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How to Talk About
Emergency Preparedness
by Sally Strackbein
Preparing for hurricanes and bird flu is not that different than preparing for Y2K.
In 1999, Ray and I wrote and sent a Y2K newsletter to our neighbors. We invited them to meet at our house to talk about Y2K. There was virtually no response. We were depressed. Then the winter ice storm
hit, leaving our neighborhood without electricity. We walked through the snow and ice, checking on our neighbors, offering water, light and a place to stay warm. We discovered that, even though we
thought no one was reading our newsletters, several families prepared for Y2K because of our information. They were prepared for the ice storm. They could remain in their own homes, while others had to
compete for hotel rooms or stay with friends or family.
You may never know how many people you help. Someone came up to me at a large public meeting and said, "Thank you so much. We started preparing for Y2K after we saw you on television." I
thought we had looked silly in the news piece that had aired, but I guess we must have made sense.
Having your neighbors prepared is second only to preparing yourself. If we have power failures, no one will be able to do extensive traveling (gasoline pumps won't work). Having a prepared
neighborhood is essential. You may need their help and support as much as they need yours.
1. Make the decision that educating others about emergency preparedness is infinitely more important to you than the fear of ridicule.
- Once you make this decision, the "feeling foolish" issue recedes to the background.
- View those who make fun of you as deserving your compassion (they won't be prepared) rather than having the power to destroy your confidence
- Remember, always, that the more prepared your neighbors are, the more prepared you are. Your life may depend on the cooperation and assistance of others.
2. Give them information to read. You can send the readiness articles all at the same time or do one at a time, allowing a few days or a week in between.
- Print articles from the Red Cross website
- Print out copies of the "Y2K Problem Statement".
- Print out copies of "You Buy Insurance, Don't You".
3. Invite them to talk.
After you have passed out the articles, if you can, invite your neighbors over for cookies and conversation. You will probably have 1 or 2 who will come. You will be lucky if you have more. Hopefully, the ones who come will then talk to the neighbors they are closest to.
4. If you need help in structuring a meeting, the Utne Reader Y2K Citizen's Action Guide has instructions on how to have a meeting. This booklet is available in book stores or you can download it from www.utne.com . My only reservation is that you be careful when talking about preparing. Keep it simple. If you talk about storing large amounts of rice, beans and wheat, some people will stop listening.
5. Talk to anyone who will listen.
When someone notices the cans of food in your grocery cart and comments, "Are you doing a chili cookoff?" tell the truth. Say, "I am preparing for Bird Flu." Many times, they will ask a question. Practice your response. Your own words and stories are preferable, if you are comfortable using your own words.
6. Respect other people. There is more than one way to prepare for emergencies. Whatever people do, doing something is better than doing nothing.
7. Keep talking.
Don't get discouraged. Keep in mind that you may never know who you've helped. You may have prepped the person who laughed at you to listen to the next person who approaches them about emergency preparedness.
8. Keep listening. People will tell you how they can help. You are not alone
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Sally Strackbein, Sally@Y2KKitchen.com
http://www.Y2KKitchen.com
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