What are the fundamentals of surviving a disaster?
Preparedness is about being ready in case a disaster occurs. Disasters happen infrequently, yet our eastern Sierra zone is prone to floods, fire and earthquake, to mention a few. Being prepared is essential to survival, and if you haven't already done so, go to www.ready.gov for tips on how to "Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed."
However, mental preparedness is just as important as water, food and flashlights. Read on to learn about the importance of mental preparation and pre-contemplating your disaster response behaviors.
CONTROLLING FEAR
We feel awful when we hear about disasters in distant locations, but we react much differently when it happens to us. According to Amanda Ripley, author of "The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why," some people handle stress well and assume leadership roles, while others panic or freeze.
You may have heard it said, "You don't want to have to think in a disaster." That is because often, in life or death situations, strong physical responses occur that impede our ability to think clearly and make even minor decisions. Heart rates increase, blood pressure goes up, and stress hormones surge, making it very difficult to be rational.
How is it that some people handle stress so well? We can learn to mitigate fear-induced weakness and in doing so, enhance odds of surviving.
It is done by using familiarity. The more familiar you are ahead of time with critical decisions such as how you would evacuate, what you would take with you if you had to evacuate or how you would deal with elderly relatives or pets, the better off you will be when the time actually comes. Because you will have "pre-made" these decisions before fear takes hold, you will be able to act more quickly and effectively.
ANTIDOTE TO FREEZING UP
A very common reaction to high-stress is shutting down and becoming very still. Ripley claims this phenomenon is seen in virtually all animals tested in laboratory settings.
Since it is so pervasive, experts surmise it may be an evolved response, as in "playing dead." In ancient kinds of threats, like animal attacks, appearing dead may have been an appropriate response leading to the best outcome.
In modern situations, this response may not be so appropriate. Consider wrecks or fires when the sooner you escape, the better. Freezing up, like panic, can be prevented, and planning in advance is the best defense.
UNDERSTANDING THE PHASES
People tend to go through three phases when reacting to a disaster: denial, deliberation and action. Denial is when you attempt to downplay the seriousness of the threat so your brain can make sense of it.
This phase is perfectly normal, but it can waste precious moments.
Deliberation comes next, and it refers to how we tend to become very social in disasters, looking to others for cues, advice and information. Again, there is nothing wrong with this phase and it is an important activity, you just shouldn't linger here too long.
The third phase, where people take action, is based on what happened in denial and deliberation. Sometimes the action is appropriate, sometimes not. Often we can only know that answer in retrospect.
Having that plan to fall back on can keep us from excessive stalling in a phase.
DRILLS
Planning and formulating solutions is an essential start to surviving a disaster. But unless we occasionally re-visit the disaster scenario, we may forget all of the great ideas and well-laid plans.
A time or two a year, perhaps when you check your stockpile for expired food, it is a good idea to meet with your housemates to review the plan.
It is possible to mitigate debilitating reactions and be a strong leader in case of a disaster. Get familiar and your response decisions will be stronger, increasing your odds of survival.
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• Pam Graber is the public information officer for Carson City Health and Human Services. She can be reached at (775) 283-7906 or pgraber@carson.org. More information is available online at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org.