Happy National Preparedness Month!

September is National Preparedness Month. As schools get back in session and life calms down a bit (right!), you're encouraged to take time to make or update your plans for staying resilient in the face of a disaster.

In case you think it can't happen to you, it seems like every part of the country is recovering from some disaster these days, lots of floods, in particular. Locally, we've seen areas that "never" flood under more water than the residents of those areas could have imagined. Years of memories washed away in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, neighbors are stepping up to help with everything from mucking out to a hot meal to a place to sleep while the clean up and rebuilding goes on. And fortunately, for us, the area impacted is small and the willing help is more than enough. It isn't always that way. We aren't Louisiana or West Virginia. At least not this time.

Do you have a plan in place? A central person--out of town--to call to check in if you're separated from your family? Important papers in the cloud? A change of clothes in the trunk? Food and water and necessary medications ready to grab and go? Have you thought about what you need, and will you have it when you need it?

Ready.gov has lots of resources to help you put a plan together. Check it out today!

Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls

Resilience includes using the skills of our past, as well as eating real foods without all the preservatives that can survive the zombie apocalypse. This tribute to my grandmother's rolls is a fairly easy step. As my uncle said in his eulogy of her "no one could bake like this woman." Indeed. But we can all try our best for a simple resilience!

My grandmother made the most delicious dinner rolls. Soft and buttery, cloverleaf-shaped, melt-in-your-mouth incredible. I suspect there was lard involved. I have a lot of her recipes, but not this one. Not to mention Thanksgiving Day is a bit busy for homemade bread. But, I devised a bread machine version that honors her recipe without having to get up at 4 a.m. I miss my grandmother, especially when I'm baking, but this helps me remember her and keep her close at the holidays. 

Almost Gramma Cordy's Dinner Rolls

• 1 c water
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 Tbls butter
• 1 egg
• 3-1/4 c bread flour
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1 Tbls bread machine yeast

1. Place all ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Select sweet dough cycle (or just dough cycle).
2. Grease muffin tins generously with butter to make 18 rolls. 
3. When the dough cycle is complete, remove the dough to a plate or cutting board dusted with just a bit of flour so it doesn't stick. Divide dough into 18 pieces to make plain round rolls or further divide into 54 pieces to make cloverleaf rolls. Place dough pieces into prepared muffin tin cups. Cover with clean, dry dish towels and place in a warm, draft-free place to rise 30-40 minutes until doubled in size. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375F. 
4. Uncover. Brush roll tops with melted butter. 
5. Bake 12 minutes, until golden brown. (Ideally, the rolls can bake while the turkey is resting, but my timing is rarely that good.)
6. Serve with more butter. (Also good torn apart, slathered with real mayonnaise, with a slice of turkey and maybe a dab of cranberry sauce on each piece the next day.)

Why Do I Have to Do This?

I was reminded the other day while listening to a friend complain (mildly) about having to watch a training video about an active shooter situation and then take a quiz. It never ceases to amaze and disappoint me to hear this kind of thing. Why wouldn't you want to build your knowledge of what kinds of behaviors might save your life in an emergency? Do you really think nothing bad is ever going to happen to you? It's a 6-minute video, for Pete's sake.

Meanwhile, I've sat in training sessions where people spend the whole time on their smart phone (you do NOT want these people on your team for the exercises or probably in a real world emergency either) or they just leave at the first break. Sometimes they are unhappy that they've been "volun-told" to go to the training. Instead of taking the opportunity to learn something and possibly gain some appreciation from the boss and coworkers by bringing back some valuable information, they take a spot in the limited openings for the training and annoy the people who are there to learn.

Personally, I like to learn. I find most of the training sessions I attend to be pretty informative and often entertaining -- I know the instructors do their best to make them so, they appreciate the time and energy that most of the attendees are putting in, too.

If you can fit this kind of training into your schedule, I highly recommend it. But, I get that not everybody has all day (or three days!) to participate in a specialized emergency preparedness or response training. Simple Resilience can help by tailoring a program just for you and your team, focusing on the emergencies you are most likely to face and simple checklists for preparation and response. We can put together a few hours or a whole day, depending on what you need. Contact us for more information.

