When life gets in the way…

…and preparedness slides down the list.

By Terra Anderson

I recently heard from a friend who asked to be removed from our newsletter list. She had once planned to serve as her neighborhood’s champion. But life got in the way—and now she doesn’t even want to think about emergency preparedness. Hence, no newsletter.

I’ve been pondering that exchange ever since, trying to make sense of it. Not because I don’t understand—but because I understand all too well. I’ve stood in her shoes.

So many times during my years of working and raising kids, I read articles about emergency preparedness. I nodded along, thought, Yes, that makes sense, and then… moved on to the next pressing task. Somehow, preparedness never climbed to the top of my to-do list.

And yet, I always had car insurance, house insurance, and medical insurance. So clearly, I understood risk and the need to protect against it. I suspect I carried a quiet assumption that “the system” would take care of us. After all, we regularly see images of the American Red Cross and other responders arriving to save the day. Personal accountability? That didn’t really enter my mind.

And if I’m honest, there was another assumption tucked in there too: disasters mostly happened to other people.

There’s a saying: “A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimension.”

Hearing Chief Walsh speak last April about the limitations of our emergency response capabilities—that was one of those stretch moments for me. I won’t ever be able to tuck this issue neatly back into a corner again.

Now, when a National Weather Service alert pops up, I immediately start doing mental inventory: How’s our water supply looking? Do we need gas for the generator? Is everything battened down in the yard? Are communication devices fully charged?

Shoot, I even wash all the dishes. (Because apparently preparedness includes a clean sink—who knew? 😄)

These days, I find myself thinking ahead in ways I never used to. Where would we retreat if fire approached? Do we have enough food if the grandkids happen to be here? I don’t want to be a burden to others, so I want enough for my family—but I also wonder who else I might be able to help if they’re not prepared.

And that brings me back to my friend—and maybe to you.

What stories are you hearing from friends who say they “just don’t have time” to get prepared? And how do you respond—gently, kindly, realistically—when life gets in the way of something this important?

Preparedness doesn’t begin with a checklist—it begins with a moment when we decide to pay attention.