Disasters Make People Grumpy and Crazy so BE CAREFUL!
As you go through a normal day there are probably people you avoid whenever possible because they are grumpy, difficult, unstable, or even possibly plain crazy!
What you need to keep in mind is that everyone is more of what they are during times when they are thrown out of their comfort zone. That means the person who is grumpy on a good day is going to be really grumpy on a bad day. The person who is difficult to deal with on a good day is going to be very difficult to deal with on a bad day. If you have an idea that someone has potential to be dangerous that person is even more likely to be dangerous when they are thrown out of their routine. Someone who is mentally unstable is going to have an extra hard time during disasters that change their routine. This is not to insult anyone or to make light of any problems that people are facing. However, it is a definite fact that difficult personality traits are magnified during a difficult times.
There are at least two important things you need to keep in mind when you are considering this.
First of all, you personally need to honestly analyze your own strengths and weaknesses. You will be ‘tried’ during any time that catapults you personally out of your comfort zone into the unknown. It is going to be hard on you personally. Make up your mind in advance that you are going to deal with whatever comes in a manner that will not cause you regrets later!
Second, it is going to be hard on your family, friends, church friends, co-workers, city workers, public servants, and every single human being going through the same things you are going through. Some people will be rise to the occasion and some people will sink to new lows! This is going to happen to you personally and to those with whom you will have contact. You must mentally prepare for this. This will either reinforce your self-definition, self-discipline, and self-reliance, or it will cause you to question who you really are.
Be prepared mentally to deal with difficult people in all areas! Be prepared to deal with your own anxieties, stress and frustration. Keep in mind that each day is simply one more day in your life. You will look back and be satisfied with what you did or you will be ashamed. It is the same with any day. If you are honest, there are probably some very good days in you past that you don’t look back on that fondly because you behaved badly for some reason or other. There are other days that were bad days; yet you can look back on some of those days with thankfulness that you did what was right under trying and difficult circumstances.
Going through a storm or fire earthquake will be the same. Either you will be pleased with your actions, or you will be ashamed. If the length of time from the onset of the disaster to a full return to normal is long, then chances are you will have done things with which you are quite satisfied, and you will have done other things you would like to have a chance to re-do.
Whatever happens, do your best to make sure you have more things of which you are proud than ashamed. Especially remember that the people who are most important to you are the ones to whom you owe your best behavior. That means that you don’t throw a tantrum inside your house at the rest of your family, and then go outside and give a pep-talk to the neighborhood.
In the aftermath of hurricane Sandy it was reported on the news that people actually when out to throw eggs at the power company employees when they arrived to work on area power lines. They were angry that their power lines had not been repaired first, so they delayed repairs even further by their actions. The power company employees left the area and refused to return without police protection. This sounds crazy, but it actually happened!
Unstable people who are totally out of their comfort zones are going to be even more unstable. Add to that hunger, cold, general discomfort, loss of structure, loss of security, and you have a recipe for real danger. If you have just gone through some sort of natural disaster there will probably be property damage in the area even if your own home is structurally sound. There may be trees down, power lines down, contaminated water, unsafe structures, unstable roadways, and a host of other potential dangers. These all have to be dealt with in a safe manner. However, in the middle of dealing with all this, you must stay alert regarding the behavior of others. This is not to look for reasons to criticize others. It is to simply be cautious regarding the safety of you, your family, and those who look to you for leadership. By the way, if you seem to have a plan on getting through the rough times immediately following a disaster, you will be a leader to some extent.
In addition to those who lead a life that at least has a form of ‘normal’ before a disaster, you may have to deal with some who live by no rules even before a disaster hits. These are the thieves and people of violence scattered throughout society today. Self-defense may be necessary at some point. One of the best reasons to be very aware of those around you is that gives you at least the possibility of avoiding a greater danger. If you find yourself around someone who seems to out of control, or near the breaking point, then leave the area.
Prepping is both mental and physical.
Mentally, you have to have an unshakable foundation on which you live. If the physical world in which you live is shaken drastically you step back onto the firm foundation of who you are and what you are doing with your life (self-definition, self-discipline, and self-reliance). Then you need to accept that things have been thrown out of kilter for an unknown amount of time. Your duty to yourself and those who count on you is to make the best of what is happening at the moment.
This begins with attitude!
Preparing physically, or materially, is to have things on hand that will help you through the tough times whenever they hit. The more helpful things you have on hand the better off you will be! Just be careful not to discount the importance of mental and spiritual preparation.
Keep in mind that your world view shows all the time. You can’t hide your true self. In times of crisis your world view really shows. Your actions in times of stress of any kind, whether a disaster or something else, your personal strengths and weaknesses will be on display for all the world to see. They will also be on display for you look at a little closer if you are bold enough to do it.