This week we discuss the elements of planning, specifically for scenarios that you might face.  I focus more on the planning steps and elements than any one scenario, as there are a multitude of potential hazards that may be realized.  How do we integrate a specific scenario into my overall preparedness plan?  What could possibly go wrong and cause a disruption?  We walk through how top plan, figure out what you are exposed to, ask yourself how this will influence my normal operations and finally, what steps do I need to take to prepare for that?  Are you looking at the simple and basic animalistic requirements? (food, water, shelter, first aid and security).  Or are you wishing to conduct a detailed analysis for this specific scenario based upon the critical infrastructure that supports modern society?  The possibilities are endless but you are responsible for your outcomes, so how can you not consider scenario planning?

Season 3 commences with a great discussion on emergency preparedness with one of Canada's foremost experts, Ian Foss.  From a background of search and rescue, followed by service in government agencies, with a Masters from Royal Roads - Ian discusses why preparedness is necessary; challenges to get the message across and solutions for communication experts across different level of government.  Trusted sources is the key takeaway - in that we will always trust a message when it comes from someone within our own "circle of trust".  That circle is different for everyone and understanding those networks is critical for the emergency preparedness communications gurus of the 21st century.  Planning, kits, evacuation, hazards, social capital, teenagers and a myriad of other elements are discussed.  Join the conversation and let's get prepared.

Lets dive right into the most controversial issue at play - the IPCC report and the world's reaction to the science, the fires all around us and those few who remain with their heads in the sand.  I offer my points on what the problem is, why humans are responsible, what are our options and how we get there.  I am tired of the toilet-level quality of the discourse on this species level problem.  So, what to do?  We need vision - a leader with a simple clear no more than two page policy that leads to a fossil fuel free future.  Simple.  Clear.  Dates and deliverables, not flowery speeches.  I am not in favour of carbon taxes, GHG emission level targets or following the treaty standards.  The science is clear - science being the facts my friends, with the balance of probabilities in favour of human induced accelerated climate change.  Our climate has changed and will continue to change for billions of years - it is the measured exponential increase in the rate of change that is at debate.  My solution, a Canadian solution is offered.  Chime in, have your say - it is your planet after all.  Cheers 

This world has endless possibilities, the pandemic has exposed opportunities everywhere - so how do you design the perfect life - CMPP: career, money, passions and people ! We examine how to look at this from scratch, assess opportunity, then include the ever-present minimalism and the intended purpose for physical goods in your life.  Finally, we round it out to this podcast's main message - preparedness and set you up for success.  Its a formula that works, proven by the worlds greatest thinkers - do something with your life that excites you, makes you swing your legs out of bed in the morning to tackle the day.  Manage money on the 50/30/20 rule, have passions for your hobbies and giving back to society and surround yourself by like minded driven people.  Minimalism - things exist to support your life, that's it.  Own only what is necessary to facilitate your life, discard the rest.Maybe you'll need to fire friends and family, but you only have one life.  Go get it.  

A brief discussion on what preparedness means to me, some talk about confusing definitions and the ideas behind becoming a prepared individual.  We chat about self-sufficiency, self-reliance, disasters, emergencies and a myriad of other situations.  Your income is most important, you need multiple lines of income and a plan, a solid plan, when you walk into work tomorrow and your boss says you're fired.  Plan B needs to be ready to go, with that you define your emergency fund requirements and you pivot to your pre-determined occupation.  Do not rely on a magical cheque from the government to pay your bills when you're unemployed - that's your responsibility, if you choose to adopt a prepared mindset.  Where do you get your food?Join the conversation, discuss with friends - What does preparedness mean to you?No significant nerding out occurs.  I promise.  

