OUR VIEW: Don’t skirt preparation, it saves lives

Emergency preparedness. It’s a phrase that makes many people cringe.

However, is it a phrase Utahns take to heart? After all, people in Utah do not have to worry about being hammered by a hurricane like people who live on the East coast, or decimated by an earthquake like those living on the west coast.

While its true residents of Utah are faced with mother nature’s fury much less than many other states, exhibiting an “it will never happen to me” attitude is not only foolish, but could prove costly.

The possibility of a natural disaster always looms, as uncommon as one may be. Just ask the people of Manti and Santaquin. Within the past two weeks, Manti has been rocked by a tornado, while residents of Santaquin have been recovering from a mudslide.

Both of these catastrophes rarely take place in Utah, but the fact remains they could still happen at any time.

This applies to USU students as well as anyone else. For those students who are not aware, the city of Logan is situated on a major fault line. Most earthquakes Cache Valley experiences are minor and insignificant. Nevertheless, experts have long said the area is susceptible to an extremely large one, and it is only a matter of time.

With this in mind, Cache Valley residents and USU students alike need to be prepared for the worst. Everyone should take the time to put together a 72 hour kit. The storage of excess food and water, although tedious, is also something to keep in mind.

It is impossible to be completely ready for a natural disaster if and when it occurs. However, the effects of one can be greatly curtailed if those of the community are ready for one.