If you’ve turned on your television set, you’ve more than likely heard of the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that devastated the world’s highest populated country of China. News channel after news channel flashed troubling scenes of rescue workers pulling survivors from the wreckage caused by the natural disaster that struck areas such as Sichuan, Beichuan, Chengdu, Mianyang, and Beijing (home of the 2008 Olympic Games) on May 12th, 2008. It was heart-wrenching to watch scenes of children, most of whom were in school during the earthquake, with their hands reaching out for help from beneath the rubble of destroyed school buildings.
During the days following the aftermath of the earthquake, the world became flooded with reports of families and rescue workers searching for survivors, but the grim reality of the situation focused on a rising death toll, believed to have risen to 20,000. With the death toll steadily increasing day by day, it has been predicted that it may eventually reach an overwhelming 50,000 victims.
The desolating situation in China has created not only compassion in our hearts, but also a sense of fear in our minds. While facing the wrath of Mother Nature, it is important to know how to protect ourselves, should we become the targets of another natural disaster. It goes without saying that the best precaution you can take is to have the most optimal resources available to you. Don’t go another day without devising a Plan of Emergency and then implementing it. We can never be prepared for every situation, but we need to be proactive in our own survival.
We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the victims of the earthquake and their families.