Ready for The Big One? Operation "Resilience"

Let me first say that I live in a very small town North of Springfield mo. yet we have always been pretty well connected to inside Governmental issues as many locals have taken positions in Washington.

Now today I picked up a newspaper and discovered this headline:

Ready for the Big One? Agencies prepare.

Recovery after a major earthquake in the United States could depend on a "resilience" plan to help communities and businesses get back on their feet, a study released Wednesday indicates.

re·sil·ience
   /rɪˈzɪlyəns, -ˈzɪliəns/ Show Spelled[ri-zil-yuhns, -zil-ee-uhns] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.

dictionary.reference.com...

I took this resiliency test and scored an honest 90. So does this mean that I am mentally prepared to be in the moment and a leader when the big one does happen? According to this test I am, but to be frank it would depend on whether or not I am seriously injured in the process as we never know who will sustain massive injury in a disaster.

You can also take the resiliency test here:

Resiliency Quiz - How Resilient Are You?
by Al Siebert, PhD,
author of the award-winning The Resiliency Advantage

• Resiliency Quiz Interpretation

The Resiliency Advantage book cover 2006 Best Self-Help Book award graphic, link to IP website

How do you react to unexpected difficulties? Healthy, resilient people have stress-resistant personalities and learn valuable lessons from rough experiences. Resilience is the process of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences. Resilient people overcome adversity, bounce back from setbacks, and can thrive under extreme, on-going pressure without acting in dysfunctional or harmful ways. The most resilient people recover from traumatic experiences stronger, better, and wiser.

When hurt or distressed, resilient people expect to find a way to have things turn out well. They feel self-reliant and have a learning/coping reaction rather than the victim/blaming reaction that is so common these days.

Take the Quiz....

www.resiliencycenter.com...


Now back to the article which to me is just another piece of the conspiracy which seems to know something which they are not sharing with the GP but spending hundreds of millions of dollars in preparation for.

Why can't they just come out with it? Be honest with folks and give them the chance to exodus before the Big One if in fact they have data which would cause them after 100 years to become so serious about?

A few more excerpts from the article:

For an area more than 200 miles away from the New Madrid zone, earthquake preparedness in southwest Missouri is rolled into preparing for other natural events such as tornadoes and floods, Nicholls said.

As important as pre-earthquake preparation is, so is an effort to help areas hit by an earthquake rebound, according to a report issued by the Committee on National Earthquake Resilience.

The study recommends a preparedness program costing around $300 million a year nationwide.

The report mentioned the great quake in 1811-12 along the New Madrid Fault zone -- which includes southeast Missouri and the St. Louis area -- and comes just as some agencies are preparing for a multi-state earthquake exercise.

The "Great Central U.S. Shakeout" will be April 28.

Greene County Emergency Management will take part in the exercise as a public education effort, Nicholls said.

"On the actual day at 10:15 a.m. everyone is going to jump under their desk," he said of a drill intended to teach people about protecting themselves from falling debris.

The Shakeout won't be the only earthquake-related drill in the near future.

A drill in May aimed at emergency responders will outline southwest Missouri's role in disaster relief, Christian County Emergency Management Director Phil Amtower said.

Planners continue to rely on southwest Missouri as a staging area for relief efforts and survivor lodging, Amtower said.

Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar is participating in the April drill because the medical facility could take in evacuated hospital patients, hospital marketing director Tamera Heitz-Peet said.

I dont know about you but I sense a really big EQ is about to hit the Midwest and it could be sooner than any of us is possibly aware of.

reply to post by antar


hey where are you? I am your neighbor north of springfield too!! A so called friend has it on the nail the last 3 times including Japan. He says it will be spring of next yr 100 miles sw of KY but someone else says to be ready. Ark has been having cluster quakes since Feb

I am interested to see how ATSers do in the resiliency test posted above. I may be wrong but I think many of you will do exceptional and truth be known when it all goes down many of you will probably become real life heroes.

Heres that link again:

Resiliency Quiz - How Resilient Are You?

How do you react to unexpected difficulties? Healthy, resilient people have stress-resistant personalities and learn valuable lessons from rough experiences. Resilience is the process of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences. Resilient people overcome adversity, bounce back from setbacks, and can thrive under extreme, on-going pressure without acting in dysfunctional or harmful ways. The most resilient people recover from traumatic experiences stronger, better, and wiser.

When hurt or distressed, resilient people expect to find a way to have things turn out well. They feel self-reliant and have a learning/coping reaction rather than the victim/blaming reaction that is so common these days.

www.resiliencycenter.com...

I think that they are using the earthquake to prompt some attention for viewer support. Although at the moment nobody knows when the earthquake may hit I'm sure this is following on the heals of the Japan earthquake. Good post...

reply to post by antar


Hey Ana, they don't want to tell anyone for fear that the economy wont take it. They wont want to lose a dime before hand because they are cruel. They will just say, "Hey who can predict these things?"

