Yesterday we watched Evan Almighty. The kids and I really enjoyed it. It is definitely geared for the younger ones but Steve Carell is so enjoyable that it kept me interested as well. It really got me thinking about the subject of being prepared for emergencies and disasters.
Do normal people concern themselves with this subject? I mean, you watch the movie and it's not surprising at all that his neighbors think he's crazy and they don't listen to anything he says. It does sound crazy. I wonder if I was not a member of the LDS church, which teaches us to be self-reliant and to prepare for such disasters, would I be the same? The prophets of our church tell us to gather at least a 3 month supply of food, ideally a year's supply of emergency stores. Some people purchase generators, fuel, and much more. Watching this movie made me review what I need to improve on.
It's interesting that our prophets first started giving this counsel decades ago. Now government leaders and national emergency services are doing the same. I wonder if I was affected by Katrina or some other disaster, how good would I feel that I had followed this counsel and prepared what I needed? That I was able to protect my family and that I had the necessary provisions to give them food, water, etc. Last year there was a hurricane on the northeast coast of Australia and the people there went weeks with very little supplies- only what the government was able to bring in. Their homes were completely destroyed.
Elder Eyring, one of the church leaders, recently visited the Sydney mission and told the missionaries that every apartment should have 72 hour packs for the missionaries and that it wasn't a question of "IF they would use them but WHEN". Kind of chilling.
Just last week at our RS Enrichment we gave away a prize for our "Ark You Ready?" contest. Debbie and her husband Mike (Jared's cousin) made this amazing boat out of foam, paint, etc. The top opened up, on hinges, so you could put the contest entries inside. Each person was able to write their name on a paper and what they purchased for their food storage (one entry per item) over the past 3 months. The person who had the most entries won a $25 gift certificate to a camping store that carries alot of items that could be added to a 72 hour kit. It was fun giving away the prize and seeing how excited the winner was. She is a single mom with 8 kids.
So I don't mean to be depressing. It was a warm, funny movie and I enjoyed it. It just got me thinking. I like movies that get me thinking. What do you think? How are you doing on emergency preparedness? Did you like this movie?
5 comments:
yeah I recently watched it, and thought this is us...in a way...we know better and we know of the warnings and counsel given...but I really made me think it in a modern kind of way...I mean he is funny but I did admire his way of finally giving in and not being resistant to what he was being told...
oh I forgot to say...such proof of FAITH, I wonder if sometimes I lack faith in some areas.
We liked that movie a lot and found it pretty amusing.
Emergency preparedness talk always freaks me out a bit, so I guess that tells you where I am in all of this. We have empty 72 hour kits right now, but I've been planning on getting stuff together for those. I buy water bottles at Costco all the time, bought a 55 gallon water container a couple weeks ago (still empty) and have some extra food, batteries, and such, but I can definitely do better.
We laughed at that movie too. I have been working on regular food storage but neglecting the 72 hours kits. I have been feeling the pressure to get them finished. If I don't take it on this fall I doubt I will in the new year with a new baby. Oh dear, I better start planning.
I'm kinda into emergency prep b/c my mom always has been. I've had food storage the entire time we've been married as a result. I've got 72 hour kits and cannery food and water. What scares me is having to actually use it - cooking without electricity and the fear of an earthquake that would cause us to fend for ourselves. That's the part I wonder how better I can prepare myself for - the actual "stuff" gathering is the easy part.
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