Are You Ready

Are You Ready?

Last week, the week of March 25, 2007, a good portion of Wyoming was hit with a major spring storm. Wyoming-ites experienced everything from rain, snow, sleet, wind, thunder and lightning. Nothing new, to those of us who have lived here in this state for more than twenty five years! But to those who have just moved here or were born in the last few years, it was an eye opening experience. Snow depth’s ranged from nothing to 72 inches and wind gusts of over 100 mph to no wind at all. This is Mother Nature at her finest, and once again reminded us of our place here in her arms. With the temperatures dropping, the sun setting in the West and most people feeling happy to be home, safe from the storm. The power suddenly goes out. All at once there are no lights, no heat, no news via the television, computer or radio. The gas pumps don’t work, cash registers are down and our modern world we know and are used to comes to a sudden halt.

For some of us it is no big deal, we dig out the coal oil lanterns or candles, flash lights are made ready, camp stoves brought in from storage and extra blankest found. With all this made ready, a nostalgic calm settles and past memories flood ourselves and those near to us. To those who have never experienced the sudden loss of all things modern and no knowledge of what to do or expect, these can be trying times.

It makes me wonder just how many of us are ready and could survive if the things we take for granted in today’s world were no longer available? How many of us have the knowledge it would take to live as our ancestors only a couple of generations ago lived? How many even know what to look for or where to look for it? Remember there is no internet, no television, and no radio; all of the information highway we are accustomed to today is gone. We have to rely on what we know and who we know. I cherish the upbringing and knowledge I was given, literally from birth through the present. I have the confidence that I could survive along with most of those close to me. But how many others are there that would complete and pass the test. We never know when the next natural or man made disaster is going to happen. We have had many local or regional collapses of the modern infrastructure. To those involved all good things left, but help was and is always close, although it may appear to take forever and never be enough, help is there. What happens if there is no help? No one is coming, you are on your own! It is to late to get ready, find the knowledge and gather the material for survival. To those who know nothing, LEARN, to those who know some thing, LEARN, and to those who think they know every thing, LEARN.

And now it is time for me to end this post and see what else I need to do to keep myself and family safe and warm.

GET SMART, STAY SAFE AND KEEP SMILING

D. Bleak