And while you're thinking about it, take six minutes and
Click here to watch the Run Hide Fight video

Anonymity on the Internet

Ashley and Christopher

Resilience is about bouncing back. It's also about not letting things tear you down. Unfortunately, tearing others down seems to have become something of a sport lately, especially on so called "social" media. People hide behind the partial anonymity of their avatars and attack people they don't know in the real world. I saw this story about a young couple who posted a cute and funny photo of themselves after she caught the bouquet at a wedding. Instead of just enjoying her happy face and his mock-panic, some people chose to make fun of his appearance and question her choice of boyfriend. Seriously?

As the song says "haters gonna hate."* But what's the point in this case? Or in so many similar examples happening every day. Does picking on someone on the Internet make these mean people feel better about themselves? I suspect it just gets them some laughs from their friends.

The young woman in the picture responded brilliantly, though, with good humor and forgiveness. That's the resilient response.

If someone attacks you anonymously, it's less about you than it is about them. So, Shake it Off!*

And if you feel like attacking someone else this way, think twice, please. Not only would you not want someone to do it to you (or your partner or your child or your best friend), you never know how much damage you might do to a fragile soul.

On the other hand, your kind words or actions, shared anonymously or not, can make someone else's day or heal this kind of damage from some mean person. Being a positive voice in the social media world can help build a stronger, more resilient community. Give it a try today!


Read the couple's story - click here.

*And if you want to hear Taylor sing it, click here.

It's All in How You React

I don't know that I would have handled this situation anywhere near as well as this mother did! When she found these stickers on her car commenting on her "Autistic Child" informational placard, she could have responded in anger. Or by crumpling in a heap.

These placards provide important information for first responders in case of an accident, especially for those with limited experience dealing with kids on the autism spectrum. Clearly, whoever placed these stickers (spelling issues aside), doesn't know or care what challenges autism can pose. I know there are people who don't believe that autism is a real thing (I know some of them), and I also know it can sometimes be hard to distinguish between a child on the autism spectrum and a child with neurotypical discipline problems, but anonymously putting mean-spirited comments on someone's car is cowardly and juvenile. (I mean really, whatever happened to people dropping off a pie at the new neighbor's house?)

Believe me, nobody chooses an autism spectrum disorder for her child! I could go on and on, but for now suffice it to say, take the worry of the parent of a neurotypical child and multiply it by a bazillion. The parent of a child on the autism spectrum, especially a nonverbal one and/or one prone to wandering, is always on alert. Not to mention having to deal with this kind of "welcome."

Back to the mom in the story. She went around her new neighborhood trying to find out who did this, to help explain the reality of what autism means for her and her child. Not surprisingly, no one confessed to placing the stickers, but she still took the opportunity to educate her new neighbors on autism. Good for her!

We all face situations like this, actions based in ignorance or misunderstanding. Counting to 10 (or 100) and reacting with patience and poise is the resilient response. Maybe you make a new friend or customer, or maybe you just increase understanding. Either way, you've shown you're a class act.

for more, here's the news story and video

Take a Chance

Don't be so scared of changing
And rearranging yourself
It's time for jumping down from the shelf
A little bit

(from Georgy Girl, by Tom Springfield & Jim Dale)

Getting stuck in a rut is the opposite of resilience. Being open to new opportunities, ways of doing things, systems, programs, etc. is part of bouncing back when old ways just aren't cutting it. (Of course, sometimes older ways become new again, I'm talking about keeping all options open.)

Be Kind - It's Free!

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Philo

A simple truth for living a resilient life! Being nice can actually be good for you--when you make someone else feel good, you feel it, too. The simple act of sharing a smile can ease your own stress. 

You know what your struggles and stresses are--the point here is you are not alone! You also know what a little kindness means to you--again, you are not alone. And many kind acts cost you nothing. A smile, a kind word, holding a door open. Some actions do cost you, but very little. Let the person with one item go ahead of you in the checkout line, let that car merge in front of you, take an extra moment to pay a compliment. 

