Preparedness Failings of the Wizard of Oz

Plus your Week 7 Shopping List!
Last year when I first debuted the Week 7 Shopping List it happened to be the 70th Anniversary of the release of The Wizard of Oz. I'll just keep with that scenario since I already wrote the post and don't feel like writing a new one. A major thematic element of this film is a tornado, so obviously it has many ties to the field of emergency management. Right? Yes. Let’s recap the emergency management failings:

*Uncle Henry and Aunty Em’s house did not have proper foundation. If it was up-to-code, it might have weathered the tornado better. Since it was their house that killed the Wicked Witch of the West, they could been charged with involuntary manslaughter or sued for negligence maybe.

*Had Dorothy received proper disaster training, she would have known to stay away from the window and thusly, would not have been knocked unconscious.

*Uncle Henry and Aunty Em should have been consulting their NOAA weather radio and monitoring updates on weather conditions and warnings in their area. Had tornado sirens been in place, they would have had more warning.

*If Dorothy had a portable 72-hour kit ready for evacuation situations, she would have been much better prepared for her journey down the yellow brick road. Also, since she obviously loved Toto, she should have had a pet emergency kit as well.

Let’s all learn from Dorothy and be better prepared citizens. I’m sure that I have now ruined a childhood classic for you, but there’s no excuse not to be prepared for emergencies!

So, with that segue, let’s get to your weekly 72-hour kit shopping mission! This is a light week, so your wallet will thank you. On your next jaunt to the market, toss in some pain-reliever (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, whatever works for you), some anti-diarrhea medicine (seriously, a disaster situation is not a good time for this particular ailment) and an extra supply of any important prescription medications.

This last part can be tricky, as most insurance providers and pharmacies are reluctant to give any extra than what you need. The best thing to do is talk to your pharmacist and tell them your situation and that you want to be prepared in the event you can’t get to the pharmacy to refill your prescription. Even if the best that they can do is give you 3 or 4 days worth, it’s better than nothing! That’s all you need to add this week. I bet that kit is looking pretty awesome by now. You’ll be the envy of all your neighbors and their little dog too!