Many sustainable practices pay dividends in a disaster. Bicycle transportation, gardening, water catchment, canning, solar power etc are all examples of activities which make communities better places to live AND make communities more self-relient when infrastructure and critical supplies are halted. Connecting the dots under the banner of community "resilience" should be a focus of FEMA activity. If no disaster strikes, we are healthier and more connected . . . win win.
Preparedness and Sustainability Linkage
Tags: sustainability
Comments (9)
I agree absolutely. Sustainability and Preparedness being linked needs to be more detailed more in the next National Disaster Recovery Framework that is put out.
Canning and gardening have become more popular due to the economic downturn. In fact university extension programs are reinvigorating their offerings (finally) and more people are getting involved. In fact my local university extension office for Master Food Preserver (MFP) (canning) requires that during public speaking engagements and demonstrations (a requirement of the certification) that the opportunity for canning as a disaster preparedness activity be mentioned. Partnering with these existing programs will assist us in creating the message of resiliency! I'm hoping to get involved in the MFP program myself and see the direct links between preparedness and sustainable activities. Rather than re-inventing the wheel, get to know what is offered in the community and help them build their own programs; ultimately it benefits us with prepared citizens. Just like dieting is a "lifestyle change" so too is preparedness. It is the simple steps we encourage others to take, like learning to garden, or can, or utilizing solar power that increase the general preparedness level within a neighborhood.
Thank You, integrating general preparedness activities with regional lifestyle does make a difference in our functionality level following an incident. Such is true with life in general :-)
There are also many HOA (Home Owner Associations) on public record - Maybe we could send or email them to subscribe to FEMA UPDATES and ALERTS or with tips on preparedness. (As a community which they would soon rely and need each other) they would be better prepared for emergency disasters. Seems like a reasonable idea.
Very interesting approach. I had not considered sustainable living efforts with preparedness. You are absolutely correct.
Having a pantry full of canned goods is always a great idea....especialy fruits and vegtables raised in your own garden. I also try to keep at least 4 to 5 cords of dry wood above and beyond what I burn a year for additional heating and cooking capabilities.
We've turned into a society that relys way too much on our ability to produce what we need...right when we need it.
My boy scout troop toured the local Super Valu distribution center and they warehouse only 1 weeks supply of food for the greater metropolitan area. I can't imagine 4 million people scrounging for food if something big ever happened and we couldn't fill the grocery store shelves with basic needs.
Join your local CERT team stop looking for work arounds the system is already there USE IT and help make it better !!
May I remind you that the local CERT tea is only as good as it's leaders! I am in an area where the local CERT team is a pet project of a county commissoner. I have offered my services and my 25 plus years of experance in OEM (my credentials are many) and since I don't belong to the local church, my volunteer request go unanswered.
As for me and my family, my personal disaster plan will never count on the local government for help! That includes the local CERT team!
Planing on survival for yourself should be basic in any disaster plan. How to garden, purify water, perform CPR and First aid and the like is what I instruct. Relying on the government or anybody else for my family survival dose not make sence to me.
I try and practice sustainability (even if I use miracle grow on my garden). One aspect of sustainability you don't hear enough about is the concept of not living too far from work. I know many people who have sacrificed this concept in exchange for 'a bigger house farther out in the suburbs' and hours of their time daily. But with high gas prices and the mortgage mess and all, now might be time to rethink things. If you are close to work, not only are you saving time and money EVERY DAY, but in times of emergency, you can still get home and don't have to worry about getting stranded 30+ miles from home. We have several people in my office who live 60 miles or more from work. How sustainable is this and how much more impossible will your situation be if the roads/power/transit/etc are inoperable. How much can we count on them making it to the office to perform their essential function(s).