Of course, if you can afford the time or money for more extravagant acts of kindness, by all means do some!

For more, check out this article "Cool to be Kind."

Hey Y'all, Watch This!

Sometimes, there's just no hope for resilience. I just heard a news story about a young man jogging on the railroad tracks. Can you guess the ending? Yup, hit and killed by a train. Not only was he tempting fate by jogging along the tracks, he had earbuds in, so he made doubly sure the outcome would be bad. This on the heels of the story of the man who set off fireworks from the top of his head. I kid you not. Yes, he died, too.

If planning for emergencies and disasters seems complicated, it doesn't have to be. Often, it is the simple choices that can make the most difference. Take this woman's instructional video on how to avoid being attacked by a shark: Stay out of the Shark's House! She's great, isn't she (aside from making a video in the car -- eek!)? Simple, practical advice. Don't take a careless risk.

There are plenty of other simple choices you can make today. Here's two to get you started: toss a pair of sneakers in the trunk of your car - just in case, and check that locked door at the back of the building you work in - has somebody propped it open "just for a second" and then wandered off, leaving your otherwise secure building vulnerable?

Moving On

Another thought on turning the page to a new day from 2 Samuel 12:

20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

David's situation was pretty horrific -- the better to instruct, I suppose -- screwing up big time and losing a child. He knew what he had done, and that it was over and he couldn't change it nor would dwelling on his punishment make any difference. Time to move on. Put on clean clothes, a fresh attitude, and do what needs to be done for today and the future.

The ability to leave the past behind, no matter how traumatic, is certainly not easy. Sometimes we just want to wallow and accept the sympathy of caring friends. And I think that is okay for a while. Let it out, vent a bit. But, the problem comes when you go on too long and get stuck. Your friends will tire of it after a while. You don't want to live in their old hurts either! Today is a new day, full of promise and opportunity. Watch the sunrise. Make a to do list. Don't miss out.

And just in case you need a little musical inspiration, "Let It Go!" (Yes, I did just go there.)

A Step Forward to Resilience

Yes, it has been a while. I've been dealing with issues of resilience in my own life--physical, professional, financial, spiritual, you name it. But, with healing underway, I am back.

I'm still in the process of finding my path forward, but I do know that it is forward, always forward, not backward. It's okay to look back for direction or inspiration, but it does no good to stay in the past.

My plan to start is to share a quote each day (or at least most days) that speaks to me of resilience. I'll warn you right now, many of these will be from the Bible. If that bothers you, please just move along. I have no intention of preaching at anyone or passing any judgement, just drawing strength and inspiration for myself and sharing that with you, so I hope you'll stay.

The quote for today is from Psalm 147:

8 He covers the sky with clouds;
    he supplies the earth with rain
    and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
    and for the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights in those who fear him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Yes, it is raining as I write this. I personally like the rain (most of the time!). A gentle rain like what is falling now is peaceful. And it means I don't have to drag out the hose to water the gardens. But the main point for me today is that God provides regardless of our individual strength. He delights when we put our trust in Him, but he provides for all just because we need it.

For me lately, I know that I can't do it on my own. I rely, certainly often not willingly, on family, friends, colleagues, and even "the kindness of strangers." [Aside: It never ceases to amaze me how much a kind word or smile from a cashier can brighten my day. I try to remember that and be the tiny ray of sunshine for someone else. Doesn't always happen, but I'm trying to do better!]

I'd rather be able to do it on my own, to have all the strength I need. But I can't. And that is okay. We are all in this together. When I'm weak, others are strong. When you are weak, hopefully I (or someone else more directly in your life) can be strong for you. It's okay to accept the support. That is part of being resilient--it helps you bounce back.

Are You Ready to Use Your Defibrillator?

You might have one of those emergency defibrillators in your office or building. It seems they're being installed everywhere lately. But, does anyone know how to use it? Much like the fire extinguisher, if no one can use it, it won't be much help when you need it. Yours may have an automatic alarm to call for help if the case is opened, but it will still take some time--perhaps critical moments--for first responders to arrive.

