EVERYDAY EMERGENCIES: INTRODUCTION
One of the biggest misconceptions about preppers are that we all prepare for some sort of cataclysmic event that simply by scale becomes; "The End Of The World As We Know It" also known as TEOTWAWKI. The truth is most preppers prepare for events that are much smaller in scale and more localized such as Everyday Emergencies or Large Scale Disasters.
Everyday Emergencies occur often enough and usually within eyesight of most preppers that we fully understand the dangers of these events, that is why we prep for them first. Everyday Emergencies literally happen every single day, and each year they kill millions of people worldwide. Statistics tell us that you, "the reader" no matter who you are or where you live, it is highly probable that you have experienced at least three Everyday Emergencies in your lifetime.
What are common Everyday Emergencies or EDE?
Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Floods, Droughts, Poor Water Quality or Waterborne Illness, Earthquakes, Home Fires, Physical Assault, Severe Storms, Power Outages, Wild Fires, Street Crime, Unemployment, small scale terrorism, Chemical Spill, etc. There are several dozen if not hundreds of Everyday Emergencies, but these events are only classified as such depending upon severity.
When does an Everyday Emergency become a Large-Scale Disaster?
Everyday Emergencies are very common events easily definable as; (1) occurring a minimum of once a year, (2) impacting a region of less than 50 square miles, (3) local emergency services are more than sufficient responders, (4) economic loss or total value loss of all properties, within affected region less than 10%, and (5) typically last between 24 hour and 72 hours, (although an event that lasts up to seven days could be defined as an Everyday Emergency if the following; it impacts less than 50 square miles and local responders are more than capable of handling the increased need). There are times though when an Everyday Emergency, such as, a hurricane becomes so severe that it gets elevated to Large-Scale Disaster. Hurricane Katrina is just one of those Everyday Emergencies that deserve the title of Large-Scale Disaster.
Hurricane Katrina impacted a region from Louisiana to Alabama, up to fifty miles inland, and well outside the 50 square miles of an Everyday Emergency. Of course this is not enough to label something as a Large-Scale Disaster, because most hurricanes stretch several hundred miles wide and have the capability to impact everything from Texas to Florida. In order for Hurricane Katrina to be considered as a Large-Scale Disaster we must also factor it against the remaining classifiers of an Everyday Emergency;
(1) occurring a minimum of once a year,
(2) impacting a region of less than 50 square miles,
(3) local emergency services are more than sufficient responders,
(4) economic loss or total value loss of all properties, within affected region less than 10%, and
(5) typically last between 24 hour and 72 hours
(2) impacting a region of less than 50 square miles,
(3) local emergency services are more than sufficient responders,
(4) economic loss or total value loss of all properties, within affected region less than 10%, and
(5) typically last between 24 hour and 72 hours
The classifiers of 2, 3, 4, and 5 easily define Hurricane Katrina as a Large-Scale Disaster. Hurricane Katrina although beginning as an Everyday Emergency, could only be classified as a Large-Scale Disaster, unfortunately after the event was over. We determine that an Everyday Emergency is still definable as such if it only carries two or less of the classifiers. At any time that an Everyday Emergency emerges with three or more classifiers it is then upgraded to a Large-Scale Disaster.
Is it important that we classify and attempt to define the severity of an event?
In short, absolutely! The United States government does a great job of classifying incoming events, such as, hurricanes being a Category 1 or/ up to a 5, however this system of classification does little to estimate actual impact. A category 1 storm surge could be considerably worse than the storm surge of a Cat 4, because there are numerous variables that affect the impact, yet it is more likely that people will prep for the latter than the former.
The current classification system for all disasters and even terrorism are seriously outdated and more of a hindrance to public safety than an aid. Of course defining what an Everyday Emergency is and when it becomes something bigger means at times waiting until after the disaster has hit. However labeling an impending disaster, such as, a hurricane as a plausible Incoming Large-Scale Disaster would easily differentiate the normal occurrence of an Everyday Emergency from what was about to hit. There are numerous variables that effect the turnout of events, but many can be easily added to a computer model to forecast a storm up to 24 hours as either an Everyday Emergency or Large-Scale Disaster.
Everyday Emergencies Versus Large-Scale Disasters or Versus Protracted Events
Everyday Emergencies are more than capable of turning your world upside down, killing you or your entire household, destroying everything you own, and ending the world as you knew it! Everyday Emergencies are not to be taken lightly and doing so will only ensure your death or pain when the time comes.
If your family finds itself square in the “path of the tornado” as they say, it will matter very little to you at the time, or thereafter if the storm is labeled an Everyday Emergency, Large-Scale Disaster, or Protracted Event. As previously mentioned Everyday Emergencies kill millions of people each and every year, and next year they will kill millions more. We have absolutely no way of stopping or preventing most of these events, but you can prepare for them. It is my opinion “Common $ense Prepper” and the opinion of the entire, “Common Sense Prepper Network” that you give first thought to prepping for these types of emergencies.
Remember this important note. History is on the side of the prepared!
Remember this important note. History is on the side of the prepared!