FPA members are sometimes criticized by outsiders for being too cautious about prepping for a disaster. The truth is, the majority of the population are woefully unprepared.

For example…

No one anticipated a 1.5 mile wide EF4 tornado would drop down on Alabama in April 2011, killing 64 people, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes.

No one anticipated the Mendicino California wildfire in July 2018 that raged through 459,000 acres, destroying 280 structures in its path.

No one anticipated the devastation that would be caused by Hurricane Maria in the fall of 2017. It ripped through Puerto Rico and 3057 people lost their lives.

And of course no one anticipated that several commercial planes would fly into the World Trade Center in September 2011, killing thousands.

Disasters can happen at any time, in any place, without warning.

Wise, logical, and reasonable people prepare. It’s clear then that survival starts with an open mind and an awareness of the types of situations that could occur where you live.

FEMA provides a helpful list of natural, human-caused, and technological disasters:

1. Blizzards
2. Cyber attacks
3. Dam or levee failures
4. Disease outbreaks (epidemic)
5. Drought
6. Earthquakes
7. Explosions
8. Extreme heat
9. Fire (wild or structures)
10. Floods
11. Food shortages (due to supplier interruptions, weather, etc.)
12. Hazardous chemical accidents
13. Looting
14. Mudslides
15. Nuclear plant disaster (radiation exposure)
16. Power outages
17. Riots (demonstrations)
18. Structural failures (bridge collapse)
19. Terrorist acts (chemical, biological, nuclear, explosives)
20. Severe Thunderstorm
21. Tornadoes
22. Tropical storm
23. Tsunamis
24. Volcano
25. War
26. Municipal water contamination or plant failure
27. Winter storms

It’s good to be aware of all 27 of these, and think specifically about which ones could occur in your area.