Spoiler alert: writing disaster fiction
doesn't necessarily prepare you for real emergencies.
During research for my YA novel Pandemic, I learned about emerging infectious diseases and the concept of sheltering in place. The more I read, the more I became convinced that my family should have decent emergency supplies in the house, just in case of a disaster. You know how right before a hurricane, grocery and hardware stores will run out of flashlight batteries? I wanted to be prepared ahead of time.
I made lists of what we needed, bought supplies, then neatly stored everything. I thought we were ready.
That October, our town and the surrounding areas were hit with a freakish ice storm. The ice broke many large tree limbs, causing widespread power outages. And—surprise--I realized that we weren’t that prepared after all. I only lasted three days before packing up the kids, their Halloween costumes, and our dog to stay with family who still had electricity.
I made lists of what we needed, bought supplies, then neatly stored everything. I thought we were ready.
That October, our town and the surrounding areas were hit with a freakish ice storm. The ice broke many large tree limbs, causing widespread power outages. And—surprise--I realized that we weren’t that prepared after all. I only lasted three days before packing up the kids, their Halloween costumes, and our dog to stay with family who still had electricity.
Here are a few lessons learned:
- Pretend you don’t have electricity for an evening and analyze your situation. Can you find the flashlights in the dark? Do you have a way to prepare food without power? Can you easily access vital records if you need to leave? Also, test any new gadgets ahead of time. I wanted to throw our inexpensive hand-crank phone charger across the room, because one hour of tiresome cranking resulted in a miniscule battery charge.
- Keep supplies on hand for pets. Make sure you have extra food available as well as pet medicines. If your dog frequently throws up, for example, having some extra anti-vomiting tablets is a good idea. Driving to the vet during a disaster is best avoided, if possible. (I learned this the hard way.)
- Stock up on over-the-counter pain relievers, rehydration drinks, broth, and crackers. It doesn’t require a pandemic to be grateful for these. A bout of stomach virus or food poisoning will do the trick. (Also, if you’ve written a novel about contagious diseases and don’t keep these items in the house, your family will be understandably bitter.)
- If there is a possibility of losing power, hold off on using the washing machine. If the spin cycle can’t complete, you will need to wring out all of the laundry manually and find a place to let it air out (like in the shower or bathtub). Otherwise, you will end up with moldy, smelly clothes.
- Books make everything better. Stock up on easy reads, suspenseful novels, funny ones. Have books on hand that the whole family can enjoy. You’ll want something to keep you distracted from the puking dog, the stomach ache, or the laundry stench. And don’t forget to buy extra flashlights batteries to read after dark.
I hope my "lessons learned" help with your own disaster preparedness. (If you're looking for more National Preparedness Month information, FEMA provides some checklists.)
If you're interested in the award-winning YA novel that inspired my own disaster planning, here's a brief description:
In PANDEMIC, only a few people know what caused Lilianna Snyder's sudden change from a model student to a withdrawn pessimist who worries about all kinds of disasters. After her parents are called away on business, Lil’s town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread fatal illness. With her worst fears realized, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.
If you're interested in the award-winning YA novel that inspired my own disaster planning, here's a brief description:
In PANDEMIC, only a few people know what caused Lilianna Snyder's sudden change from a model student to a withdrawn pessimist who worries about all kinds of disasters. After her parents are called away on business, Lil’s town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread fatal illness. With her worst fears realized, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.
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