Japan Tsunami Creates Health Concerns… Are You Prepared?

Clean water, food, medical supplies and shelter are among the top health concerns following a tsunami.  How would you fare if a tsunami or earthquake hit where you live?

Update:  By popular demand, needed to get into this preparation thing deeper… read What to Do About Japan’s Nuclear Fallout.

BY NOW, it’s no news that Japan has just suffered one of the worst earthquakes ever recorded, at a whopping 8.9, the 5th largest.

Inevitably, the tsunamis soon followed, and in fact, they have spread and run amok in Hawaii, Mexico and the California coast, but of course with far less damage occurring so far.

As I write, I’m looking out a picture window that faces Richardson Bay in Sausalito, California.  In this position, I face East.  To my right, just over a hill, is the Golden Gate Bridge, the gateway to the Pacific Ocean.  Large waves generated by the earthquake off the coast of Japan would hit the West coast behind me and surge under the bridge, spilling out into the San Francisco Bay and then the Richardson Bay.

Obviously, such surges and waves would be substantially dampened by time they past my viewpoint.  Everything is calm here.

Now that you’re relieved that I’m OK, I’d like to jump into the point of this post: Be prepared!

As this news bulletin about the tsunami in Japan reports:

“the primary public health concerns are providing survivors with clean drinking water, food, shelter, and medical attention…”

It doesn’t take much in this age of interconnectivity (everything reliant on everything) for a seemingly localized problem to spread systemically — a domino effect.  Which begs the question:

How much food, water and medical supplies (like simple hydrogen peroxide) do you have stored in your home? Would you be OK if the grocery store was shut down for a week?

My suggestion is to let this Japanese Tsunami be the catalyst to buy some canned food goods and fill up some large water containers with water.  Add about ¼ of a teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water.

Some people I know have gone to great lengths to prepare from an uncertain future.  Web sites like The Self-Sufficiency Guide strive to educate the public about the great lengths one could reach to be prepared for potentially unpleasant future scenarios.

But I’m not dumping such a Herculean suggestion in your lap; rather, merely suggesting that some extra non-perishable food, water and medical supplies make sense.  Today would be a fine day to get started.

If you’ve taken any steps to prepare yourself for an uncertain future, please share them with us in the Comments section below.

Last Updated on August 12, 2018 by Joe Garma

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Joe Garma
 

I help people live with more vitality and strength. I'm a big believer in sustainability, and am a bit nutty about optimizing my diet, supplements, hormones and exercise. To get exclusive Updates, tips and be on your way to a stronger, more youthful body, join my weekly Newsletter. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 3 comments
HolisticRoom - March 15, 2011

No matter how much preparation one can take, you cannot make contingency plans for such events. One has to learn how to survive on the bare minimum and also learn how to deal with emotional traumas.

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    Joseph Garma - March 15, 2011

    If the gist of what you write is that no plan is infallible and some catastrophes will overcome any contingency plan, I agree.

    However, this does not mean that any preparation for a potential externally manifested disruption in your life is useless, and the Japan situation underscores this assertion.

    Many thousands of Japanese did not have stores of food, water, medicine or potassium iodide. When the tsunami and earthquake ravaged their area of the country, they did not have access to these supplies. Many suffered as the government scrambled to bring these essentials to the people affected. Certainly, they would have been better off if they had better prepared and stored what was needed.

    Each of us needs to look around. Do you live near anything that could threaten you? Earthquakes, floods, storms, tsunamis, harsh weather, dry/wet climate potentials should be considered. If one of these tore into your life, what would you need to have in order to handle it? Make the list and prepare.

    Reply
Anonymous - August 11, 2011

Japan Tsunami destroyed many property and also affect people. Many of people did not get food, water and many necessary things for life. So they got many health problems. Tsunami also affected people’s mentally health problem.

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