The recent story of the Southwest Airlines passenger who died from an in-flight heart attack brings attention to the need for training on this valuable emergency tool. Flight attendants didn't immediately start to use the defibrillator because the ailing passenger had a hairy chest. They knew that a hairy chest would interfere with the functioning of the device, but they apparently didn't realize that these emergency defibrillators come with a shaving kit for just such an eventuality. We can't know whether prompt use of the defibrillator would have saved the man, but clearly there was a tragic gap in training.

Again, it takes time for first responders to get to you. Training on your emergency plan and tools is crucial to keeping everyone in your place of business--employees and customers--safe in case of a crisis. Make sure enough of your staff know where these tools are and how to use them.

Of course, if you are the one with the heart condition and the hairy chest, make sure your co-workers and travel companions know it is okay to shave your chest in case of emergency!

Read the news report here.

What's Your Emergency Response Plan?

Do you have an emergency response plan? Do you have what you need to leave in a hurry if (when) an emergency strikes your workplace? Can you protect your employees and your clients/customers? As we head into National Preparedness Month, and the kids are back in school, it is a good time to pull together the basics needed in case of emergency. Let's start with an evacuation plan.

Imagine the alarms are blaring and you have to leave NOW! You can smell the smoke, this one is FOR REAL.

Yes, the first responders will show up. But, they have a job to do which is to put out the fire and secure the scene. If you need emergency medical care, they'll take care of you. But, otherwise, it is up to you to look out for your employees and customers. Are you ready?

Do you have comfortable shoes to get out and away from the building? Do you have any employees or clients in the building who will require assistance in getting out?

Are alternate exits accessible and clearly visible?

Are your files backed up? Do you have a grab-and-go thumb drive or packet of key documents?

Do you have a communication plan in place -- for employees and customers? Can you press a button and forward the phones offsite? Do you have all the contact numbers you'll need if you can't get back into your building or if your files and computers are destroyed?

Take the time to make your evacuation plan and practice it with your staff. Start today. You'll sleep better tonight.

1. Check the exits. Make sure all exits are kept clear of obstructions. Set a policy and enforce it.
   
2. Establish a rally point away from the building. Make sure it is accessible.
   
3. Review your file backup process. Make it automatic.
   
4. Put together a key document flash drive or packet. A flash drive can be put on a key ring or ID lanyard so it is always ready.
   
5. Develop a communication plan. Get all employee contact information--home, cell, alternate numbers and email addresses. Make sure to have information for key clients, suppliers, insurance agents, etc. as well. Establish a protocol for keeping in touch if the building and/or phones and/or email are not available. Put together some website and social media posts ahead of time that you can edit quickly. Put them on that flash drive. Work with your phone company, corporate office, or a receptionist service to set up an emergency call forwarding system.
   
6. Assign responsibilities to specific employees. Everyone should have a back up, since the emergency will always happen when the assigned person is out sick or on vacation!
   
7. Practice your plan. 

Congratulations. Don't you feel better now?

Assessing Risk and Making a Plan -- The Ben Carson Method

When you consider a risky choice, how do you evaluate it? Do you worry about everything that could go wrong? Or do you focus on the positive possibilities to the exclusion of potential loss?

I recently read the 2007 book Take the Risk by Dr. Ben Carson, the noted pediatric neurosurgeon. In it, he discusses the method he uses to evaluate choices. Carson calls it B/WA – best/worst analysis – because it takes into consideration the best that could happen if you act, the worst that could happen if you act, the best that could happen if you don’t act, and the worst that could happen if you don’t act. The analysis becomes more complicated as you factor in the who, what, where, when, how, and why of the specific situation, but the overall outline remains, along with the bottom line. In the book, Carson describes numerous examples from his own experience to flesh out the use of the B/WA.

