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By Root 1440 0

person may have a big truck, and someone else has a generator, someone else may have a gas-powered chain saw, while someone else has a propane stove, and so on. Each person brings his or her own skill level, too. Someone might be a plumber; someone else a carpenter, medical person, or electrician—all needed skills in an emergency. Everyone has something to contribute, and when the chips are down you’ll be relying on each other far more than you might think. Part of community building might be to assess the resources available to the whole group.

Also assess the special needs of people in the neighborhood. Know where elderly people live who might need your help. Prepare yourself to be someone else’s lifesaver. What can you offer your community, in personal knowledge, expertise, as well as material goods, tools, and food?

Celestial Connection

Colin’s parents were married with a baby during World War II. His dad was in the armed forces, away fighting the war. His mom was left within a small village community in England hiding from the nightly raids overhead. The food they ate came from community gardens; the comforts they had were shared with each other. The experience of this generation alone should reinforce in all of us the importance of community.

Finding Your Inner Scout

Being able to take care of yourself and others is a gift. Inside or outside of community, the single greatest support system is you. Finding your own inner Boy (or Girl!) Scout is what this is all about. Each of us needs to learn basic skills, and it’s fun! Here are some skills you may want to develop.

Using Tools

If you grew up in a hands-on family, you might be surprised that many people have never used a hammer, a screwdriver, or a saw. Sad but true, most kids today know more about how to get around a video game than how to get around the tool shed. Basic home repair is an essential skill. When you can pick up the phone and call a handyman, you forget the importance of being able to help yourself.

If you don’t have basic tools, get some. An important one for managing after a bad storm is a one- or two-person saw. You can use this for cutting branches out of the road, or for cutting trees off your car. A good knife is another handy tool.

Tying Knots

Every Scout gets trained in tying knots. Why? Well, tying that tarp you have on hand over the hole in the roof you got in the storm is only useful if the tarp will stay on. You don’t want to be out on that roof in dark, windy, and wet conditions trying to recapture the freed end.

Do you know the best knots for different situations? If you’re a sailor you probably do. A reef knot, clove hitch, and surgeon’s knot will allow you to use string or rope in ways you had not imagined. A knot that does not hold can be fatal or at the least inconvenient. Take a look at www.folsoms.net/knotsto learn a few of the basics.

Codex Cues

Consider getting a Boy Scout manual. They are chock-full of really great survival information that is useful in many aspects of life. Go to www.scouting.orgfor more information.

Mastering Outdoor Skills

Managing post disaster may require knowing a few outdoor skills. Once your house no longer provides you with everything you need, you may be looking outside for many resources. Can you light a fire without a match? Well, neither can we! On the easier side, you may need to collect firewood, cut trees away from power lines, remove limbs from the road, find water and pour it through filters to make it drinkable. Who knows, you may even need to wash your clothes in a stream. Seriously, take time to consider the many challenges you could be faced with and think about how you would overcome them. If you don’t have the skills you need, don’t wait; now’s the time to prepare.

Get the kids involved and remember the Boy Scout motto: “Be prepared.”

The Least You Need to Know

◆ You can be in a good position to weather the storms by simply being prepared. Know your community resources, warning systems, and evacuation plans, and make your own plan ahead of time.

◆ Everyone