How do you “mentally” prepare for a hurricane?
The worlds most famous search engines have been taken over by extremely anxious assumption addicted need to know it all’s demanding to be instantly linked to information based on how to systematize by way of stocking the shelves with batteries and candles, boarding the windows, ripping the boat from nearby water to creating a safe room complete with blankets, fresh water and treats for pets during enormous moments of stress.
It’s only Tuesday! Hurricane Irene isn’t supposed to pop into our corner of the states until late Saturday…
Fear of not knowing generates negative stress. Combine it with an always unpredictable act of nature and the average workday becomes titled; someone’s gonna get in a fight.
The big wigs paid to keep you sane claim you’ve got to push that away. Panic stricken is easily identified but not dealt with properly. To become angry over something you can’t control is like filling up your cars gas tank and letting it run in the driveway. You’re wasting precious fuel.
Natural disaster stress can be easily deflated by preparing for what could unwrap. I’m not being a buzz kill! Hurricane season is no different than winter and summer. You go into each prepared for 15 or 103 degree days. From sun block to hats and gloves, salt to melt the ice to mosquito spray; wind whipping blasts that carry billions of inches of rain can never be toppled by the hand of man so click the seatbelt and experience the journey.
I’ll never forget how shocked we were to receive the mighty hand of 1989’s Hurricane Hugo. Prepared? Never… It was supposed to be strong winds by twelve noon the next day not a middle of the night howling worse than a Montana midwinter grip that hand sculpts snow drifts that float over your house into your neighbors pool.
Hurricanes are brutal mental terrorists. Television and radio newscasts and weather reports knowingly raise the color codes of danger which aimlessly hit your tough outside shell eventually shoving your professional wrestler exterior into a state of tapping out. Then poof! Some how some way the systems of change send the giant waves toward Bermuda and we’re supposed to instantly get back to living.
Your first initial reaction is to beat the beeping beep beep out of your confidence only to shred your blanking blank bee boppin to a pulp. There’s got to be a better way to be nice to yourself.
Being centered and relaxed during natural disasters isn’t a skill but a vision of preparedness. Be aware of where the nearest shelter is located. Just because I’ve never seen the creek in the backyard rise over the hump doesn’t mean water doesn’t like to do a disco bump. Within seconds that creek could attack the poet in me with invisible words like, “Hungry! I need to eat your house! I want to devour apple trees.” Water truly isn’t your friend. Like a rattle snake…eventually you’re going to get bit.
Put your smart phone to work for you. Walk around the house documenting everything from the flat screen to the design of your toilet. Get too much proof of how you live and what you own. Insurance companies love that kind of stuff. Create a snowstorm of information.
Make contact with family and friends outside the hurricane area. My wife and I have an agreement…because of the nature of radio I can’t and won’t put family first. I need to be the Broadcaster. Communication outside the city will reunite our paths. Put them on alert and kindly ask them not to freak out if there’s separation. Leadership needs to be put into play on all levels of the game.
Thinking, planning and making preparations takes the heat out of Mother Natures Hurricane Kitchen. Get control of your panic.
Its Tuesday…storms not gonna knock on your door til Saturday. What’s it going to hurt to get a hurricane kit together tonight? The lines will be shorter and if the Great Creator decides to send some wind our way, that’ll give you enough space to help those after its gone away. Life after the storm is a warzone that need not be consumed by careless decisions and out of your mind nonsense.
Can you truly stop a child from using curse words? You can try all day and night but in the end it’s gonna happen. Living is what we do and with it comes things you can’t stop or control.
Turn this week into a positive by making the news useful. The martial artist in me is looking forward to the arrival of such storms. Legendary Master Funakoshi once spoke with great pride of standing on top of his house during a powerful nature changer performing every martial arts form shared by those who led before him. It taught him deep core energy strength and how to accept the vigor of nature while developing a personal path toward better understanding that the art truly isn’t about hitting, kicking and blocking but building a mountain.
Thinking, planning and making preparations…
I will always believe in you first…
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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