Disaster preparedness is all about our approach toward risk. Concerns about what hazards might befall us shouldn't paralyze us, but should provoke thoughtful consideration. Some potential disasters are small, and there will be little difference between the best and worst outcomes—think a couple inches of snow. Others are significant and the worst outcome could be devastating—think a week-long power outage following an ice storm.

What is the best that could happen if you have no disaster plan in place? Of course, the best would be that no disaster ever occurs and you've spent no time or money on an unnecessary activity. But what is the worst that could happen? The business closes because you weren't prepared for the loss of contact with customers, employees who couldn't get to work, loss of data, interrupted supply chains, damage to the building, and so on.

On the flip side, what is the best that could happen if you take the time to make a disaster plan  with an eye toward resilience? You might not be able to stay open without interruption, but you’ll probably be back before your competition. You might even be able to help your community recover and build a new and loyal customer base. What’s the worst that can happen if you make a plan and no disaster ever hits? You've spent a little time evaluating your business and making your employees feel more secure and valued. 

Preparing for the Expected

There is a lot of talk about preparing for the unexpected, but once we've thought about it and prepared for it (or bought insurance for it), is it really unexpected? I would argue that we prepare for a set of eventualities that, while uncertain in timing or probability, are well within the realm of possibility. In reality, we are preparing for the expected.

We lock the doors, because we expect that otherwise someone will come in and steal. We get the oil changed, because we expect that otherwise the engine will be damaged. We prepare for heavy rain by installing a drainage system, because we expect that otherwise we will have water in the basement. We purchase property insurance, because we expect to otherwise suffer financial ruin following a fire.

Somehow, though, preparing for a disaster by setting aside some food and water, making a communication plan with the family and employees, establishing a shelter area, or making the office or home less vulnerable by adding some security, can wait until tomorrow, or the day after that. Maybe it can wait, maybe no disaster--natural, human-caused, or technological--will ever hit your business or home. But, wouldn't you sleep better if you could expect to bounce back if and when the disaster hits?

Preparing for Hurricanes, No Matter What the Name

A recent study out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign proclaims that "Female hurricanes are deadlier than male hurricanes." The study has sparked some debate, not the least of which centers on the methods. Rather than focus on the methodological questions, or the findings of the authors themselves, my interest is the broader question of why people don't take preparedness more seriously in general. (Here is a link to a National Geographic article reviewing both the study and its detractors.)

Given that hurricanes rarely impact the Cincinnati area--with the notable exception being Hurricane Ike in 2008, that left many without power for a few days to over a week and resulted in $553 million in damage claims--hurricane preparedness is not at the top of my to-do list. However, we do get plenty of other storms here, causing plenty of headaches and damage. Tornadoes, floods, winter storms, and heat emergencies are the main natural disasters facing this area. 

In some ways, we can become pretty complacent about our response to these types of disasters. We've seen the lengthy reports, often preempting regular programming, then the heavily-hyped storm passes us by. While we may be momentarily thankful, many are irritated by proactive school closures and other cancellations that end up seeming to be more of an inconvenience than a wise precaution. When a storm does hit the area, it probably won't impact our neighborhood. Ho-hum.

Sometimes, ignoring the need for preparedness is a defense mechanism. Natural disasters are beyond our control. Reporting labeling storms "snowmaggedon" or "snowpocalypse" is meant to attract attention, but is it too much? Do we take the fear and turn it into a joke to avoid panic? The potential to lose your home or office in a storm can be just too overwhelming to imagine. If we worried about every possible danger, we'd be paralyzed trying to figure out what to do next. But, while the disaster itself is certainly beyond our control, putting some precautions in place is completely under our control.

Or is it that we just have other things to do? Life is very busy these days. 

But when a storm does find you, will you be left in the dark? Office and home preparedness don't have to be overblown and expensive. A weather radio, knowing where the candles and/or flashlights and batteries are, a bit of food and water in the basement (not on the floor), boots or sneakers in the trunk of the car, a designated shelter area at the office, and a communications plan to ensure that everybody gets the word and gets to the safe place don't cost much in terms of money or time. And with current weather forecasting technology being what it is, you may even have time once the reports begin! (Unless you need a snow shovel. Or milk.)

