Chapter 5 - Preparing for the Era of Changes
Summary
Preparing for the moment when emergencies overwhelm local resources and response systems requires significant coordination efforts. Collaboration will be vital to endure the coming challenges. Survival will require extensive planning, essential preparation, and the formation of collaborative networks to protect physical and mental health.
First Priority: Planning
The time to form a group will have expired if disasters begin to occur so often that they exhaust the resources of local and national rescue systems. It would be too late if earthquakes and human-made conflicts disable road systems, waterways, and ports. However, if you read these words under more benign conditions, engage your path of evolution, study, plan, and organize a collaborative group, no matter how small.
As you begin basic preparations, remember that it is necessary to maintain a positive attitude when facing barriers and impediments to your progress. Trust your internal force and inspiration to harness the means for achieving goals required for group survival.
Encourage contributions from all group members during planning activities to create a spirit of inclusion and broad perspective. Even in the planning stage, you must ensure stability and balance in the membership of the planning working group. Include women and men in your planning activities to avoid inequities and personal biases. In the years before the peak of the era of changes, each group must engage in three basic activities:
1. Theorizing local emergencies and group response plans
2. Assessing the efficacy of emergency response plans and theories
3. Testing and retesting emergency plans to improve their effectiveness
Work together in small and large groups as necessary to develop a list of prioritized activities. Design response plans for emergency scenarios likely to occur in the location you intend to live during the era of changes. These plans must describe group goals and individual actions clearly, including all steps necessary to ensure adequate preparation and response during emergencies.
Once you complete and exercise the emergency response plans in simulated scenarios, write down the results and lessons learned for each group member. Do not mind the criticism of those who judge your efforts as tedious or unnecessary. You will be grateful for the time and effort spent preparing in advance during actual emergencies.
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