How would you start the conversation?

HilltopDaisy · #1 03/06/12, 04:00 PM

I have family that I would like to talk to regarding preparing for? whatever. All 3 of my sisters came through the terrible flood we had here this past fall.

They live in a city about 25 miles from me, all 3 on the same street. The water was chest-deep in the street, everyone was forced to evacuate to SUNY; no food, my DS was left at the door because she dared bring her Pomeranian. they couldn't go home for a week, and they lost so much.

I'm so worried that much worse is in store. I want to start a dialogue with them about storing some gallon jugs of water and food, and meds, but I know that if I'm not very, very careful, they will shut-down before I have a chance to open my mouth.

The three of them are city girls, and they live so close together, and they have lots of children; I'm the one who lives in the boonies with horses and goats, never had kids, they might see me as anti-social. We are very different....

Would you mind actually typing exactly what you would say? I love them and I'm afraid for them.

City Bound · #2 03/06/12, 04:14 PM

Just tell them, the same way you said it here. That was on target. YOu love them, you are worried for them, and that it would be good to prepare for the next emergency

Batt · #3 03/06/12, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by City Bound

Just tell them, the same way you said it here. That was on target. YOu love them, you are worried for them, and that it would be good to prepare for the next emergency

^^^ Exactly ^^^

AuntKitty · #4 03/06/12, 04:25 PM

As I replied in the "Is your family on board" thread, I have started working on the kids. When I watch zombie shows with my 9 yo nephew we talk about how we would do things differently, where we would go, what we would scavenge, etc. When they spend the weekend with me, we all plant seeds and have a contest to see who can grow the biggest tomato, pumpkin or whatever. My 13 yo nephew is now researching fertilizers and growing methods and wants to try hydroponics. My sister and BIL think I am crazy for keeping what they think are "pet" chickens and goats and planting a garden because they think I hate grocery store tomatoes. I tried telling them I was planting hops so we could brew their beer when it ran out, but even that didn't impress them. You might try saying to your sisters "if another storm is headed your way, why don't you come to my house for a visit until its over because you really got lucky last time and nobody got hurt". Mothers of children and even Pomeranians should understand the wisdom in that. Then when they call to say they are coming you can say "BTW bring all your extra sheets, towels, food & medical supplies"

I figure I will just be ready for the family to come to my house and if whatever happens gives us some warning I will be screaming at my sister on the phone to get in the car and get her butt up to the farm with the boys and all their food, etc. I am pretty sure she will listen to me when the time comes and the boys will certainly be agreeing with me. If we don't have warning, I will be getting to my nephews by whatever means is necessary and if their parents don't want to come along, that's fine too.

Kitty

acde · #5 03/06/12, 04:34 PM

Perhaps you could give them an emergency bucket with water, candles, matches, whatever. If they ever have to use it they might understand the importance.

littlebitfarm · #6 03/06/12, 08:21 PM

Do they have room to store things above the level of flood waters? Otherwise it will be hard for them to see the point if everything could be ruined.

Kathie

rainy5 · #7 03/06/12, 08:38 PM

My four year old watches different tornado shows and we have talked about the importance of being prepared even. All our kids have watched shows like katrina and we talk with them and other family members. talk with them about all he weird weather and being prepared for whatever may come their way.

Pam6 · #8 03/06/12, 08:45 PM

What about sending them an email instead of talking to them in person? Say something like:
Dear sister,
After seeing all of the news coverage from the recent tornadoes it has been weighing heavy on my mind how you were displaced during the flood this past fall and I am very concerned about where you would stay if something like that happened again. It would give me peace of mind if I knew that you had some extra bottled water, food, and meds on hand as well as an evacuation plan in place. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you get prepared for another possible emergency. I care so much about all of you and I just want to know that you are going to be safe and taken care of.
All my love,
your name

Sending an email lets them read it over and over without any chance of offense coming in if they look at you like you have two heads when they read it.

**GREENCOUNTYPETE** · #9 03/06/12, 10:12 PM

did you see fema's recommendation for a 72 hour kit?

thats the ice breaker

you know with the wild winter storms and floods and tornadoes and being without power and all, i doesn't seem liek a bad idea at all.

you have just suggested the same thing the US government recommends you have , and gave them a web site with a list , your not weird or a freak , just concerned . you saw an PSA about it on tv or something

evey one needs to start with basically what is in the fema recommended kit , if they won't take that step then they won't hear another word your going to say, if they do , Little bit by little bit you comment on a news story and put it in to your context presenting your message.

