Be Prepared

First and foremost in any emergency situation is the safety of yourself and your family. The physical, material loss of possessions and emotional devastation of a crisis is impossibly difficult, without adding to it the loss of a member of your family or permanent disability that accompanies physical injury. Each person should know exactly what to do in any emergency situation.

As a small child in grade school, I recall doing "Duck and Cover" drills and "Fire" drills. When the air-raid siren sounded, we each knew exactly what to do. We each would crouch down on our knees, underneath our desk and pull our jacket down over our heads. Eyes closed, curled in a ball with my head between my knees and my arms over my head, I often wondered if this was another drill or if something was actually happening. When the principal got on the loudspeaker and told us everything was all clear, we would get up and go back to our classwork. When the fire alarm went off, we automatically fell into pairs and assembled ourselves in a quiet line and headed out of the building. The last one out was responsible for closing windows and doors and shutting off lights. Once we were outside, we met together in a pre-designated place. Each of us was to make sure our "partner" was present, and the teacher would immediately call roll. When the "All Clear" bell sounded, we would go back into the building and resume normal activities.

After going through these drills, all the way through eighth grade, I began to think that an emergency was something you prepared for, but something that never really happened. I was mistaken! There came a time when my class was going on a field trip. We were going to visit a canning factory and learn how foods were canned for sale to the supermarkets. About half-way through the tour of the factory, we heard the ever-dreaded air-raid siren blasting! We all dropped to the floor and got underneath of the nearest stable thing we could find, which, at this point of the visit, was the conveyor belt. We were all lined up like little frogs, ready to jump. The workers in the factory did the same thing. Soon there was an enormous sound, like an explosion. The building began to rumble and shake. Things were falling all around us. The rumbling was so loud we could not talk to the person beside us. Everything above the conveyor belt was smashing to the floor and we could hear windows shattering and heavy objects thudding to the ground. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, all the noise stopped and a deafening silence fell upon us. No one moved. Just about the time I opened my eyes to peak around, the factory's fire alarm sounded.

We all got up, saying nothing, and lined up in pairs. The workers led us out of the factory to a clearing in a back parking lot. We could see people coming out of all the factory doors. One of my classmates mentioned that at school, we were always instructed to move as far from the building as possible and then gather together in the front. So we walked, two by two, in silence, around to the front of the building. That is where we met up with our teachers and the rest of our schoolmates. Some of the children had small cuts and there were a few bruises from falling objects during the earthquake. We all sat in a group and talked about this incident. It was clear to me right then and there that all those drills we had in school had paid off. No one was missing from our groups and no one was seriously hurt. That was the result of being prepared.

So, now that I have told you all of this, I would like to propose, to anyone who is getting ready for the coming earth changes, that you begin having drills such as this with your family. Each person should have very specific instructions. Mama can alert the family. Papa can secure the barn. Joey can close the doors and windows. Cathy can pick up the cat on her way to your sheltered area. There are many differences in what each family will do, according to their living conditions, experience, and fore-planned safety procedures. Be sure that everyone has their responsibilities in order and that all members of the family know what to do, how to do it, and especially where to meet together in the event of such an emergency.

Another thing that has come to my mind is that each person preparing for the coming events might find it useful to practice certain things. I live in the woods already, so it is possible that the changes might not be so very devastating here as it will be in a city. There are several things you can do to help yourselves be more prepared for the living that comes right after the initial changes. I would suggest that you take the time to learn certain basic skills right now. For instance: choose a day when all the family is at home. Turn off your power to you house for 24 hours. Do not use any electrical devices or appliances. Learn how to fill your kerosene lamps, trim the wicks, clean the globes and work by kerosene light. Turn on your battery-operated radio and listen to the news. Have emergency candles on hand in case your lamp runs out of fuel. Make sure everyone knows where the extra batteries and candles are located. Have fire extinguishers on hand, easy to get to. Get all the curtains in the house closed to prevent cuts and abrasions from flying glass. Enact the scene (for 24 hours) just as if the changes were already upon us. Help your family to understand that being prepared is the best way to survive the changes, for all of them!

Offered by Shekhina.