When Crisis Strikes
We have all seen the tragedies that have struck a little
too close to home. Be they humans' doing or the acts
of mother nature, they are jarring at best, in part
because they so often feel as though they are beyond
our control. While we certainly can't prevent all tragedies,
or even predict them, the way we react to such events
can be powerfully influential. When crisis strikes,
here are some things you can do to help yourself and
those around you:
Communicate
It's well-known that communication is vital when tragedy
strikes. Most people try automatically to reach out
to their closest family members and friends when something
goes wrong. However, this can be more difficult than
it sounds, as cell lines often become clogged in times
of crisis, or may even be shut down by emergency services.
The solution to this problem is simple: to reach out
to loved ones at times like this, text message them
rather than making a call. Texting requires less bandwith
than calling, making it a smarter choice for both you
and those around you.
Your next concern might be the friends and family
members to whom you don't automatically reach out. Updating
your social media accounts to let them know where you
are and how you're doing is an easy and effective way
to reach them. Because social media use has practically
become second nature to many, a great deal of people
are bound to rush to Facebook and Twitter to ensure
that their friends and family are safe.
It may also be wise to watch out for means of contact
specifically designed for emergencies. In times of crisis,
emergency personnel and non-profits like the Red Cross
often create tools to help those affected communicate
with others outside the affected area. Such tools can
be especially helpful if your access to phones or social
networks is limited or cut off. Make sure to register
with such services if you are in an impacted area so
that others know you are okay.
An example of the value of these means of communication
comes from the Boston Marathon bombings, after which
phone lines were down, preventing many of those around
the site of the attacks from calling loved ones from
their cell phones. However, some were able to communicate
with friends and family via text message, and many were
able to post updates on social networking sites. Additionally,
the Boston police were able to use social media to reach
out quickly to the masses to help ensure their safety
and to search for the perpetrators.
Provide Housing
In times of crisis, you may be able to help by offering
those affected a place to stay. Be it a blizzard that
causes power outages in colder winter months or a man-made
event resulting in inaccessible roads or unsafe streets,
many disasters can displace people from their homes,
even if only for a little while. By offering yours to
those in these situations, you can make a powerful impact,
even if only to a few people.
Offer Power
If you have power during and following an emergency,
consider sharing your electricity. While many may not
immediately think to do this, providing electricity
to those affected by a disaster can be extremely helpful
to them, largely to those who may need to charge devices
they intend to use to contact loved ones or to keep
track on the latest news regarding their situation.
Those living in the wake of Hurricane Sandy provide
a great example of supplying power to those who were
treated less kindly by the storm. New York residents
who still had electricity following the storm placed
extension cords and power strips on the streets from
their windows, allowing those who had lost power to
charge their devices and proving a great aid to them.
Donate
While power can be helpful in times of emergency, there
are other, more basic and vital things that those affected
by disasters so often need. Since injuries tend to go
hand-in-hand with crisis, donating blood is an important
way to help hospitals ensure the recovery of those who
have been hurt. You can also consider donating money
to aid those who have been displaced or are in need
of housing or basic supplies. Alternatively, shelters
and relief agencies often provide lists of needed supplies
that you can donate to help speed the relief effort.
Record Evidence
Should you find yourself on the scene of a man-made
disaster, you may also be able to help by gathering
evidence. By using your devices to take photos or video
footage of your surroundings around the time of a crisis,
you gather potential evidence that can be used in the
effort to identify any perpetrators. A mere picture
on your cell phone may be able to protect others' safety
and bring justice to attackers.
The benefits of documenting the scene of a disaster
are powerfully illustrated by the aftermath of the Boston
Marathon attacks. Following the bombings, a large effort
to identify the perpetrators succeeded through use of
photographic evidence provided by casual Marathon attendees.
Without this participation from the crowd, the endeavor
to identity the bombers might have taken much longer,
potentially allowing the bombers to pursue plans for
further attacks and endanger the safety of many more
people.
It is evident, especially in a society in which technology
is ubiquitous, that the power of each individual to
help both themselves and others in times of crisis is
enormous. No matter how trivial your contribution may
seem, there is always something you can do to help.
About the Author -
NotePage, Inc. develops SMS, alphanumeric paging and
wireless messaging software solutions. http://www.notepage.net
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