Are you a parent, grandparent, or a dedicated caregiver for children?

The first month of 2021 is almost over. But the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is not.

Last year, 2020 set record breaking numbers for Hurricanes, Wildfires and Heat. By September of 2020 the U.S. claimed 16 natural disasters each causing $1 Billion dollars in damage. These disasters tied records set in 2011 and 2017.[i]

Natural disasters are not unique events for the United States. Between 1994 and 2013 there were 6,873 natural disasters worldwide.1.35 million people died because of them, 68,000 on average each year.[ii]

Why am I mentioning this?

The day will come when we, the parents, grandparents, and caregivers will no longer be here to care for those we love. Yes, we will be gone. And the natural disasters will keep coming.

Have you done everything possible to prepare your children to face the coming reality that they will need to meet these events?

In theory, global warming and melting ice sheets will raise the estimated sea levels by 2-7 feet by the end of the 21^st Century. Our coastal communities are only 10% of the habitable land supporting one-third of the countries population. The expectation is that these communities will expect regular flooding by 2060. [iii]

My intent is not to be a fear monger. And facts are facts. Certainly Hurricanes, Wildfires, Flooding, Earthquakes, Tornadoes, just to name a few will continue to be part of the worldwide experience far into the foreseeable future.

As the world warms, these events will become more destructive and more frequent. Follow the science.

What can you do about it?

I fondly remember when my daughters were very young. They ran, laughed, played, and explored the world with wild abandon. I felt great happiness and joy watching them explore their new world. I watched with steeled eyes seeking anything that might disrupt their wonder and joy. And I would do anything I could to stop that monster in its tracks.

As I learned to prepare for the disasters we would face, my children became part of the team, understanding what daddy was doing and why. I was able to do so because I sought that education to protect my loved ones. And It did not happen overnight. The girls have grown now, living lives of their own. I am comfortable knowing they have the shield and sword ready to protect themselves and their loved ones.

And I am not done yet. In February of 2020, I declared it to be the year of the Child https://wp.me/p7NwNC-EB, and I am just getting started.

I will do whatever I can to prepare our parents today. So, they can teach their children tomorrow.

Mom, Dad. You have two options.

1. Pretend nothing will ever happen. And when it does pray that someone will come to save you.
   
2. Act now and protect your family from potential threats.

Cut the learning curve by years, and the actual implementation by months.

Join me in the upcoming Be the Hero Challenge. Discover how to protect your children so they can learn how to protect themselves.

Till Next time

“Be Safe”

P.S. Get a copy of the recently released Family Urban Disaster Planning book here: https://amzn.to/3oc22wc

A quick easy primer on basic disaster planning.

You can read it in an hour and implement it in a week.

You will be glad you did.

And someday down the road your children will thank you for it.

[i] Andrea Thompson, “A Running List of Record-Breaking Natural Disasters in 2020,” Scientific American (Scientific American, December 22, 2020), https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-running-list-of-record-breaking-natural-disasters-in-2020/.

[ii] “The Human Cost of Natural Disasters: a Global Perspective,” The human cost of natural disasters: a global perspective | PreventionWeb.net, accessed January 24, 2021, https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/42895.

[iii] Michael B. Sauter and Thomas C. Frohlich, “These American Cities Will Soon Be under Water,” USA Today (Gannett Satellite Information Network, June 18, 2019), https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/18/climate-change-american-cities-that-will-soon-be-under-water/39533119/.