The Importance of Being Prepared: Are You Ready for the Unexpected?

Being prepared isn't about living in fear. It's about being ready when life doesn't go as planned.

I was recently putting away some gear that I had taken on a trip across the country. A couple of mats, camping equipment, and some things I keep ready in case I need them.

During that trip, I traveled from the Southwest toward the Midwest through the Texas Panhandle. I ran into some pretty heavy rain, but I had my gear with me.

You know, we can talk about different situations and what we might do if something happens. But it's something else when you're actually living through one of those situations.

That's why I believe preparedness is so important.

There are things that happen in life that we simply cannot plan for.

What if there was a fire and you had to evacuate your home? What if severe storms came through your area, like the storms we've seen in Texas?

Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to plan. You may have to get up and go.

And that's why I believe we need to prepare before something happens.

I'm not sharing this to make anyone fearful. That's not what this is about at all.

I want you to be ready.

One of the things I've learned is the importance of keeping a go-bag.

I keep a bag that's pretty much ready so that if I need to leave at the drop of a hat, I don't have to start figuring everything out at the last minute.

And here's something to think about: you have to be able to pack it and carry it.

It's one thing to have supplies, but if you need to leave quickly, can you actually take those things with you?

You don't necessarily need a tremendous amount of equipment. You can start with a few minimal things that will help you if you have to leave unexpectedly.

And we also need to think about being prepared at home.

What would you do if something happened and you couldn't leave? Or if you suddenly had to evacuate?

These are questions I believe we should be asking ourselves before an emergency happens.

I've been involved in teaching and training in different areas, including preparedness and emergency medical situations. And one of the things I want to do is share some of that knowledge with you.

Not to overwhelm you with everything you might possibly need, but to help you start thinking about what you can do.

Because preparedness doesn't have to be complicated.

It doesn't have to take a lot of money.

I'm 67 years old, and I'll be 68 soon. If I can do it, I believe you can too.

It just takes the willingness to start.

I want to continue sharing what I've learned, what I keep ready, and how to prepare for things that might happen at home or when you're traveling.

And I want you to be able to ask questions, too.

Because the important thing is that we begin preparing before we find ourselves in a situation where we don't have time to prepare.

So, friend, if you had to leave your home at a moment's notice, would you be ready?

It's something worth thinking about.

And if you haven't started preparing yet, perhaps now is the time.