Because we live among other people, there are a lot of disaster plans which may affect us, some positively, some negatively. If you don’t comply with some of the disaster plans, you may find yourself under arrest – a criminal just for taking care of yourself. So it’s important to know what these plans are and to consider how you can either use them or avoid them, depending on your circumstance.
If you have children, consider the disaster plans the school will have in place. If the school is in lockdown, you will not be able to pick up your child. If you attempt to do so anyway, you will be treated like a criminal, arrested, and possibly spend some time in jail – just for trying to take care of your child yourself. So, find out what those plans are, and learn what you can do in the event of a disaster and your child is stuck at school. Or circumvent allowing someone else to control your child by homeschooling.
You job will have a variety of disaster plans, from fire escapes to nuclear disaster and pandemics. Learn what they are, what’s expected of you, and what freedoms you have to leave your workplace or bring your family there.
A lot of stores also have disaster plans. They have no hesitation using violence against you to force you, the customer, to obey their disaster plans. They may also have you arrested for not following their disaster plans. Find out what they are, and if you don’t like the plans they have in place, you can work to have them change them or shop elsewhere and let them know why.
A lot of government agencies have disaster plans which may affect you as a citizen of their jurisdiction. Find out what they are and learn how they will impact you and your plans. They have a lot of useful information on their sites, too, information you can use in making your own plans.
If you are part of a home owner’s association or a condo or high rise apartment complex, they may also have disaster plans that could affect you and may cost you your home, so find out what they are. You also want to know about the nearly deaf resident down the hall, so you can check on her, and the neighbor who’s on bed rest, and other such details so you can be of useful assistance and in compliance with the disaster codes of your condo/home owner’s association. You also want to know where the AED and fire extinguishers are and what happens with the elevators in a disaster (most are programmed to go to the ground floor and open and remain open until overridden – but not all are).
Military bases definitely have disaster plans and base personnel know it and have drilled on it repeatedly, but if you’re a family member and not an employee or base personnel and have a child in on-base day care, what happens to you and your child in a lock down if you’re off base when it happens?
Can you think of other agencies and groups that may have disaster plans that could affect you during a disaster? How will you incorporate what they require with what you need?
Collect as many of these disaster plans as you can. Review them. Know them, and know your rights concerning them. And then, make your own plans accordingly.
Clinics and hospitals also have disaster plans, and if you or a loved one receive ongoing medical care, you seriously need to know what they are so you have as little disruption in your care as possible. Make plans with your doctor/dentist/hospital for ongoing care, and learn as much about doing it yourself as possible.