Of course, the above list is a bare-bones start. I could go on and on. (And I will as time goes on!) But it is a start, and I'm betting you'll feel better if you take these basic steps at home and at work. And you may even be motivated to delve deeper and do some more. At least, I hope so. No matter whether it is Hurricane Betty or Snowmageddon. 

Who's Afraid of a Little Old Zombie?

Have you heard, FEMA is preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse? Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control are, too. (Check out these examples: CDC Preparedness 101 Zombie Apocalypse,  Community Preparedness Webinar--Zombie Awareness)

What? I thought zombies were make believe?

Of course they are, but, if you are prepared for the zombie apocalypse, you can surely handle any "normal" disaster that comes your way. Zombies, creepy as they are, are popular right now, and it is hoped that the preparedness lessons might stick.

Even Pinterest is preparing: Zombie Survival search results. Maybe a little over-the-top, but if that's what it takes to get you motivated, what's the harm?

So, if you did have to shelter-in-place from the zombies or evacuate ahead of them, would you be ready? What about when the tornado warning sounds? Or when the flood waters are rising? Or the earthquake strikes?

Some basic hurricane preparedness guidelines from FEMA can be applied to many hazards. First There Were Zombies Then Came Hurricanes.

Did You Hear That?

Did you know that warning sirens are only meant to warn those who are outdoors? If you are inside, especially in a noisy environment or well-sealed building, you won't--and aren't supposed to--hear them. In a place with piped in music, or no radios allowed, how will you get the warning?

You should have a weather radio. These systems also warn of other emergencies that might require taking cover or evacuation. They aren't expensive, and they can save your life.

Also, there are smart phone apps that push warnings. Some systems are starting to automatically include these apps with the phones, but for now you'll need to make sure you have one.

Oh, and when you hear the warning, on your radio, app, or the siren, take heed. Don't go outside to see what is happening!

An Example of Resilience from Nature

Nature is amazingly resilient. It is quite difficult, though not impossible, to completely wipe out a given area. If nothing else, weeds find a way to rebound. But, more often, damage is only partial, and new growth quickly covers over what appeared as wasteland.

On a smaller scale, this past winter was rougher than usual in the Cincinnati area, with long stretches of cold and a lot more snow than we are used to. It took out many plants that normally make it through. The knock out rose, pictured here, has become tremendously popular here in recent years. Blooming from late-April through mid-December, it seemed a very hardy choice. But, in the knock out's history here, there has not been this long and cold a winter. The knock outs have been slow to leaf out and bloom, with much winter damage showing on the branches--some is still visible in these pictures. Many homeowners were ready to write these plants off. But, cutting out the dead parts has allowed the new growth to emerge. The roots remained strong.

The roots carry the heart and strength of the knock out rose. The roots carry within them the plan for restoration and return to vitality. When the time was right, the resilient knock out was ready to bounce back. A little worse for wear, perhaps, but on its way back.

By building a strong root system--a continuity plan which accounts for potential disasters and lays out a response program--businesses can bounce back like nature, too.

Pinterest

I have a Pinterest board where I collect Emergency Preparedness ideas and products. Please check it out here. Any suggestions for things I should add? Do let me know with a comment. Thanks!

Resilience Defined

Merriam Webster defines resilience as

• the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens
• the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc.

These days, "something bad" can happen with little or no notice, devastating your small business, particularly if you are unprepared. Floods, fires, tornadoes, workplace violence, and epidemics are just a few examples of disasters that can impact business continuity. If your site is damaged, or your supply or distribution chain is disrupted, your customers may go elsewhere. They may not come back when you do. With planning and preparedness, however, you can build a resilient business. That is, you can't avoid all damage in the event of a disaster, but you can greatly improve your ability to stay in touch with customers and bounce back quickly.

Contact Simple Resilience, LLC to assist you in building resilience into your small business. I'll help you evaluate the risks and vulnerabilities facing your business and site, then develop a preparedness and response plan to keep your business going or help you bounce back following a disaster.