As we approached the year 2000, there was much anxiety and dread over what would happen. The usual "the end is near" crowd warned us, of course, but then we had real world concerns over our computer systems. What chaos might befall us if the machines we had come to rely on suddenly stopped working or, worse, stopped working properly!

Of course, we survived all that with hardly a scratch.

Now, we face the next potential doomsday: the year 2012.

The Mayan clock runs out in December of 2012. There are some interesting astronomical alignments coming in the year 2012. These things, and others, have some warning of impending doom, once again.

Will we be blasted with gamma rays from a distant galaxy? Will the Earth's crust shift, moving the continents into different temperature zones and causing massive land changes? Will some doomsday minded people bring about the end through man-made catastrophes? If any of these things happen, how can we survive?

The first thing we can do is to be prepared. Even without the potential end of the world hanging over our heads, we are always at risk of natural disasters, from tornadoes and hurricanes, to earthquakes and flooding, and so on. Disaster preparedness should be a practice of every household! It definitely should not be something you only think of when prophecy comes knocking at your door.

Be ready to stay put! If a disaster occurs, you may need to be able to survive at home for days or even weeks, depending upon the type and extent of the disaster. You should make sure that you have enough food and water, as well as medicines and other necessities, sufficient to make it through several weeks without outside contact. You might want to keep supplies stored in a mobile plastic container that can be moved easily. In the event of a tornado, you may seek refuge in your basement but, in the event of flooding, you might seek safety on your second floor. So, keep an emergency container where it can be easily found and moved as the disaster may require.

You should also develop an emergency plan for your home with plans for different types of disasters. Have an evacuation plan too. For example, in the event of a tornado, where is the safest part of your house? If you have sufficient notice, will you be safer at home or seeking shelter at a neighbor's home or community shelter?

Be ready to be mobile! Some disasters may require that you abandon your home. Such disasters may include chemical spills, wild fires, earthquakes, etc. You might use the emergency supplies container you store in your home, moving it to your trunk or back seat if leaving your home becomes required. Alternatively, you might want to keep a separate emergency supplies kit in your car. That way, too, if disaster strikes when you're not at home, you won't need to run home to fetch your supplies.

Be kind to each other! If you believe that the end of the world will be a man-made event, then simple acts of kindness may be your best safety net. Spread the kindness around. You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your neighborhood. As the kindness moves along, you may just find that you can change the world after all!

If disaster does strike, whether it's a "normal" disaster or an end-of-the-world-type catastrophe, all the survivors will need to work together to ensure their long-term survival.

If worries about 2012 and the "end of the world" motivate you to get a disaster preparedness kit together, that's a silver lining on the clouds of worry. But, if the end doesn't come, don't abandon or neglect your preparedness plans and kits, as many did after the year 2000. No part of the world is immune from disaster of some form occurring, so be prepared and don't get caught off-guard!



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