(c) 2016 John Thurman – Hurricane Irma, Puerto Rico
Do You Have a Family Disaster Plan?
It has been heart-wrenching to see the horrible destruction caused by the past two hurricanes. In the late 1970s, I lived in East Tennessee for my last two years of undergraduate work, and we visited Western North Carolina quite often. Seeing the massive destruction, particularly from Hurricane Helene, has been sobering.
One reason the impact was so horrifying in Western North Carolina was that this type of weather incident has been so rare, and many communities were unprepared for the destruction they witnessed.
Most of us don’t want to think about calamities, accidents, and disasters, much less actively prepare for them. But the truth is that if we fail to plan, we risk our family’s safety.
In my work as a Disaster Mental Health provider, I have witnessed both the cost of a lack of preparedness and the benefit of being prepared. As of this writing, some of my New Mexico Southern Baptist Disaster Relief friends are working with other faith-based disaster relief agencies as they provide chain saw services, laundry, shower facilities, and a broad array of services to those impacted in Western North Carolina.
Here is How to Make a Family Disaster Plan
Earlier this year, Focus on the Family published my article on creating a family disaster plan.
Be Blessed and Safe,
John Thurman