They are evil scumbags and we will have to deal. Everyone needs to move to safe places now because no matter what natural disaster can happen where ya live it will. We are in the End of days and it will only get worse. Half the country would be devastated by a New Madrid quake and the other half would be taken out by Yellowstone or a Major Cali quake that woke up the Long Valley volcano.

Be right with God and just live your lives as best as you can or RUN FOR THE HILLS.

reply to post by cheri2012


Awesome I will u2u you! Good to know others close by just in case. Nice to meet you!

reply to post by Sky watcher


You won't believe this but I actually had the thought that 'maybe' with all of the distrust well deserved, what if this was just another way to make money? With more people making preps for Situation X, so much money has been made in ppl stocking up and so much more, but the 300,000,000,000 per year for Mo. when we are close to broke was an eye opener.

Just a thought, but really I think they know something and are not saying.

I'm very flexible. I feel comfortable with my paradoxical complexity. I'm optimistic and pessimistic, trusting and cautious, unselfish and selfish, and so forth. lol a ok? Your Resiliency Score is: 95 This test made me really take a look at my self and realize I really don't want to have to due good in a disaster lol

reply to post by FarBeyondDriven69


Wow, you will be an asset in Sit X. 95 is very high imo.

I am going to have my kids take this too...

94 points, luckily I live in europe. The questions however are leading towards an answer so you know you get a high score. IMO the answers should be put in another context.

I'm a 90, but I'm thinking my perparedness grade is maybe a 75. I have food, but I am lacking on the cooking angle. Of course, I live on the Gulf Coast so I'll probably be washed out into the Great Oil Puddle.

You do have a point about the idea of getting people to spend money on the preparedness, except for the fact that few people I know outside of ATS are even aware of this concept, and I live in the South. But still people are into their IPhones and who's winning on Idol.

Ended up with a low score? Don't fret, there are ways to improve your ability to cope in stressful situations.

How to Develop Resiliency Strengths
by Al Siebert, Ph.D., author of The Resiliency Advantage

Years of research into the inner nature of highly resilient survivors has created a solid understanding of human resiliency and how it develops. To develop your resiliency, here are key qualities to strengthen:

Playful, childlike curiosity. Ask lots of questions, want to know how things work. Play with new developments. Enjoy themselves as children do. Have a good time almost anywhere. Wonder about things, experiment, make mistakes, get hurt, laugh. Ask: "What is different now? What if I did this? Who can answer my questions? What is funny about this?"

Constantly learn from experience. Rapidly assimilate new or unexpected experiences and facilitate being changed by them. Ask "What is the lesson here? What early clues did I ignore? The next time that happens I will...."

Adapt quickly. Very mentally and emotionally flexible. Comfortable with contradictory personality qualities. Can be both strong and gentle, sensitive and tough, logical and intuitive, calm and emotional, serious and playful, and so forth. The more the better. Can think in negative ways to reach positive outcomes. "What could go wrong, so it can be avoided?"

Have solid self-esteem and self-confidence. Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. It determines how much you learn after something goes wrong. It allows you to receive praise and compliments. It acts as a buffer against hurtful statements while being receptive to constructive criticism. "I like, appreciate, and love myself...."

Self-confidence is your reputation with yourself. It allows you to take risks without waiting for approval or reassurance from others. You expect to handle new situations well because on your past successes. "These are my reliable strengths...."

Have good friendships, loving relationships. Research shows that people in toxic working conditions are more stress resistant and are less likely to get sick when they have a loving family and good friendships. Loners are more vulnerable to distressing conditions. Talking with friends and family diminishes the impact of difficulties and increases feelings of self-worth and self-confidence.

Express feelings honestly. Experience and can express anger, love, dislike, appreciation, grief--the entire range of human emotions honestly and openly. Can also choose to suppress their feelings when they believe it would be best to do so
.

Expect things to work out well. Deep optimism guided by internal values and standards. High tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. Can work without a job description, is a good role model of professionalism. Has a synergistic effect, brings stability to crises and chaos. Ask "How can I interact with this so that things turn out well for all of us?"

Read others with empathy. See things through the perspectives of others, even antagonists. Win/win/win attitude in conflicts. Ask "What do others think and feel? What is it like to be them? How do they experience me? What is legitimate about what they feel, say, and do?"

Use intuition, creative hunches. Accept subliminal perception and intuition as valid, useful sources of information. Ask "What is my body telling me? Did that daydream mean anything? Why don't I believe what I'm being told? What if I did this?"

Defend yourself well. Avoid and block attacks, fight back. See through and side-step cons, "games," and manipulations that others attempt. Find allies, resources, and support.

Have a talent for serendipity. Learning lessons in the school of life is the antidote to feeling victimized. They can convert a situation that is emotionally toxic for others into something emotionally nutritious for them. They thrive in situations distressing to others because they learn good lessons from bad experiences. They convert misfortune into good luck and gain strength from adversity.

