It is interesting that Sara Palin supported her daughter’s right to chose, however, Mrs. Palin would deny millions of US women their right to chose.

I caught your segment on Brian Lehrer’s show this morning and called in a comment. Thanks for giving this important topic your attention. My group, Upper West Side CERT, would be happy to assist you with more information for your book and to brainstorm on the OEM issue that a few people have cited. We meet monthly and would enjoy having you as a guest.

Linda Lopez
Vice-president and Deputy Team Leader

Regarding having your stuff – I live on Long Island. We drive everywhere, so my go bag is in the trunk of my car, along with my CERT official gear. That’s not much of an option in the city, so home it the best place to have it, but also have some sort of kit at work – one bag to grab on your way out. Small first aid kit, Sharpie, emergency cash, a bit of food, bottle of water, a few days supply of any medications you are on, comfortable walking shoes (if you don’t normally wear such to work), a knife (if allowed at work).

These kits aren’t just for THE BIG ONE either. Once you get in the habit of being prepared, lots of little things get easier that you wouldn’t think of othewise. Just the other day I was running late at work, and didn’t have time to stop for food on my way to a meeting, so I grabbed a granola bar out of my kit, so I wasn’t crabby at the meeting. That night I replaced the food – it’s important to always keep the kit stocked, as the stuff that you dip into most frequently is the stuff you need the most often and by Murphy’s Law it will be the one thing you are looking for when TSHTF.

When The Big One happens, you are going to have LOTS of things to be concerned about. Preparedness at the basic level is about making sure that the little stuff is taken care of so that you can focus your energy on dealing with the big problems. Otherwise, you need to deal with all the little distractions at the same time, and that’s just more un-fun. Also, starting out with solving the little problems quickly and easily gives you successes early in the process, and helps out with your mental attitude later. Other people also see that you have it together, and may take you on as an impromptu leader. That can turn a panicky mob into a much more managable group for when the cavalry finally arives.

Regardless of what stuff you have available, you always have your mind. A little mental preparedness can make the difference between panic and a measured, appropriate response. Basic first aid training should be #1 on the list if you don’t already have it.

For the elderly/disabled, Suffolk has the Joint Emergency Evacuation Program (JEEP) program to register people who will need help in an evacuation situation. Registration is handled by the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES).

For pet friendly shelters – in Suffolk, we have one at the FRES office in Yaphank. Staffing that shelter is the primary thing that we drill for in Suffolk County CERT. An index of PFS in other areas can be found at http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/?page=pet_shelters

And finally, the “senile boy scout” comment: we’re not senile, but we are prepared. Many in CERT are Eagle Scouts (myself included), many others are military or emergency services veterans. Most are just average people who don’t like the idea of being caught with their pants down in an emergency and want to do something to help their community. Though seriously, if you want your kids to be ready, sending your sons to the Boy Scouts is the single best thing you can do. If they don’t think it’s “cool,” tell them that they get to play with fire and knives. It’s the real reason we all joined in the first place, but in the end all the camping and whatnot is a vehicle to teach them about leadership, citizenship, and preparedness.