Everyone loves a list. If you're looking for the quick and dirty 10 steps to becoming a prepared individual, then here you go. Simple - totally uncomplicated and easy to accomplish.  That must be the goal, otherwise barriers become reasons for off-ramping and not being prepared for coming disruptions.Brilliant - based upon the recommendations and education of the finest minds in the genre, along with academic investigations and real world experience.  Wrap that up and you have simple brilliance, trust us.Cheap - preparedness is not expensive.  Not at all, those who peddle expensive equipment, years of food supply and other "necessities" are simply in it for the business, make money in capitalism and off we go.  So no, your money stays in your pocket while you become prepared.   

The world is in chaos, panic seems around the corner and if you were to believe the main stream media and the preppier channel - societal breakdown is imminent.  We are exposed to a flurry of complex problems that cause strife in society, challenging to address and difficult to solve, involving significant public resources and the cooperation of multi levels of government.  Those statements alone should make you furious.  Complex problems are a necessity, a raison d'être for the public service, for if our problems were simple with clear solutions, then the empires of levels, positions, committees and liaison agencies would not be required - except they are simple problems.  This week we talk about different types of problems, how to demystify preparedness into a set of simple choices - not complex and not difficult.  We discuss evacuations and how they are in fact simple issues with very simple solutions, they just require you to take a few minutes to consider your options and make a plan - before you are forced to consider your options.   So sit back, listen and join the conversation here and over at my website: www.preparednesslabs.ca    Leave a comment and lets stamp out the building of empires to address complex societal issues....

The apocotalk will not stop on social media and has now carried into the mainstream media in the form of dire warnings about climate change, pandemic variants, hyperinflation, end of globalization and many others.  So what is a prepared individual living in suburbia suppose to do?  Nothing.  Thats the point of preparedness and adopting a prepared life.  You have established a preparedness plan for you and your family, based upon the principle of disaster impact reduction and subsequently have considered your exposure to and dependance on the 10 sectors of critical infrastructure.  Now is the point, while periodically returning to your plan to ensure your assumptions remain correct and that nothing has changed in your family, that you go live an awesome life.  Do not lose sleep over aggregate price levels, or the end of globalized economic relations - you'll be fine, the soccer league will continue.  If you have prepared, then you are not scared.  You are ready to not only survive, but strive.  So sit back, grab a beverage and listen to our conversation on theses threats and why a prepared individual can simply sit back and watch - worry only about that which is in your control my friends.

As the developed world emerges from the pandemic restrictions, there is a movement afoot to adopt many of the "temporary" programs invoked during COVID-19 to help citizens manage the crisis, as permanent fixtures.  Not necessarily the benefits related legislation, but the framework legislative authority, government management and the new tools adopted in order to best serve the public.  This is a primary example of governments not removing additional authors granted in times of distress - think of the Patriot Act after 9/11, the ongoing structural and expansionary deficits in all governments and the new laws on governing Internet content and online monitoring.  As a preparedness community, we understand that we are responsible for our outcomes and our individual responsibility is far more reliable than government action.  Hence, we tip the scales in our favour by trusting our agency - that individual freedom to do what we want, pursue the goals we wish and reach our dreams - all within the structure of a society organized with a government responsible for making rules and adjudicating those through the judiciary.  Period.  Join us for a discussion on where the limits of government should be and where we trust our individual agency to succeed.  

Far too many preppier channels are profiting on fear mongering, raising stress in the population and therefore causing far more harm than any of their preparations would solve.  They simply are attempting to provide information and shows that will raise revenue, subscribers, Ad revenue and otherwise improve their bottom line.  Now profiting of your skills is the very essence of capitalism and is not the issue, utilizing your strengths to play on fear in an effort to capitalize on that fear through improved financial positions is wrong.  So, how do you understand what their "lens" is?  What are they NOT saying, where are they to gain, who are the players and understanding their individual bias is necessary to truly wrap your head around the logic behind the last two weeks of Chicken Little on YouTube.  Finishing off with a chat on the ways to express yourself without having to fall into the Twitter, Instagram and Facebook trap of thumb wars - its all yelling out there now and very little constructive thought.  Just my thoughts !