Edit: As I was preparing the original blog post - a flurry of magnitude 6+ earthquakes hit the northern coast of California. Living on the Southern Oregon Coast, we received an emergency alert for the earthquake, quickly followed by a tsunami warning. Thankfully, I had a great plan to gather my family from school & work, and head to high ground.

Ultimately, everything was okay and no tsunami hit. The warning was cancelled a short while after issued, but panic spread across the entire city. Streets were jammed, and I had to improvise. Finding new roads, all while driving safely and obeying the laws became important as everything was gridlocked.

This highlights the importance of having a good plan. With all of that said, enjoy the original blog post.

Surviving a Natural Disaster Takes Courage & Adaptability

I have been thinking about the basics of survival since I was a kid. Growing up in the Midwest, we had tornadoes and floods threatening to take us out every spring & summer.

Now that I live in the coastal Pacific Northwest, earthquakes and tsunamis are the threat. And if you live in the Southeast, I don’t need to tell you about the danger of hurricanes. The point is, there’s potential for danger no matter where you live.

This does not mean that you need to be anxious every day. In the face of a natural disaster, courage and adaptability are paramount. A well-defined emergency plan is crucial, but so is the ability to adjust that plan when faced with unexpected challenges.

With the right plan and adaptability skills on your side, you can rest easy knowing that you are ready for what may come.

The Importance of a Pre-Defined Emergency Plan

A pre-defined emergency plan is your roadmap in a crisis. It should include:

Evacuation routes and meeting points: Know where to go and how to get there if you need to evacuate. (Source: Ready.gov)
Emergency communication plan: Have a way to contact family and loved ones. (Source: Ready.gov)
Emergency kit: This should include food, water, first-aid supplies, and other essentials. Visit our guide on how to build an effective Emergency Survival Kit.
Shelter plan: Know where you will shelter if you cannot evacuate the affected area. This could be your own home or with friends or family members. (Source: Ready.gov)

Practice and/or roleplay your Emergency Plan with your immediate family or housemates. It can help you identify gaps in your plan and when minutes/seconds matter, having been through the plan before will help you feel more confident.

The Role of Courage in a Disaster

Courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting regardless of fear. In a disaster, you may need to:

Make quick decisions: There may not be time to fully work out the perfect reaction. Trust your instincts and your plan. In most cases, you can pivot if you made the wrong choice.
Face the unknown: Disasters are unpredictable. Be prepared to step outside your comfort zone. The good news is that if you struggle with this now, there are resources to help you get better.
Help others: Your courage can inspire others and help them survive. Remaining positive in times of crisis can be the difference between giving up or continuing to fight.

Adaptability: The Key to Survival

No plan survives first contact with the enemy. The same is true for disaster plans. You must be able to adapt when:

Your evacuation route is blocked. Find an alternate route or shelter in place. Know how to read paper maps in case your GPS/phone maps are not working.
Your communication plan fails. Use alternative methods to contact loved ones. Memorize or keep a written copy of the most important phone numbers.
Your supplies run low. Ration your supplies and find ways to replenish them. In times of crisis, community members often trade in lieu of currency.
The situation changes unexpectedly. Be prepared to reassess and adjust your plan as needed.

Real-World Examples of Courage and Adaptability

Conclusion

Surviving a natural disaster requires both courage and adaptability. A pre-defined emergency plan is essential, but it is equally important to be able to adjust that plan in the face of unexpected challenges. By cultivating these two traits, you can increase your chances of survival and help others do the same.