EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

We’re snowed in! This isn’t earthshaking news for Canada but in our part of the country, it is. Fifteen inches over three days and most everything has stopped in its tracks. Only essential travel is recommended.  So we have little movement at the end of our dead-end road to the farm.

The dynamics are interesting. Vancouver and Victoria are the ‘sun belt’ cities of Canada. Many of the residents of lower British Columbia are from other parts of the country, and have moved here for the milder climate. A reaction to a foot of snow is mixed – a combination of “I thought I left this weather behind me in Saskatchewan!”….”Well, back in my childhood in Alberta. I never remember a day when school was cancelled.”….”This is great…my kids finally get to enjoy a real Canadian winter.”…”Yeah, school is closed!”

The vista is stunning in every direction. It’s white on white everywhere. The snow is above my gumboots. Unlike my upbringing on a dairy farm, where we had to care for all animals in all weather conditions, including snow, I haven’t any compelling reason to go out. We have rows of berries and grapes, and orchards of fruit trees…they seem content. They are sleeping thru it all, but will arouse and awaken in about a month.  Consider this the lull before the storm for all of us.

However for some, travel is essential. One group consists of those who have medical ailments, with chronic conditions who must get to a hospital, clinic, or pharmacy. I feel for these, because many are elderly or infirmed — the very ones who should stay inside and warm.  Several neighbors near the farm are in this category.

The other group consists of those who are unprepared. I have less sympathy for this group. I am astonished at the number of people who have less than two days of food or other supplies at the ready. Travel to the grocer or drug store then becomes essential. To get a few groceries or toiletries.   How much trouble is it to have the fridge, cupboard, or bathroom cabinet stocked for a week? Probably less than the trouble to get to the store, where stocks may be in short supply anyway.

I am content to remain inside at my desk, look through the window at God’s creation blanketed in white lace, and muse over these events. I am fortunate that our electricity is working, which allows light, heat, and communication. And the water is flowing, for cooking, drinking, and bathing.  If either of these were off, I would not have time to muse. Mostly, I am thankful to be healthy and not struggling on the roads to get to a dialysis or doctor appointment. Mental health is another consideration during cold and snowy days with early dark evenings. I can see how ‘stir craziness’ could set in, shown its various forms. Fortunately, I am not there quite yet.

Consider this another notice of the importance of household emergency preparedness. Two or three days of snow is mild compared to a disastrous event that could really test preparedness levels. An inconvenience could quickly become a catastrophe.  Let’s use the stunning beauty of this wintery week as a gentle reminder.