Why You Need a Preparedness Pal

The increased prevalence of extreme weather in the region brings about the need for a deeper understanding of emergency preparedness measures. I spoke with Julie Anderson, Douglas County’s Emergency Management Director and Public Information Officer, about the new Preparedness Pal program. 

Having a reliable person outside of your household during an emergency is crucial. A Preparedness Pal offers stability, providing safety and comfort in times of potential crisis. Your pal is someone you can count on during an emergency.  

“We’re seeing such changes in the severity of storms,” Julie said. “That’s why we’re refining our message a little bit and developing the new Preparedness Pal program.”  

A Place to Go

Even if an emergency happens at 2 a.m., a prearranged place to go can provide comfort and peace of mind in the wake of the disaster, giving you time and space to collect information and assess the impact of the disaster.  

“If your pal sees you calling, you can trust them to help,” added Julie.  

Your house also is the place where your pal could go if something happens to their house. Having a pal to count on is a partnership based on trust and community.

Choosing a Pal 

When choosing a Preparedness Pal, look for someone who is close—but not too close. They should live a few miles away, as their home probably won’t be impacted in the same way by the same problem.  

“Hopefully, their [your pal’s] world would be intact when yours is not,” said Julie. “You should feel comfortable going to your pal’s home to get organized in times of crisis.”  

A pal should be able to accommodate you and your family for at least a night or two, whether with a couch or a spare room. Accommodation doesn’t just mean housing—think about pet allergies, dietary restrictions, or any unique aspects of your life. 

Information Gathering 

A Preparedness Pal should collect important information on your behalf. Information such as the location of a shelter, where to go for water, the location of a command post, and other important disaster relief information.   

Another role a Preparedness Pal can play is anticipatory. Maybe you live in a house that doesn’t have a basement—but your pal’s house does. During a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch, you could go to your pal’s house and wait there until the storm passes. You can also contact your pal during weather events to see the storm’s magnitude. 

Prepared for Change

A study from Columbia’s Climate School talks about the three parts of climate change disasters adaptation: preparedness, response, and recovery. Having a pal is already a great way of mitigating potential effects from extreme weather events. Along with a pal, make sure you have an emergency kit that includes your pal’s written phone number. You can find a full list of disaster supply kit contents here.  

Julie encourages people to understand that with the changing climate, we’re going to see more extremes in weather. “People have to go about their business differently,” she adds. “We must have a plan because we don’t want to see massive weather events come through our area and have folks unprepared.”