At least since the beginning of the Hancock County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) there have been those cautioning organizations and individuals to prepare for a host of threats. And in reality those voices were present long before the COAD was formed. Those of us making those pleas were often looked at like wacko’s, conspiracy theorists.

One of the list of threats was PANDEMIC. Why, then, were our organizations so ill-prepared for what we are going through? I just listened to a radio commentator discussing the impact of not doing college football this fall. All involved appear to be making it up as they go along. Why are they not just carrying out a pre-arranged plan? What about your family and organizations where you have a position of leadership?

I hear folks in Iowa saying “We had no warning that the derecho storm was coming. We didn’t have time to get supplied up and ready for long term loss of power. I don’t want to pile on to those who are suffering but I am sure there have been voices for years telling them to ALWAYS BE PREPARED for sever weather (and other threats).

Let’s use this mess to learn a lesson. There are other threats on the list that demand preparation, What about earthquakes? Yes they can happen in the Midwest. What about electromagnetic interference with communications? How would you do if your cell phone and credit cards were worthless pieces of plastic?

Don’t get caught unprepared again. We have resources available.

Hancock County COAD

https://hancockcoad.org

Which group are you in?

The February 4, 2020 meeting of the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce was well attended.  Retta Livengood gave an insightful presentation on preparing your organization for disaster.  The organizations with representatives there is split, today, into two groups: those who took action and those who just listened and filed it away.  Which group are you in? Those who are very happy they went and got better prepared  – or one of those now wishing they had?

If you have more than the usual amount of time available during isolation you can still go back to those resources and get ready for the NEXT incident.  I am certain material is still available on the Greenfield Chamber web site (www.greenfieldcc.org) or you can go to the February 5th post at www.HancockCOAD.org.

Hancock County COAD Team
www.HancockCOAD.org

Why being prepared matters
I am concerned with some of the talking heads who criticize what they call “stockpiling” of supplies to fight the coronavirus. This isn’t hoarding; it is preparing for a fairly certain future event.  Proper leadership does not wait until an incident occurs to start amassing resources. That causes delay that causes increased damage from the incident.
 
We have a recent local example. A Hancock County COAD partner had an opportunity to receive a large quantity of items that could have been used to alleviate a need with local coronavirus response efforts. Unfortunately, the gift required use of other specific resources that had not been lined up in advance. Due to the lack of those resources that gift had to be declined.
 
So please help us be better prepared for whatever we might get hit with.  If you have access to any of these items that may be needed by local disaster response efforts, let me know so that we can contact you when we get hit, saving valuable time in our efforts to mitigate the damage.

4WD vehicles with towing capability
Pull behind camper with shower and kitchen for sale
Enclosed utility trailer for sale
Donations to help with above purchases
Generator
Warehouse space
Mobile food service equipment
Cold storage space
Data entry capability
Volunteer time for a variety of tasks
Hancock County COAD Team
www.HancockCOAD.org