Board certified in disaster medicine and adviser for FEMA's NW region, Geoffrey Simmons discussed preparedness as well as his work with Darwin, Creation and the evolution of man. Lamenting that most people are woefully unprepared for disasters, he cited studies which say that "only about 25 percent of people have significant preparedness." The reasons for this stunningly low statistic, Simmons said, include a dismissive attitude about the possibility of a disaster, procrastination, and a lack of funding or proper education about the subject. Hoping to rectify that final reason, Simmons shared a litany of "do's and don'ts" to help people safely survive a disaster.
Among the "do's" were to have a preparedness kit which includes food and water, a flashlight, and gloves. He also suggested that families should have a post-disaster meeting place, an out of town contact to serve as a communication conduit, and that each family member should have designated roles, such as precuring important paperwork and pets.
Many of the "don'ts" listed by Simmons were predicated on self-reliance and acceptance that first responders, stores, and credit/debit cards simply will not be fuctioning in the event of a disaster. While water is essential to survival in a disaster, it was also a key aspect in two of Simmons' "don'ts." He explained that it is imperative that you do not open canned goods that were submerged in flood water, since they could be contaminated. Additionally, he advised that people should not attempt to dive down roads that appear to only be mildly flooded, as the waters can obscure the true damage the pathway has sustained.
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- Jonny
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