Physical Preparedness

Physical preparedness should include having all family members physically fit at all times. Physical fitness is important in a disaster for many reasons, including the following:

  • For disasters that require exiting your home, you need to be able to carry your emergency gear, and possibly younger children, to at least your family’s emergency meeting site
  • Often these disasters are very stressful on our bodies, sometimes resulting in heart attacks in those whose physical and emotional condition is less than optimal
  • For disasters that require leaving your home, you need to be able to carry your emergency gear to the designated gathering site
  • If an extended power outage results from a disaster, many of the electrical appliances that we have come to depend on will no longer operate, unless you have a generator and adequate fuel; without those appliances, you will have to manually perform those tasks
  • If an extended water supply outage results from a disaster, it will be necessary to haul water to your home from a trusted water source, then boil, filter or otherwise treat that water if contamination is suspected; this will expend additional energy on tasks that you may not be used to performing
  • If an extended food shortage results from a disaster or other natural/economic sources, food supplies may eventually be limited to either older stock or low-nutrition foods; these may not be as nutritious or plentiful, resulting in some level of physical stress and malnutrition over time. Those who are not already in good physical condition will more quickly become unhealthy and succumb to illnesses and diseases that they might not otherwise have contracted
  • If a pandemic or other health-related disaster occurs, as we have seen with COVID-19, those who are less healthy, and whose immune systems are not operating optimally, will often have the greatest degree of sickness from catching the disease, with potential long-term side-effects
  • There are many additional disaster scenarios that could be mentioned, in which those who are already in good health will fare much better than those whose health is less than optimal

Improving your level of health often involves a change in lifestyle, including the following:

  • Regular aerobic exercise, and adopting a more active lifestyle, such as walking or bicycling instead of driving, where safe and practical
  • Eating a balanced, nutritious diet, and keeping your caloric intake and level of obesity under control as needed
  • Controlling other medical factors that are specific to yourself, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure
  • Getting enough restful sleep
  • Resolving stress factors and situations in your life
  • Where possible, taking time for stress-free recreation with your family and/or friends
  • Keeping the Sabbath day holy, making it a day for spiritual reflection and renewal, and avoiding physical work where possible
  • Taking time daily for scripture study and reflection, and authentic expressions of love and gratitude to your family and your Heavenly Father