I find it interesting that more people are not prepared for disaster to strike at any moment.  After we've lived through watching the twin towers fall in New York, the horrors of Hurricane Katrina, which followed right on the tail of the most devastating and unexpected tsunami any of us could ever imagine in our human lives...a tsunami which took the lives of some quarter-million people, on an ordinary day.  These few very devastating and life stealing events happened in the last short decade.  Somehow some people still think we're somehow immune to unexpected devastation, that perhaps our lives will not be touched, perhaps our loved ones will not be affected....

I say that people should do what little they can to prepare.  I say that disaster preparedness is a responsibility we all have, especially for those that cannot prepare for themselves - like children, or people with special needs, or elderly citizens....we all have a responsibility for our own lives and to those who we love.

Californians are getting ready to prepare in a big way with 4.7 million participants (and counting), for an upcoming event, "The Great California ShakeOut", taking place Oct. 15, 2009.  The purpose of the event is to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes, while at work,  school, and home.  

This is a great start, and we hope to see more of these movements which raise awareness and encourage preparedness.

While we cannot assure that our preparedness steps will actually save our lives, the fact that these steps could save our lives should be enough to motivate us into action.  Simple steps such as making sure there is an emergency kit in the home, in the car, at work...consisting of basic needs such as emergency food and water, emergency warmth and shelter, first aid supplies, emergency lights and transmission equipment such as a hand-crank radio to hear emergency announcements, and even some emergency basic tools such as rope, tape, saw or multi-purpose tool, matches, etc.  Having these basic items available can make the difference between life and death in an emergency.

Disaster preparedness cannot wait, pick up a disaster survival kit for starters.  Get educated, make an emergency plan, make a list, meet with your family, inform your children, co-workers, and loved ones.  Things can change in the blink of an eye so take it seriously, and make your move starting now.