Dateline Jerusalem — The Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared.” My mother was my Brownie leader. I was my daughter’s Brownie leader. My daughter was Brownie leader and now Girl Scout leader of my granddaughter’s troops. Therefore, being prepared was a motto in my family. Living in California meant being prepared for earthquakes. Living in Israel means being prepared for war and earthquakes.
This week the IDF Home Front Command began its yearly campaign to prepare the Israeli public for wartime emergencies. Although some people believe Israel is a war zone, anyone who reads the news today can see the entire world has become a war zone. The head of the Population Dept. in the Home Front Command wants civilians to get emergency equipment such as batteries, water bottles and portable electrical chargers. Since experiencing rocket, missile and mortar fire from Palestinians in Gaza two summers ago, I have a Siren Alert application on my cell phone to notify me of the location of any rocket fire launched into Israel.
Since earthquakes seem to follow me around the world, I have been prepared with emergency supplies. I kept water bottles, food, flashlights, candles and matches, and various other emergency supplies in small quantities in each room of my apartment. Often in an earthquake or emergency, people are trapped in one room or one area of their home. They cannot get to their supplies. Whether earthquake, war or bad weather, the majority of supplies and preparation is the same. Except in Israel, I have added a government issued gas mask to my supplies.
This Is Why You Stock up
When an emergency occurs, there may be no time to go shopping. Often there are power outages. Possibly food trucks will be unable to deliver to certain areas because of blocked roads. Stores can run low on supplies. Therefore, extra water, canned goods and ready-made food should be on hand. Although the Home Front Command and medical teams will be responsible for rescue and aid efforts, immediate first aid may be necessary. I keep antiseptics, pain medication, gauze and bandages and a lightweight portable blanket with my supplies. I even keep a books of Sudoku and crossword puzzles, and a paperback novel — just in case I have a long wait. I bought a little ottoman stool to hide my supplies from view. It sits across from my front door. If I have to go into my apartment house stairwell landing when the red alert sirens go off for rockets launched into Israel, all I have to do is push my stool out my front door. I will have my emergency supplies and even something to sit on when taking shelter.
Some friends think I overdo it. My philosophy: If I can think of it, it will happen. Once I turned down a job that involved traveling over a four-level freeway on a daily basis. My thoughts were that I would be unable to reach my children after an earthquake because I felt that the freeway probably would collapse. There was a quake. The four- level freeway collapsed! Living through an earthquake can be a scary experience. I was a student at UCLA, living on the 10th floor of a 15-story dormitory when Sylmar quake hit the over 40 years ago. Rudely awakened to violent shaking, it was so bad my dorm swayed, my bed slid from one side of the dorm room to the other, with me in it.
Not only is California awaiting the Big One in the next 2½ years according to some experts, Israel also is overdue for its Big One. Israel lies on the Syrian-African fault line, similar to California’s San Andreas fault. A major earthquake in both areas is long overdue. The United States Geological Survey’s Earthquake Hazards Program estimates that several million earthquakes occur in the world each year. Many go undetected. They occur in remote areas or have v small magnitudes. Yet, the Geological Survey detects and records 20,000 a year. Unlike California, where homes tend to be made of wood that gives during a quake, Israel’s homes and apartments are similar to others in the Middle East. Built on concrete stilts or pillars, they are constructed from cement blocks and stone that have collapsed, crumbled, and trapped their inhabitants underneath during major quakes. Although there are now new building codes in Israel, most buildings are not reinforced. They were constructed long before the codes came into effect.
Whatever the disaster or emergency, it makes good sense to be a good scout. Be Prepared.
L’hitraot. Shachar