Try to ralley friends and the community to be prepared to protect each other..
But you family comes first…
You can’t help others if you can’t help yourself

I have two requirements for staying on the job:

1. My family is not in immediate danger.
2. I can still EFFECTIVELY do my job.

I understand your concern. To me – your family is your first responsibility above all others. You will know when to leave the job when it becomes aparent that whatever has happened is such that it is catastropic and will last long tirm – 3 weeks or more in duration liker a Sandy or Katrina for example. Before you can help others – you must first make sure that your family is secure – safe. If you do not and something bad happens to them and they die because you were away helping strangers – you will not forgive yourself for a very long time if ever. No job is worth your family.

hey Curtis,

I hear you man. I’m former law-enforcement. I never had to even consider that issue because I never had a family while in, my brothers worked with me daily, and I would have gone through any door for them. Having a family now, all I can say is that they are everything. For our situation, I’m at the bug in location, self-sufficient farm in the country, and Mr. Man has to make it home from wherever. He’s an over the road truck driver. This issue became very real a couple of months ago. We discussed it and I put together for him what I call a “get your butt back home bag”. We are in the process of getting him a good bicycle, just because you can cover more ground faster that way. Just a thought for you. You’ll know when throwing your effort into helping other people is pointless, and honestly, your family is your responsibility first, just saying. Good luck.

It was that way the last time I checked anyways. Either way it’s a good ideas to check multiple sites I think.

I would think if your ability to effectively help others is predicated on knowing if your “family” is “relatively” safe, and will continue to be safe in your absence, then continue helping others, where you are, as long as the communication lines are open with family. I believe one’s obligation is to family first then community second. That may mean get home, make sure family is secure, then help those in your local neighborhood, and beyond.

The nature of Life is to be Happy. You’ll be much more beneficial to those in need if you are Happy during an event, as strange as that might sound. I would think this happiness goes hand and hand with knowing ones personal family is being taken care of, and consequently, in the state of happiness, one is more productive.

If one doesn’t have an immediate family, then one can reach out to the greater human family and returning “home” might not be such of concern. Working at a FD has it’s advantageous and disadvantageous; helping the community with skills and resources at hand and/or defending the structure from those who might be coming for various types of “supplies” in your possession, there.

Safety First.

I remember during the first few hours of September 11, 2001 that all cell phone traffic was jammed.

The cell towers couldn’t handle the massive traffic spike of volume and the lines were effectively cut.

You linked to another of your articles about contacting loved ones during a crisis. Having these other options available is CRUCIAL.

Thank you for including this!

Some form of first aid kit for your get home bag could be useful, too.

Great article!

Best,
Joe

Curtis,

Being in the FD you do have a problem. I believe the following applies:

1. With the majority of people only able to apply a band-aid, much less a tourniquet, splint, or know what gauze is for, you’ll be needed to keep them alive.

2. With less than 10% of the population having fire extinguishers, much less how to use them, you’ll be needed to save the neighbors house.

3. Then there’s car wrecks, rescues, etc.

If I were in your boots I would look at your supplies and the current support levels. If you don’t have what you need, or can’t get it, you can’t do your job, so why be there. I would make sure the station is secured as best as can be before you bail. Won’t do a lot of good since the ‘unprepared’ will tear down the walls to get a can of vienna sausages.

But, I would take a radio and charger. Nice to know what’s going on. If you are on the P-25 network, and if it is working, you might be able to get some accurate info.

hawkeyes