I have to agree with that thought

I have been involved in disaster work of one form or another for over 50 years. I don't plan for a disaster.....

I plan multiple contingencies, each an individual component to be selected as the problem unfolds.

Communications, Medical, Shelter and so forth are components. Even if I am mentally confused, I can revert to the training for a particular component.

I do make lists... lots of lists. Sometimes I even use them. The most useful describe short tasks. How to set up a radio system. Which items I need to grab and go.

I break it all into the smallest manageable tasks, then practice the task and document it well.

After an event, I spend quite a bit of time compiling an "After Action Report". The military taught me how valuable it can be. I even write them down formally, like it was going to be sent somewhere. It forces me to examine each component I used, how I planned to use it, how I really did use it and what worked and what did not.

All that may seem a bit obsessive, but it always seems to be worth the effort. I am constantly amazed at how poorly I perform as opposed to how I think I will perform. But then I try to set very high standards. Gives me room to improve.

Nomad

Everyone on the Gulf coast is busy buying waters, d cells and raincoats...all on the day before the Hurrcane

I don't remember who said it or what the exact words were, but here's my version: We don't rise to the occasion, we revert (or fall) to our level of training.

Seen it on a few forums,very true,concise and such excellent advice as it fits so many circumstances.

Weve used it to plan and practice things we had never even thought of running thru beforehand.

Having a plan pop into your head instead of having to brainstorm one under stress.....thats just a good thing.

The day before Thanksgiving shopping always reminds me -- Plan ahead. Even one day and there is more product and less rush. A good reason to pay attention to the weather reports. ( and calendar)

One place to see this is raincoats and umbrellas...as soon as it rains, stores sell out.

It is almost always best to have thought out some things up front. An emergency is not the best time to be thinking about what to do.

Having said that, these situations tend to be pretty fluid and you also need some flexibility in your thinking.

"Both kinds are easily avoided by good planning."

Yes agree. what I've realized that I need to do is to go thru my garage and hi-grde all my camping and survival gear. Then get it packed in Ready To Go (RTG) boxes. So I have one box for cooking items, one box for sleeping items, one box for medical etc. That way there is no "decision fatigue" or forgetting of critical items. I can throw these boxes in the back of a vehicle and be ready in 10 mins.

That's the goal, anyway :-)

Pete2

It's often a consequence of efficiency. The more efficient a system is, the less slack there is to take up when the load varies. If a system is running at 75%, when the load varies you can push it up to 100% briefly and adsorb the extra with overloading. If it is running at 95%, there's no spare slack and it will get overloaded and fail. Efficiency and robustness are opposed.

Many stores now stock on a "just in time" system. It saves them money by not having stock sitting around not selling itself, but means if there is a transport disruption they will sell out surprisingly quickly.