Read a Book!
What are we reading at the Shaky Grounds Cafe?
Oregon Disasters: True stories of tragedy and survival by Rachel Dresbeck.
Starting with The Heppner Flood of 1903 and covering every major disaster up through the Sinking of the Taki-Tooo in 2003, Rachel Dresbeck examines the natural and man made disasters that changed the Beaver State forever.
Reading the accounts of these events I am reminded that when disasters strike a few things seem to be true across the board.
Disasters will occur time and time again, without warning and when we least expect them.
Recovery response will be delayed and chaotic as the responders themselves are in as much peril as we are.
It may take hours, days or even weeks before outside help becomes available and the only people we will be able to count on will likely be our ourselves and our neighbors.
Be an asset - not a liability.
In reading this book I was also introduced to an excellent quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing is nothing.” This quote rings true for me and reminds me of an important lesson I learned firsthand in the Army, from my platoon sergeant, SGT. Leathart who summed up a training exercise with, “It’s better to make a decision and be wrong, than make no decision at all.”
But I digress-
Get trained, get smart and get prepared. Take a class, join your CERT team, build a kit or read a book. Knowledge about what do during and after a disaster is just as valuable as having some stuff. The best part, knowledge is free.
Your public library is a great place to start, which is where I found this book, and I highly recommend it for anyone living in Oregon to help remind us of what has occurred here in the past, and what is likely to occur here again in the future.
Stay safe out there!
