OUR OPINION: DISASTERS

If communities in the Brainerd lakes area were hit with a major disaster would we be able to respond efficiently to save lives and keep property damage to a minimum?

Think about having no electricity, no water available when we turn the faucet. Think about having no heat in the winter or being unable to use our major traffic arteries.

The keys to surviving catastrophic situations are fortitude and planning. Watching disaster victims summon the strength to carry on in the bleakest of circumstances continues to be a marvel, but there's no doubt their resolution is aided if appropriate planning preceded the disaster. Planning is important whether you're the head of federal relief efforts or merely the head of a household. Individuals can prepare by stockpiling a reasonable amount of emergency provisions: flashlights, canned goods, blankets, first aid kits. Governments and emergency responders can prepare by conducting a regular schedule of drills and establishing in advance a clear delineation of responsibilities when disaster hits.

All that's required for people who need prodding to follow through on emergency preparation is to read the horror stories of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath or spend a few minutes talking with homeless victims of the storm.