Texasdirtdigger · #10 03/07/12, 03:30 AM

I'd just say something like..... I was just wondering.....Considering all you went thru and endured, have you considered, etc, etc,. Because I love and worry for you. I would be happy to help you with a plan, if you would like.

Vickie44 · #11 03/07/12, 12:31 PM

I gave Get home safe bags to everyone in my family as Christmas presents which I introduced with a story about some one local stuck on the road for an extended period of time .It included a list of things to add re clothes and shoes and seasonal things to think about. Everything in them is logical and practical and it started a good dialogue.Starting slow and simple is the best way .

As stated above use the ready.gov site to "normalize " your expectations

Ann-NWIowa · #12 03/07/12, 12:44 PM

Request a FEMA emergency planning book be sent to each of them. Its actually a pretty good book for a beginning prepper. Even if all they do is 3 days or 2 weeks its better than nothing. Its been a couple years but I got the book free.

Ohio dreamer · #13 03/07/12, 12:53 PM

Suggest they start drawing a bit of cash out of the ATM each week. Put it in an envelope that they could grab when they get flooded out again. Cash is king....will go a long way in getting them out of Dodge. Suggest they stick a case of water and box of granola bars in their cars, so they can "run fast" when the water starts to rise. Talk to them in concrete it's going to happen terms not what if the river rises.....it's already proven it can and will, no what if's about it.

anniew · #14 03/08/12, 08:29 AM

This probably isn't helpful, but the main suggestion should be to move away from the flood area. That area, if Broome County, has greatly increased in size, and it'll likely happen again.
HTD, I have the same problem with my brother. Lives near THE city, and totally ignores any thoughts of emergencies. It is a great worry for me, knowing that they are totally unprepared even for a 72 hour power outage, let alone something bigger. I don't even think they could get to my rural location...probably wouldn't even have enough gas IF the roads were open.
So, the best you can do is make suggestions, maybe not in the context of a survival situation, but individually, like say something like what you did when you were out of propane (a little creative fibbing--but offering alternatives like gas grill, charcoal, etc.) or what you did when the power was off and you couldn't get water from the well (drain the hot water heater and how). At least it might get them to think what alternatives might be available if they are in the situation again.
Ann

Callieslamb · #15 03/08/12, 12:06 PM

I believe I'd start with something like - "you know...with all the disasters that are affecting so many people, I think I'd better start thinking about what I can do to be ready. Just in case. How do you feel? Do you think there's something we could do together?" and see how they react.

Now MY sisters - I'd just get right in their faces and say, "I do ever want to see you have to go through that again. Let me help.....Or else."

Sonshine · #16 03/08/12, 02:12 PM

I have told people that with the cost of food going up I think it would be wise to put some aside and start planning a garden. My family all knows we prep, yet none of them do, with the exception of my parents, but they have always stocked up on food. That's the only way they're prepping though.

Ruby · #17 03/08/12, 06:22 PM

I started the conversation with my DIL yesterday on facebook. I ask if they had been watching Doomsday Preppers. She said yes and they liked it. I knew they had caught LOTS of fish last year and bought a small freezer. Then she and my son hunted this winter. He didn't kill anything but she got a small deer.

Anyway I told her we liked to keep stuff in case something happened, she said she had always liked to keep extras. Before my son met her he bought for one meal at a time most of the time. I feel so much better about them being able to take care of them selves not. He came over last week and got our tiller for a garden. He's been out of work several months now, and may go to ND to work the oil field. If he gets on he'll be able to save enough to buy them a place. They are renting now and paying 600. a month.

TheMartianChick · #18 03/09/12, 08:17 AM

I usually approach the conversation by talking about things that are highly likely to happen. In my area, that is a blizzard. We get them almost every year and in more rural areas, the folks are unable to get out if there is something that they don't have.

My next frame of reference is a huge storm that hit my area in the 1990's. Power was out for a week and you couldn't go anywhere due to all of the downed trees and wires.

My last frame of reference that I use is the high cost of groceries and loss of employment. I point out that if you have the basic foods that you eat stored in a pantry, then you don't have to spend dwindling funds on much food to get by. I avoid all talk of rice, beans and bullets to ensure that they don't think that I'm auditioning to be on Doomsday Preppers. Not trying to plug my book but one of the reasons that I wrote it was to try to introduce women to the idea of being prepared by tucking the message in what seems to be a romance novel. Sugarcoating the message may make it a bit more palatable.