Parkman Emergency Preparedness

09/10/2026

National Preparedness Month Week #2

The Cost of Inaction: Overcoming the Psychological and Institutional Traps of Disaster Preparedness
Why do most people delay making preparations before a disaster? It is a critical question facing our communities today. In the context of disaster management, delaying preparation is a high-risk gamble that places a heavy burden on families and local infrastructure.

The Dependency Trap
Statistics reveal a widespread psychological dependency on external assistance. Approximately 29% of Americans have not prepared because they believe emergency responders will immediately assist them. Furthermore, 60% expect to rely entirely on emergency services during the critical first 72 hours following a catastrophic event. Cumulatively, this suggests that nearly 89% of the population is unprepared for a major disruption.
History demonstrates that relying blindly on institutional support is a flawed strategy. From the systemic failures observed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to ongoing criticisms of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding slow, bureaucratic aid delivery, citizens routinely face delayed relief. When a large-scale crisis strikes, federal, state, and local agencies are frequently overwhelmed, leaving individuals isolated. Personal ownership of emergency readiness is not merely an option; it is a necessity.

Understanding the Psychology of Delay
To address this readiness gap, we must understand the psychological barriers that prevent proactive planning:
Normalcy Bias: The subconscious assumption that because a disaster has never occurred locally, it never will.
Optimism Bias: The belief that while a disaster may impact a region, one’s specific household will remain unaffected.
Analysis Paralysis: Feeling so overwhelmed by systemic threats or economic uncertainties that any attempt to prepare feels futile, leading to total inaction.
Shifting the Odds: The 70% Preparedness Rule
Success in a crisis relies on planning rather than luck. True readiness does not require prohibitive financial investment. It requires a systematic approach focused on three foundational pillars:

1. The 72-Hour Lifeline
Individuals must be entirely self-sufficient for at least three days.
Water Security: Store a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day. Clean, repurposed airtight containers are a zero-cost method to begin.
Digital Resiliency: Secure digital copies of identification, insurance policies, and medical records on an encrypted cloud server or an offline flash drive.
Mobile Readiness: Maintain a designated "Go-Bag" for each family member containing basic clothing, illumination tools, and essential hygiene products.

2. Supply and Financial Buffers
Economic and supply chain volatility requires a modest logistical cushion at home.
Incremental Stockpiling: Acquire one or two extra non-perishable food items during routine grocery visits to build a sustainable pantry over time.
Liquid Cash Reserves: Maintain a small reserve of physical cash in low denominations. Grid failures disable automated teller machines (ATMs) and digital point-of-sale terminals instantly.

3. Communication Networks
Disasters frequently disrupt local communications, making pre-established protocols vital.
Out-of-Area Point of Contact: Designate a relative or friend in a different state to act as a central communication hub, as long-distance SMS text channels often remain functional when local voice lines collapse.
Reunification Sites: Establish two precise meeting locations: one immediately outside the residence for localized emergencies like fires, and one outside the neighborhood in the event of a forced evacuation.
The Ultimate Question
True resilience begins when the illusion of a guaranteed rescue is discarded. Mitigation beats remediation every time.
The question remains for every household, business leader, and community member: Are you ready?

September is National Preparedness Month. We want to encourage each of you to prepare your family and community to help reduce stress and survive beyond three to four days before, during, and after a disaster.

2026 National Preparedness theme: Americans Stand Ready. Ready.gov

Let's get ready

09/02/2026

National Preparedness Month #1

I am writing to share some thoughts on community readiness. Consider how important water is for our survival; based on facts, it is next to the breath of life when we are faced with a catastrophic disaster that could leave our community and homes without water for more than three to six months. Yes, this can happen to any of us.

I believe it is crucial for us to reflect on this as we plan our next steps for preparedness. We know that torrential rainfall in August 2022 pushed the Pearl River in Mississippi to surge well beyond its banks. Floodwaters were reported spilling into the suburbs of Jackson, which led an already hobbled water treatment plant to fail and left tens of thousands of residents in the city without clean drinking water for weeks.

Furthermore, Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico in 2017, leaving much of the island territory without power for months. Because the water infrastructure relied heavily on the electric grid to operate, many residents were left without running water in their homes for a very long time.

More recently, in January 2025, Richmond experienced a major disruption when a power failure knocked out its water treatment plant. This triggered a boil water advisory for several days that left the city's 230,000 residents and surrounding counties without drinkable tap water.

Meanwhile, Mathis, Texas is facing a different kind of threat. Low levels in the Lake Corpus Christi drinking water supply could lead to future water shortages. The reservoir has been pushed to critically low levels, meaning more than 5,000 residents could face a serious water crisis.

The challenges with aging pipes, drought, wildfires, and pressure on outdated systems face mounting water challenges could also lead to contamination of water within our water infrastructure.

The point I am attempting to make is that there is a great possibility of a water shortage, loss of water, or restrictions on water resources.

The question that I have is: Are you ready?

We know that three or more days without water could lead to a life-threatening situation, and we can avoid that critical problem by preparing a water emergency preparedness plan for our families.

September is National Preparedness Month. We want to encourage each of you to prepare your family and community to help reduce stress and survive beyond three to four days before, during, and after a disaster.

2026 National Preparedness theme: Americans Stand Ready. Ready.gov

Let's get ready.

04/19/2026

04/19/2026

Had a great time meeting new people in our community and sharing what we are all about.

Don’t forget we have a free event coming soon on May 2nd.

This event is to provide education and awareness for our community

04/19/2026

Community event today 10am to 2pm.
Come stop by and say hello at our station.

04/04/2026

https://www.parkmanep.org/events

03/26/2026

Hey everyone, we would like to invite you to a FREE community event that we are having. Our business is designed to bring awareness to our community of various situations that may prevent you and your loved ones during times of Emergency situations from normal access of necessary supplies. We will provide you with the information you need to be prepared.

Remember the pandemic? Were you ready?

This event is for educational purposes only. We are not selling anything. We are just passionate about getting the word out and educating our community.

Here is the link if you want to check it out and sign up. (Just click on the link). It will take you to our business page and you can check us out and see what we are about. https://www.parkmanep.org/events

Emergency preparedness classes in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. Will you know what items are needed for you and your family to survive? Do you have enough? Equipping People. Are you ready?