My week was one that revolved around all sorts of disasters, both those that are imminent and others that could hit at any time. It was a wonderful learning experience.
Where to start is a big issue. I guess the first disaster I get onto should be the home. We live in a retirement village of 150 households where 75% of the residents are aged 75 or older. Today we held disaster readiness drills in conjunction with the local municipal government, and it was pretty frightening.
Our village is comprised of a ring of detached houses around apartment blocks, and was built in the early 1980s, when a large swathe of the residents moved to the area, where properties are sold with the presumption that the buyer will retire there.
It was heart-wrenchingly sad to watch my septuagenarian neighbors trying to carry a stretcher up three stories via a narrow staircase. They were having a hard enough time just making it up to the top flight, let alone carrying anybody. I’m sure when the Big One hits we’ll rally and do the best we can, I just hope it doesn’t happen anytime soon.
