light bulb could provide some warmth, but I can think of many better ways to do that. Answer: Describe them. Question: Well, there’s always the furnace. If we still have power, we’re all set. If not, there’s a fireplace in my home. I’ll need a bigger supply of firewood, though. I suppose I could keep it next to the shed, out of sight from the street. I’ll also need to sit down and figure out how much more of it I’ll need, especially if we have to boil drinking water and cook meals. How long should I plan for? Answer: Choose your next light. You’re in the very preliminary stages of preparation, so for now you can make it something arbitrary, say a month. You can always adjust it later, after you’ve better informed yourself and made more decisions on things. Question: A month it is. I better start keeping notes. Back to shelter. I should make sure I have a sleeping bag for everybody in the family. Plus a couple of extras, in case we end up with company. Better check the supply of blankets, too. What if the house is destroyed though? I suppose I could make arrangements in advance to stay with my brother and his family in an emergency. Make it a mutual thing, cover each other. Better have a tent, too, in case we have trouble getting there. Hey, what’s doing all this going to cost me? Answer: What will it cost you if you don’t do it? Question: Yeah, point made. Shelter…shelter…space blankets! I should get a bunch of those, keep some in the car, too. What else? Answer: Back to the light bulb. Your fourth basic need.
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