The tragedy in Haiti weighs on my thoughts lately and I am shocked and saddened by almost every news report I am reading.  I have made a donation to the American Red Cross and understand that money is what is most needed at the moment.  I am proud of the efforts being make by the United States to aid in this tragedy and hope that with the intervention of the U.S. and other countries, the people of Haiti can be spared even more suffering.

Today’s post is about thinking through what is happening in Haiti and finding lessons to prepare ourselves in the event of natural disaster.

While I grew up in the mountainous state of Utah, which geologically should have a regular number of earthquakes, I only remember experiencing one very small earthquake in Utah.  It happened during a high school math test.  The desks began shifting back and forth just slightly.  “Should we get under our desks?” one student asked.  “No. Keep working,” came the reply from our lovable but challenging math teacher.  Sure enough, the quake ended in a few seconds and there was no damage to speak of.

It took an overseas trip to Greece to experience a “real” earthquake.  My sisters and I were on a heritage trip to Greece with our grandmother.  While we were staying in a hotel in the mountains of Delphi, a moderate earthquake occurred in the middle of the night.  We were awakened by the bed rigidly moving two feet forward and two feet back, and the rattling noises of doors, furniture and objects.  To say that it was terrifying is an understatement!  We ran to a doorway while the quake happened.  Fortunately there was no major damage and no one was injured.  Within our international tour group, however, there was panic and chaos.  “What should we do?” we all asked each other.  “I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m getting dressed!” called out a sassy grandmother from Texas.  And so at about 3 a.m. there we all were, packed and dressed standing out in the lobby of the hotel (except for the Japanese tourists, who later told us that they woke up when the quake hit, said, “Oh, it’s just an earthquake,” rolled over and went back to bed!).  Aftershocks rolled in, first every half hour or so.  Each aftershock brought on a major case of nerves and fear.  It is hard to describe how unsettling it feels to know that there is nowhere safe on the earth for you to go.  Inside is just as unsafe as outside.  Underground the same as above ground.  The only “safety” is being in the air above the earth’s surface.  We tried to stay calm as the water glasses rattled at breakfast and the ground beneath our feet vibrated.    Gradually, the aftershocks came less and less frequently and were lesser in intensity.   The day continued as normal for us and for most people in Greece as well.  I don’t know the magnitude of that earthquake.  If I had to guess, perhaps it was a 4 or maybe a 5.

The people of Haiti have just experienced a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, 100 to 1,000 times more powerful than what I have ever experienced.  The earthquake I experienced would be “just” an aftershock to them.  Buildings have collapsed, people are suffering grievous injuries and are trapped without water, food or shelter.  Many have no access to medical care and while rescuers are on the scene, there are sure to be many who will not be rescued for several days or perhaps a week.  These brave people must have the peace of mind to look out for their own survival even as they are coping with the grief of losing loved ones and wrestling with their own fears.

What would you do if you were a Haitian right now?  As I thought through this terrifying question, it pointed out a lot of weaknesses in my own emergency preparations.  For example, if your house collapses and you can’t access your emergency food or water stores, it is just the same as if you didn’t make any preparations at all.  While I have come up with theoretical possibilities to address this (spread the food stores in different places in your home, bury them outside in an underground emergency shelter, etc.) we have to realize that there are weaknesses in every plan and sometimes we will be alone and unprepared.

During the recent east coast snowstorm, I found that one of the best emergency preparations you can have is a network of people who live near you and care for your welfare and a communication method to stay in touch with them.  In a disaster of the magnitude Haiti is facing, no one can survive this completely on their own.  People will have to reach out to their neighbors, friends and strangers, share their talents and supplies and put group needs above individual ones.  This is all very difficult to say the least.

What would an expert survivalist do in Haiti?  I turn to my trusted guide, “The SAS Survival Handbook” by John “Lofty” Wiseman, which I received from my wonderful sister-in-law for Christmas and which I highly recommend that everyone purchase for their own emergency preparations.

Mr. Wiseman uses the acronym PLAN for the priority things you should do in a survival situation like the earthquake in Haiti:

P – Protection – “You must ensure you are protected from further danger. . . .   Ideally evacuate to an open area. . . . Do NOT shelter in damaged buildings or ruins.  Build a shelter from debris.”

L – Location – “[P]ut out emergency signals.  You must draw attention to your position.”   “Stay tuned to a local radio station for up-to-date reports and advice. . . Turn off gas, electricity and water if advised to do so.“

A – Acquisition – “While waiting to be rescued, look for water and food.”  “Don’t wait until you have run out of water before you look for it. . . . The average human  requires the minimum of [about 8.5 oz] of water per day to survive.”

N – Navigation – “Good navigation will keep you on route and will often avert a survival situation.  But if you find yourself stranded, always stay where you are.”

–Excerpts from “The SAS Survival Handbook” by John “Lofty” Wiseman

Some other tips:

Keep a positive attitude.  “When facing a disaster it is easy to let yourself go, to collapse and be consumed in self-pity. . . Only positive action can save you.”

Emphasize hygiene as much as you can. “Rupture of sewage systems, contamination of water and the hazards of the bodies trapped in the wreckage can all make the risk of disease as deadly as the earthquake itself. . . . Filter and boil all water. . . . Bury all corpses, animal and human.”

Maintain your own health. “You must become your own doctor and carefully monitor yourself at all times. . . . Do not take any unnecessary risks that could lead to injury.”

–Excerpts from “The SAS Survival Handbook” by John “Lofty” Wiseman

These sobering tips help to remind us that there isn’t a simple or quick formula for survival situations.  Survival requires agility, flexibility, creativity and even a little bit of luck.  We can improve our chances with some preparation but we need to be ready to abandon established plans and create new ones quickly too.

Haitians, we are praying for you!  This disaster requires not only attention now but in the future as well, long after it has disappeared from popular news coverage.  I am putting a note on my calendar now to check back in on Haiti in 6 months to see where things are and, if needed, consider making an additional donation at that time as well.

Be grateful today for clean water, food and shelter.  Have a wonderful weekend!