Getting Ready for Disaster

When I was a little girl it was not unusual for people to build personal fallout shelters. The cold war was still going on and people feared nuclear attack. People don’t so that anymore.

After 911 people ran out and bought duct tape and plastic sheeting. They thought it could protect them from a dirty bomb. I know people who subscribed to that idea. I didn’t. I felt with certainty that plastic sheeting and duct tape would not be a formidable barrier to nuclear debris. And I further surmised that if the plastic sheeting and duct tape did work, people would be likely to die of suffocation due to the lack of fresh air.

At schools all over the country, post Columbine, students practice lockdowns. But all I can think is that if someone goes postal, and students are locked in a room, the classroom lock may not be enough to keep the intruder out. The students may not be safe. I feel with certainty that the classroom lock will be the loser in gun fight.

I am not suggesting that people should not prepare for disaster. I am just saying that the preparation, while psychologically comforting, may not necessarily affect the aftermath.

For the past several days people have been preparing for hurricane Irene. And yesterday, Friday, I decided to do my civic duty. And I spent the entire morning buying water, searching out batteries, and buying food. And I was a bit annoyed to discover that in all of the big box stores, supplies had been sold out from Tuesday. I am just not that hysterical. But I decided to rise to the challenge. I knew I had to think outside the box. And I did. I bought some batteries at Toys are Us and the rest at Harmon Drugs. And I bought 2 loaves of bread at Panera. And I went to the new camping store that not many people know about yet to buy some really cool camping lights and glow sticks.I am as prepared as I can be.  But I also know that no matter how well I have prepared, a hurricane is out of my control. Irene is going to do what she is going to do no matter how many supplies I have squirreled away.

So like everyone else I will wait and see. Father Borzaga liked to say men plan and God laughs. But I do know why Noah built that ark. He watched way too much storm watch television. And then he made some serious plans.

This was written Saturday August 27, 2011. I am happy to report that Irene stole some power but LIPA returned it.