Roadmap to Resilience - Part 3 - Trifecta of Preparedness Plans

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Further research grounds that even with a series of hazards, in some areas communities face a host of differentiating risks, there are limitations to the choices at hand. When drilled to the simplest form, humans have only two distinct choices, shelter in place or evacuate. Irrespective of the hazard or impact, the resulting decision for communities is what to do, limited to a binary choice. Our research has led to the conclusion that if we educate the public on what they can do, not why they may have to do something, then we have a greater probability of behavioural adoption, meaning that residents are ready to conduct both, with the catalyst being accurate and timely information from a trusted source.

As such, Preparedness Labs Incorporated, developed the trifecta of preparedness plans, to include shelter in place and evacuation - as well as the one additional event frequently highlighted in our research as impactful and the source of worry - loss of income. Hence, the three plans are presented, based upon research, as the strategies necessary to build resilience, to adopt the preparedness measures required to be capable of decision making and executing a bespoke plan to shelter in place, evacuate or mitigate income loss.

Shelter in Place. Colloquially referred to as bugging-in, the concept is simple. You plan to provide for your family throughout an emergency without requiring external assistance from government. Specifically, our research concludes that this means providing for the animalistic (we are animals in the environment) requirements (food, water, shelter, health, safety & security), for all those for whom you are responsible (family is often multi-generational and multi-location) for a timeline you feel comfortable, relying only on social connections and community for support. 

Evacuation. Rare, with some literature referring to it as the most dangerous situation for a family, in relation to the immediate and ongoing potential disruption to normal lives. Research into successful evacuation outcomes informs that families who did evacuate under a prepared plan to a pre-established family or friend’s residence had lower degrees of anxiety or stress and significantly reduced financial burden. This was due to a limited need to expend additional funds for shelter and per diem, as well as the calm and comfort of private accommodation. There was no correlation with successful insurance claims and short term accommodations, other than an increased access to Wifi or cell coverage, privacy and supporting IT systems to conduct the claim process. 

Loss of Income. Everyone leaves their current employment, you either die, quit, are fired or retire. Most hope that they will separate on their terms, at a time of their choosing, though history and the current economic climate might dictate otherwise. Survey responses in the USA have shown that immediate loss of income is rated equally to a total loss of a home, in impact to mental, financial and family health. We consider a loss of the primary source of revenue for a family to be equally impactful as an evacuation and loss. Evidence shows that individuals who possess a pivot strategy, a process to quickly replace the lost income with an alternate employment stream are more likely to be successful. Data from the recent pandemic demonstrates that a number of individuals were able to replace their lost income, during an emergency, due to a pre-existing plan. Whether that be the same profession in a new industry, commoditizing a skill set, or beginning a new career in a field with existing demand, a strategy to

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