Preparing for the worst: a lesson from California to Europe
In 1996, when I moved with my family to California, I soon received a stark reality check. My daughter’s school required us to prepare an emergency kit, a precaution against potential earthquakes that might prevent us from picking her up. Designed to last three days, the pack included non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid supplies, and more. Its not-inconsiderable size, for a small child, was a sobering reminder of the risks we faced.
Assembling this kit was not only laborious but anxiety-inducing. It forced us to confront the higher probability of natural disasters in our new home compared to my native Spain. The school stored the kit, periodically reminding us to replace certain items. This disaster preparedness mindset was entirely foreign to our experience.
However, times are changing. The climate emergency, an undeniable reality, is rapidly transforming our environment. In Southern Europe, we’re witnessing an alarming increase in extreme events: heat waves, floods, and unusually intense forest fires. A recent incident brought this home for me when a neighbor’s hedge, made up of Arizona cypress, caught fire and quickly threatened to spread to our property, creating flames more than 20 feet high, and prompting urgent safety measures. Such close calls serve as powerful motivators for preparedness.
