“Disaster Preparedness: Could the U.S. Hold Water?” by Lara Salahi, is an article reported by ABC News concerning the lack of Americans who are not prepared for a disaster if it strikes. Over the last decade the United States has had on average about 50 natural disasters which adds up to be 560 in this last decade alone. Jonathon Links, director of the Johns Hopkins Center of Public Health claims that here in the United States, most cities and towns have had some types of disaster. Yet, he proclaims only 10 percent of households are ready for an emergency. Both Links and the ABC News’ chief health and medical editor, Dr Richard Besser believes in encouraging as many people as possible to get an emergency kit ready now before something does happen. Relying on help through emergency agencies could cost you your life. It only takes three days for a person to die of thirst. Having an emergency kit with the essentials is important for the reason that help could take too long. Is it really that important for Americans to be prepared or should we just sit around and wait on the governments’ help? I am prepared and will not want or need government help if a disaster hits.
Sitting around and waiting for the government to help you out after a disaster is going to be a big mistake. I personally am not going to die of thirst or diseases that come from dirty water because it might take two weeks or more for the government to help the victims of a disaster. Evonne Richards and her family of Tennessee are tornado survivors. In her testimonial, she states nothing had happened in 27 years, but because she was prepared when a tornado did hit her home she was able to have food and water. Since she did have food and water they were able to send rescue assistance away so they may help other people in need. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, after Hurricane Katrina hit on September 17, 2005, 186 public water treatment systems in Louisiana and 229 in Mississippi were severely damaged and not operational. At least 2.4 million people had no way of getting safe drinking water for at least two or more weeks after the disaster (Natural Resources Defense Council). That information supports Richards testimonial on how her family had to go five days without running water. Nonetheless Richards was thankful she took the time to have stored water that her family was able to use (Richards).
With natural disasters, like the one in Tennessee, happening all the time in the United States and with only ten percent of the American people being prepared; that leaves 90 percent of Americans dependent on government agencies like Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), to provide for them in their direr need. Americans like me should not depend on these government agencies that may not be able to come to our direr need. There could be several reasons why they do not come to your rescue. One reason is lack of funding. Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, both Republicans, are repeatedly voting against funding disaster aid for many parts of the country (Wilkie). Jonathon Links, director of the Johns Hopkins Center of Public Health, judgment about personal preparedness is; each person needs to pay more attention to their preparedness, than worrying about response time (Salahi). If more Americans would be prepared, then the less dependency we will have on emergency agencies like FEMA and Red Cross. The less dependency we have, the more these agencies can help the injured, elderly and the weak. All it takes is getting prepared so we may keep our families safe.
Convincing the American people is hard. They have the attitude that nothing is going to happen. They watch a disaster on the news but deny the possibility and lie to themselves about it not being able to happen to them. According to Links, it is hard to get people to understand the importance of being prepared for an emergency. For many years now, health officials have tried to encourage the public to develop a personal emergency plan in case a disaster should hit, but the public does not want to listen. Most people wait until the disaster actually happens (Salahi). On the other hand, there are the people who are afraid to be prepared for a disaster do to the fact that they do not want to be considered a “Prepper”. The media and reality shows have portrayed “Prepper” as the Alabama kidnapper Jimmy Lee Dykes; Nancy Lanza, whose son raided her gun collection before he carried out the Sandy Hook massacre; and the people who appear on the National Geographic TV show Doomsday Preppers (Walker). Do not let the media or even your friends and family convince you that it is ridiculous and nothing is going to happen. It is better to be prepared then not have any food and water for several days when the worst happens. It takes a disaster to happen for someone to think to themselves “I should have been prepared.”
The Red Cross tells Americans that it is unlikely an emergency will happen, but be prepared anyway for at least five days (Red Cross). FEMA’s perspective compared to Red Cross’s, would be 72 hours of emergency supplies (FEMA). The CDC has the same views as Red Cross. On the CDC’s website they have declared that Red Cross had teamed up with them to bring awareness for disaster preparation (CDC). The way I see it, if there is over 70,000 natural and man-made disasters in the U.S., there should be no reason at all not to be prepared for a disaster in your hometown (Red Cross). Let us as individuals, be strong and fight for our safety, our families, our home, and especially our way of life. It only takes one person to prepare, spread the word and get the rest of us ready as well. Besser and Links both believe that before a community preparedness can begin, it has to start with the individual (Salahi). ABC News indicates most Americans are not prepared to help themselves. I am a firm believer in the opinions of Besser and Links that every American should be able to take care of their family and themselves if a disaster was to happen. Once you have begun your quest to disaster preparedness, and getting your family on board, then you can think about spreading the word to the rest of the community. I cannot stress how important it is to be prepared and how it has and will saves lives. One important reason alone, is for the emergency agencies can concentrate on saving the lives of those who need it instead of bringing you water.
This is not the first time that someone has told you to be prepared for an emergency of some sort. Then why is there a lack of prepared Americans? Because it is easier to believe that everything is going to be ok. Links also brings up these points, people will only hear what they want to, even if they hear something bad is about to happen. In order to convince the public they need to be prepared, we have to convince them that there is a good possibility a disaster is eminent. (Salhi). Once mother nature comes knocking at your door and there is no help insight for days or weeks, like the people in Hurricane Katrina, or no water for days like Richards in Tennessee, you are going to look into your children’s eyes and be sorry you did not provide for their needs when they look up at you for help.
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