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The Boy
Scout’s motto is "Be Prepared." We hear sayings like
"Failing to plan is planning to fail" and "Proper
preparation prevents poor performance." In many areas of life we are
encouraged to plan and prepare. However, do those numerous admonitions to
prepare affect us like living by a railroad track? If you don’t live by
a railroad track, you certainly hear a train when it goes by. On the other
hand, people who live beside a railroad track get so accustomed to hearing
the trains go by that they eventually don’t notice the noise at all.
Since 9-11, we have heard more about emergency preparedness than we have
since our nation was established. The question that must be addressed is:
Are we as individuals paying attention?
Since 9-11,
and the establishment of Department of Homeland Security, the federal
government has placed an extremely high priority on the area of
preparedness. For years prior to 9-11, our Alabama Emergency Management
Agency and County Emergency Management Agencies have done a tremendous job
of preparing for and responding to disasters.
Even the
Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has formed an Emergency
Preparedness Section under the direction of the State Veterinarian and has
developed a Department Emergency Preparedness Plan. During times of crisis
and disaster, we look to government, as well we should. That is definitely
a large part of why government exists. However, that fact does not relieve
the individual of his or her responsibility of being prepared. The first
line in the Auburn University Creed that says, "I believe this is a
practical world and that I can count only on what I earn." The
paraphrase is this: "I can only be certain about what I do for
myself."
So what
does emergency preparedness mean to the individual, especially as it
relates to agriculture? First, it means protect yourself, your family, and
human life. The initial question that must be answered is, "Do you
evacuate or shelter in place?" If the answer is to evacuate, it is a
good idea to take important papers and other items that are irreplaceable,
if possible. Also, preplan evacuation routes as well as alternatives, if
the first choice is not accessible.
If the answer is to shelter
in place, the primary consideration is survival. Food and water, along
with any necessary medications are essential. Equally important is an
adequate light source. An important secondary
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