Carissa Denehy

Most counties including Monterey have city readiness plans/action plans.  Googling those phrases will bring up most of what you need. Even looking at resources your insurance companies offer like renters insurance or home insurance, especially in CA. They need thier clients to be prepared. There are tons of readiness resources online. I printed emergency contact sheets for my brother and family with our contact info, medical history, etc. I worked with my mom to determine different meeting points in CA or nearby states and printed out maps and directions in case the power/internet is out. I would really like physical maps of CA and surrounding states so I would probably have to buy some at REI. The hardest part is budgeting for emergency supplies. But even a little is better than nothing. As of now, we have water, granola bars, small first aid kits, and flashlights in all the cars (3). We need to pack and plan go bags for each person, inside all the cars and then our home go-bags. We agreed to spring clean and keep all of our outdoor gear and camping supplies in easy-to-reach boxes for easy packing in an emergency. I want to invest in a Berky water filter but those are very expensive. As are long-distance radios, the really good ones require training and annual permits, so are also very expensive. Probably most interestingly I've followed several preppers on social media that provide really good advice and tips and tricks. 

After taking the test, my personal footprint is below the average but still more than I thought. I would like to collect my grey water moving forward. I plan on starting a garden in the fall and it would save a ton of water by not using fresh and clean tap water for my plants. 

I believe that people become detached from a connection with the environment. Something I notice frequently is seeing all of these beautiful and pristine locations that cater to tourists and keep clean, making it feel like there isn't a problem.