TSUNAMIS, cyclones, raging fires and epidemics. We keep hearing about all the ways the world could implode at any second.
But most of us haven’t even thought about preparing for the worst.
With natural disasters an inevitability, environmental experts say being ready isn’t just for the paranoid.
Melbourne authors Jane Rawson and James Whitmore have co-written The Handbook, a practical guide for surviving the apocalypse, or something close. They say we need to think seriously about these matters, because there may be no one there to save us if they happen.
WHERE YOU LIVE
It may sound obvious, but Rawson and Whitmore say people need to consider whether their home is susceptible to flooding, rising sea levels or bushfire.
“A lot of Australians have developed this philosophical attitude that the government will sort it out. ‘They’ll tell me if a bushfire is coming, and they’ll be there to put it out’,” Rawson told news.com.au.
“That doesn’t always happen. You should know the risks and be prepared to help yourself out.”
Even if you’re not in a disaster-prone area, you could be at risk from weather-related catastrophes.
“The system could be overwhelmed,” Rawson said.
“There are serious vulnerabilities in the Australian supply chain. So much is transported by road, it’s so centralised, we’re vulnerable … If there’s a cyclone, if sea levels rise, it could break down easily if a couple of things happen at once.”
The ultimate method to reduce risk is to switch to minimal living. Once you don’t have many possessions or an expensive home, you have less to lose. Impending disaster becomes less frightening, and you can concentrate on enjoying life instead of paying off a mortgage.
Many Australians are now choosing to live in caravans or ‘tiny houses’ — handmade homes on wheels, and hundreds are already doing it in the US. Others are building temporary bunkers or special, off-grid homes.
Marty Freney is creating an “Earthship” in the Adelaide Hills, a sustainable, energy-efficient design from the US, which is made of recycled materials, cheap to run and bushfire resistant.
Experts say we all need to be ready for the effects of a tsunami (pictured), bushfire, flooding, cyclone or other natural disaster. Source: Supplied
FUTURE-PROOF YOUR HOUSE
Let’s say you’ve decided not to leave your existing home. You can still make it safer. The first step is to make sure you’re protected from the initial disaster.
The risk of heatwave is increasing for everyone, so think about what you can do beyond switching on the airconditioning. If there’s no power, do you have a battery-operated fan available? Are your bedrooms on the south side of the house, where it’s cooler? Create a cool refuge in or underneath your home. Think about insulation, air flow and shade from eaves, vegetation or blinds.
As for that power cut, do you have battery chargers for your phone so you can communicate? Should you install solar power? Do you have a torch, solar-powered lantern and something you can use to cook?
If your home is at particular risk of fire, prune back long grass and scrub; use paths, pools and lawns as fire breaks and remove anything flammable from around the house. If it’s flood that’s the biggest threat, think about moving things to higher spots, have polished concrete flooring, waterproof paint, sealant and removable rugs. Will you have access to a clean water supply or a way to clean your water? You need a first line of defence against the storm.
The guide to coping with your own personal hell. Source:Supplied
Jane Rawson says we need to plan for our worst nightmares. Source: Supplied
EMERGENCY SURVIVAL KIT
You’ve created a buffer, but any prepper worth their salt has an emergency survival kit.
Rawson and Whitmore suggest yours should include blankets, medicine, scissors and a knife, supplies for pets and small children, spare batteries, walkie-talkies, water purifiers, ponchos, plastic sheeting, a waterproof bag, candles and matches.
“Have important documents like house insurance and title,” Rawson said. “Scan them and have them online.”
She also created a list of food with the help of a nutritionist, which includes oats, canola oil, lentils, milk powder, nuts and dried fruit. “It’s not going to be interesting or enjoyable but it will keep you healthy.”
She advises you keep sufficient rations for 10 weeks available, and enough water for two weeks (three or four litres per person per day).
Rawson believes that being prepared is empowering, and that if we think about the risks, we’ll be less traumatised if something does happen. “This is your chance to get organised to take control of your life,” she said. “Then you don’t have to worry so much.”
FORM A TEAM
After the initial disaster, the next stage is to band together with others for support, real-life survivors say. “The most important thing is to have contacts in the community, people who understand what your terrible experience has been like,” Rawson said.
“You need strong networks and people who can help physically. Helping one another can also help you through your mental anguish, and give you a sense of your future.”
She says despair and an “esoteric sense of loss” can be one of the worst impacts of disaster. In Western cultures, we have an idea that things are always getting better and the future is brighter, with a gradual decrease in poverty, disease and hardship.
A disaster can change all that. “The idea your kids might suffer more can be very painful,” Rawson said. “But in World War II Britain, everyone came together and for some people, it was the best time of their life. The community became much stronger.”
The authors do end on a note of hope. They say that having these conversations gives us a chance to cope with climate change. If we build a supportive structure, starting with the most vulnerable in society, we can become a smarter, tougher species that’s ready for anything the world can throw at us.
Order your copy of The Handbook: Surviving and Living With Climate Change ($29.95) online, download the Kindle version or find out where to buy it in-store.
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