RAF MILDENHALL, England -- While driving down the highway, a ringing boom noise sounds from underneath the car and causes the whole vehicle to shake robustly. Slowing down, making it to the shoulder of the road, the tire is obviously flat. Is there a spare in the trunk? Can it be fixed right then and there, or should road-side assistance be called? How prepared would you have been?
What about a zombie apocalypse? The undead is after the living. Phone lines are down, stores are closed and supplies are limited. Emergency services are down, including medical and the police. The only materials available are the supplies you already possess. A noise rustles through the bushes. A zombie is spotted muttering one word: brains. Are you prepared?
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U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andrew J. Kim, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management Logistics NCO in charge, and Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Foley, 100th CES Plans and Operations NCO in charge, are ensuring Team Mildenhall is prepared for any disaster.
“National Preparedness month happens every September It is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Association and is something most Air Force bases participate in,” Kim explained. “It’s a month long information campaign to raise awareness of local natural and man-made hazards and how to prepare, respond and recover from the varying incidents.”
Emergencies and disasters can happen unexpectedly, therefore in 2004, the month of September was proclaimed as National Preparedness month. During this month, FEMA’s goal is to encourage families, neighborhoods and communities to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies and disasters. However, everyone should be prepared during the other 11 months of the year.
“This is important because when a natural or man-made disaster strikes it makes everything easier to ensure that you and your loved ones can survive through the tragedy,” Foley expanded. “One step that can be taken to make yourself more prepared is to have a disaster supply kit with at least three days of food and water per person, to include your pets. A family emergency plan is also a great thing to have in the event that your family gets separated from each other – every member should know where to meet back up, but don’t forget that the plan is useless if you don’t practice it.”
According to the International Disaster Database, in 2015, the total number of lives reported lost due to disasters was 22,773. In an effort to limit this number for the years to come, the emergency management flight is helping Team Mildenhall know how to prepare.
“One of the threats that affects the Mildenhall area is flooding,” Foley said. “It may not seem like it was a threat this summer, but Mildenhall is a natural flood plain, to include some of the roads that lead into the town.”
Whether it be as simple as a flat tire or as extensive as a zombie apocalypse, being prepared can save lives.
“I know it is something that is joked about, but if you are prepared for zombies you are prepared for anything,” Foley explained. “Any kit that you would have to help through a zombie apocalypse would be ample to help you in a more likely incident.”
For more information and a full listing of recommended items people can go to www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.