Confession:
When I see disasters like what is going on in Japan it freaks me out. I was born and raised in southern California so I am no virgin to earthquakes and I am not worried about not surviving. I think about the after-math. Since becoming a type 1 only five years ago I feel more vulnerable in away. I will admit I am a bit of a control freak and my mother anxiety has rubbed off on me over the years. I am generally not afraid of earthquakes or most things but I am afraid of being in a situation like trapped in rubble without access to food, water or meds. I have lived through a DKA stage and it was not pleasant so I know how it feels. I have a kit, and try to keep water and dry foods around just in case so I am prepared but you can not prepare for everything. Does anyone else get freaked out by this thought?..Is it because I am still kind of to this new to this lifestyle?
Still a relatively new T1 (less than 18 months), I used to worry considerably about dropping low enough overnight that I simply wouldn’t wake up; I got over that when it occurred to me I would never know.
And I do worry about being caught somewhere without needed supplies whether the location be mountaintop, motor vehicle, plane or structure. I think this worries me more than the overnight scenario because, as Rye said, I would be aware of the outcome.
Overall, I think I’d be okay facing demise in a disaster. I don’t have so much invested in this existence (career, children, house) for the loss to be considered “tragic.” Certainly I would be sad, but a part of me would actually be grateful to leave behind the endless maintenance, cost and worry of being T1.
We lived in CA for 10 years and went through the Northridge quake when we were living in Orange County. A friend of mine was babysitting her 3 young grandchildren in Sherman Oaks when the quake hit. There was glass everywhere in the house, and no electricity (it was dark, at night) and she had trouble finding everyone’s shoes so they could get out of the house. Ever since then we would keep an old pair of sneakers under the bed that we could grab quickly to put on. Especially being diabetic you would not want to risk a cut on your feet. anyway, that’s my tip, I assume everyone listens to the experts and keep ample supplies like food, water, radio and meds, and have earthquake kits at home and in your car.
My Mom taught me to prepare for disasters as such in an early age. I grew up where category 4-5 typhoons (hurricanes) are as normal as an earthquake. And being a third world country means having to deal with very bad infrastructures. My Mom always keeps ample supplies of goods, water and meds during the typhoon season. When I got married and moved to Oklahoma…Like Judith we have had close calls from tornadoes… I also keep a supply of food, water, meds, etc in the basement…just in case. A discipline I carried with me. I do not know for sure if it is fool proof since thank God I have not have the chance to experience such a massive destruction such as the one in Japan…I pray Id never know…