Sophisticated Estate Planning with a Personal touch in Pasadena, California

Like you, I've recently been following the news and it's been an astonishing year of environmental challenges, hasn't it?

Today I am reading about the devastating 7.6 earthquake in Kashmir and terrifying mountainside collapses in Guatemala. Two weeks ago Typhoon Damrey displaced 300,000 in southeast Asia. This followed a month of ever-more alarming news of unbelievable loss and stories of unpreparedness following Hurricane Katrina, evacuation nightmares and gas shortages in Hurricane Rita, a freak paralyzing snowstorm in the Dakotas and the dramatic beginning of Southern California's catastrophic fire season, predicted to be one of the most severe on record, owing to the torrential winter rains of ‘04-‘05.

"Disaster" and "awakening" have become intertwined in the 21st century, as evidenced when Americans, without regard for boundaries, responded in an unprecedented way to the losses of the December tsunami in Southeast Asia. Did we at that point and in that time of compassion begin to think "there but for the grace of God..." ? I think we did.

As if to validate our renewed sense of human unity in the most wrenching way, we then experienced disaster on our own soil, a case in which nearly everyone "knew someone who knew someone" who was victimized by flood or hurricane. Numb but determined, we spontaneously yielded to our better nature; that which is so fundamentally American, our generosity, sense of community and common purpose, selflessness and sacrifice.

No amount of P.R. (or foreign policy or "cultural exports") can better show America's true character to the rest of the world. How might we change the world if we consciously continued to be aware and involved in non-political disasters, and if we continued to model American "can-do-ism" in the face of system failure?

Do we understand anew that although we have a great multi-layered system of government, we are not relieved of self-reliance and community inter-dependence?. Government is not only "for the people," remember, it is "of the people." Although at times it seems we have laws and agencies for every little thing, we now know that it is possible to find ourselves in situations where we may be truly and remarkably on our own, facing a failure of even the most basic services. How we creatively and wisely face this possibility and prepare for it may lead to new thinking in worldwide disaster relief preparation. Who knows?

It's no indictment of local, state or federal government to declare that we need to make our own plans in the event of a disaster, "we" being individuals, families, extended families, social and religious communities, and neighborhoods. Self-reliance is at the core of the American spirit and it sets us apart. Do some planning with your loved ones. Be at peace.

Here are some of my notes about our own emergency planning. I hope my thoughts encourage you to do some planning of your own!

Think about

• Earthquake/limited access in or out
• Sudden fire
• Wildfire/brushfire/limited access in or out
• Mudslide/flooding/blocked streets in or out
• Epidemic crisis [e.g. flu]
• Man-made crisis [bio-agent or chemical release, etc.]

Places where you might be

• Home
• Workplace
• School
• Other family home
• Volunteer location
• In car or near car
• In public, not near car

First actions?

• Is it immediately necessary for us to be together? To establish communication? *
• If so, and we cannot reach one another, is there a backup communication plan? *
• If we cannot communicate, are we all confident that all know how to look after ourselves until contact can be established? *
• Is it more appropriate to attempt to gather at our home or at another location? How can we all be sure we agree on what we are doing in this regard, or does it matter?
• Is this emergency of a "GO" type of a "STAY" type? [ Evacuate home, self-quarantine, stay at home until help arrives, or ??]
• Do I know exactly how my child's school has planned for an emergency and does my plan fit into the school's?

Emergency stuff

If you have a house fire, just GET OUT. For emergencies where you have a short chance to evacuate, keep a short list of necessary items by your main door. (Better yet, keep some of these items in another secure location). Important things to include: insurance policies, vital documents, stock certificates, com- puter CPU or backup discs, medications, telephone list, small valuables. Add whatever is precious to you, in descending order of importance.

Here's our recommended list of emergency supplies;

We've compiled these lists of emergency supplies from a number of sources, only including interesting things you might overlook. Be sure to read about the new products listed at the end of the article.
To find lists of basics: www.redcross.org www.oes.ca.gov

At home

• Laminated copy of family contact plan*
• Gallon water per person per day including pets. Refresh water every six months
• Transistor radio, flashlight and batteries**
• Charged cell phone batteries or cell charger**
• Can opener
• First aid kit and instructions; include tweezers for splinters or glass and bandages for cut feet (most common injury in Northridge quake)
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Extra glasses or contacts
• Sturdy shoes
• Essential medications and copies of prescriptions
• Extra house/car keys
• Toilet paper, toiletries, toothbrushes
• Fire extinguisher
• Pet food, leash/carrier
• Cash and change
• Water purification kit or unscented liquid bleach (8 drops per gallon)
• Special foods for babies, disabled, special needs
• Picnic-type eating utensils
• Aluminum foil
• Paper towels
• Knife and razor blades
• Candles and light sticks
• Matches in waterproof container
• Work gloves
• Broom, rope, wire, hammer, nails, ax, crowbar, shovel, small tools
• Local street map and compass
• Pen, paper, cards, games, reading materials, books, art materials, tape recorder for journal, camera

In every car

• Laminated copy of family contact plan*
• Bottled water (several)
• Nonperishable food
• Transistor radio, flashlight and batteries**
• Charged cell phone batteries or cell charger**
• First aid kit
• At least one day's worth of your personal prescription meds (or keep this in your purse) and copies of your prescriptions
• Gloves
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Moist towelettes and antibacterial hand gel
• Toothbrush/lip balm
• Small tool kit
• Matches and lighter
• Walking shoes and socks
• Change of clothes
• Hat or visor
• Cash (small bills & change)
• Local street map and compass
• Reading and journaling materials and pens

At work

• Laminated copy of family contact plan*
• Tennies or walking shoes
• First aid kit
• Transistor radio and flashlight with extra batteries**
• Matches
• Toiletries/toothbrush
• Cell phone charger*
• Reading, entertainment and journaling materials
• At least one day's worth of your personal prescription meds (or keep this in your purse) and copies of your prescriptions

* Family contact plan

**Great products