September is National Preparedness Month, but you'd never know it if you follow the mainstream media.
Preparedness Month is the perfect time for you to spread the word about emergency preparedness without sounding like a doomsday worrywart (and that's putting it kindly).
Yes my fellow preppers, we are still maligned by the media, and sometimes skewered by the general public, just for following the same principle as any good Boy Scout - be prepared.
You know what the problem is? It's that damn Twilight Zone episode where a supposed alien attack caused people to turn on each other when only one neighbor had a bomb shelter stocked with supplies. It was great TV, but it forever branded preppers as the people to fear in times of disaster because they instantly become the ones making the rules.
Be Neighborly
Preppers should use this month as an excuse to get to know their neighbors a little better. Common sense will tell you that in case of extreme situations, all power and communications grids could be down for the count, and your only help will come from the people who live closest to you.
So it's the perfect time to get in contact - or keep in contact - with your next door neighbors. The ice-breaking conversation can start like this:
"Hey Smitty, long time no see. You know, September is Preparedness Month, and I just wanted to remind you that if anything happens like a fire or earthquake or anything, and something happens to your house, you and your kids should arrange to meet at my house. So if you want to make a formal emergency plan, we've had one since the Northridge quake of 1994 and I'll show it to you. And you can feel free to use our place as an emergency gathering spot and base camp..."
It's hard to refuse a neighborly gesture like that.
Show Off The Technology
It's easy to get the ball rolling at work because that's where most people hear about events like National Preparedness Month. Bring in your bug-out bag or a picture of it. Most people are surprised to learn how neat and compact a 3-day supply of everything you'll need can be. If you stress the technology part more than the doomsday part, people will be more open to your ideas.
Remind People That Nothing is Foolproof
Although everyone has a contingency plan somewhere at the back of his or her mind, some are just more detailed. For example, my uncle told me he has a brilliant plan to deal with ANY disaster: You go to Google and type in the words, “What to do in case of a…” and fill in the blank with the disaster you're dealing with, i.e. hurricane, earthquake, meteor strike, terrorist attack, etc.
And then I told him what I tell everyone - two things you should never rely on in an emergency are the Internet and the government. Make sure to remind people what happened to the government and the Internet during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. Tell anyone who will listen what might happen when the power grid goes on the fritz, all the while stressing the positive side of being prepared.
Blame Mother Nature
Even if you think you know for sure that the guy who lives at the end of your block is a part-time reservist in a terrorist cell, or you have inside information that the world economy will collapse as soon as Uber drivers start accepting Bitcoin payments, do not bring it up when you're talking to people about prepping. Everyone in his or her right mind accepts the fact that natural disasters are unstoppable, unpredictable, and inevitable. The recent 6.1 earthquake in Northern California is a perfect example. After all, if the quake had struck a few hours earlier or a few hours later, hundreds of lives would have been lost
Show Your Wares A Little At A Time
If you brag about your emergency generator and show off your extensive stockpiles of food, water, and toiletries, your friends, family, and co-workers may think you've gone off the deep end, especially if you've been amassing your supplies for some time. Instead, suggest they start their own emergency kits with some freeze-dried rations, energy bars, and water. Once they start, they won't be able to stop, and September is the perfect time for them to get going.
Then again, for seasoned preppers, every month is National Preparedness Month.
