Are You Prepared?

Just over one year ago, my husband and I found ourselves in Tokyo dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.  Returning to Tokyo two days after the disaster, we searched in vain for food and water.  Upon our return, we found the store shelves emptied.  Thank goodness, we had a little food in the cupboards of our apartment.

Japan is one of the most modern nations on earth.  However, it also has great potential for natural disasters.  The government of Japan has organized and prepared its citizens well with comprehensive and detailed plans for emergency situations.  In Tokyo there was no major damage.  The main problems were caused by scheduled blackouts and lack of adequate transportation due to the loss of power from the nuclear power plant. Despite this fact and the fact that Tokyo is over 200 miles from the area where the tsunami came ashore, people panicked. Within a few hours the store shelves were empty.

 In Tokyo, in the weeks after the earthquake, it was:

• Difficult to find water
• Difficult to find food
• Difficult to buy gas
• Difficult to get to work (shortage of electricity and gas to power trains, buses and cars)
• Difficult to deal with scheduled blackouts
• Fear of what may happen next

In the area of the tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster, the people also had to worry about:

• Communication
• Shelter
• Medical care
• Sanitation
• Finding missing family members
• Difficulty or impossibility of transportation

I want to emphasize the fact that the Japanese are some of the most prepared people on earth and that they are also extremely calm.  There was no rioting, no looting and basically no problems of that kind during the time of the disaster.  How would you react in the same type of situation? Are you prepared?

After returning to the U.S. and more fully realizing the importance of being prepared, I encountered Shelf Reliance by chance.  I was so impressed with their products that I have become an independent consultant.  I am enjoying both using Thrive Foods on a daily basis and building my own home store of Shelf Reliance Products.  Best of all, I have a feeling of peace because I know that I am doing my best to prepare for my family's needs in the future.

If you would like to visit my Shelf Reliance website, go to

www.susansakurai.shelfreliance.com