A good indicator of exceptional mental health is when a person talking about a rough experience says "I would never willingly go through anything like that again, but it was the one of best things that ever happened to me." Ask "How can I turn this around? Why is it good that this happened? What is the gift?"

Get better and better every decade. Become increasingly life competent, resilient, durable, playful, and free. Spend less time surviving than others and survive major adversities better. Enjoy life more and more.

Adapted from The Survivor Personality.

reply to post by amarenell


Well with all of the recent disasters where millions have been displaced, there are so many people who through resiliency have come through stronger and not a basket case. Even if you have all the preps in the world the chance that you will be starting with zero, are very possible.

In all the survivor threads and websites I have read that is always a very real possibility, and true survivors learn some of the basics like making a solar cooker/distiller from a potato chip bag, or other wild yet simple ideas like that one.

Sure for many staying in would be the easy way out but in a real disaster that is not always possible. Look at all the thousands who may have survived the last few tsunamis but were left with nothing, they may have had it all before but were placed in the same position as a beggar on the streets in an instant.

When all the money in the world wont find you a drink of water, thats where resiliency comes in.

Take the test guys its kind of fun!

reply to post by antar


Hi, Antar!

I scored an 87...so not too shabby! I also feel like many members of ATS will be prepared for a multitude of disaster scenarios. Thank goodness! Think of all the people out there that won't have a clue what to do, how to help themselves, or even the dangers of any given situation. I haven't posted a whole lot, but I've read SO much that I feel like I know many members of ATS like my own family. I know that you have been through a lot...a great many of your posts have moved me through a whole spectrum of positive feelings. You're very resilient...probably even more so than you gave yourself credit for in the test, but again, that's another reason why I respect you. There's no doubt in my mind that you would be a terrific leader in any situation. Be well!

Doyder

93

reply to post by antar


This is a great idea for a thread! S&F& a smile for you!

I totally think that we're not being told everything about the Big One. Guess we'll have to find out the hard way?

My advise is to listen to America's heart.

Oh here's my test results. I got a 93. I think my test would be higher if I had real friends (not counting you Antar). I have myself though so it's okay. The reason that I bring this up is cuz it was on the test. I'm not doing it for sympathy. Just to make that clear. I don't need that, especially after all I've been through. Actually, come to think of it, my whole life, I've been preparing for what's coming. Call me weird, I'm use to it.

I've been working very hard to be a strong person. It's been a long haul though but I've made so far. Whew. lol I know I'm ready for any emergency situation. For sure. And I haven't even had to pay for training. Not that I wouldn't mind you. Just been lucky (some would say very unlucky haha) that way.

Oh and I posted the link to "How to Develop Resiliency Strengths by Al Siebert, Ph.D., author of The Resiliency Advantage" on Facebook. I think it's worth sharing for sure.

You're such a sweetie for caring about people like you do. I want to thank you very much for that.

www.resiliencycenter.com...

I'll think you'll do just fine Antar, from all the responses that I've read from you on ATS, I can tell you'll not only be fine but you'll be able to help others be fine too.

Peace to you,

Toni

reply to post by Antoniastar


Funny, you were in my prayers yesterday and I was thinking that I really need to post something to each member in my friends list something as a reminder that I still see them as friends. You had left me an uplifting message last and I still have not returned the act of kindness and thoughtful action. I am bad about the little things sometimes that let people know that they are important.

Perhaps in doing so it would help me to be stronger and to create closer relations, but alas if only I were a billionaire I too like yourself would be considered an eccentric rather than the other terms for less than socially active individuals. Not that I am not social, just see through most ppls bs and somehow they know I see it even if I never say a word.

reply to post by Doyder


One of the things that have me a bit worried is that I for one am over weight, have a very bad knee and another knee that takes all the brunt. I am very active, but think that in a situation where I can stay home and be here on the farm I could be all that you say, but if forced to take all my menagerie to the road, not so sure.

If it is a situation where I could haul my whole family, including 3 fragile elderly, chickens, dogs, cats, and a slew of kids, and have the gas to pull my very heavy older travel trailer, then yes, all would be well. But in Sit.X we never know what we will be able to bring or not bring to get out of dodge.

Thats like the good people in Japan who not of their own choice have not made it out of the contaminated/radiated zones. If they had a choice they would have, but for what ever reason chose or were forced to remain in place even when it was to their detriment.

I suppose that is the real backbone of what resilience is all about, not being a super hero in the face of disaster but accepting your lot and using what you have to do the best you can in any situation.

As a parent we can do this naturally at times, for instance when something tragic happens like a close death in the family, we take on the role of being helpful to our children and put our own sadness aside to help them feel consistency of life even during the worst. That does not mean not openly discussing our sadness or vulnerabilities, but doing it in such a way that it is something we will in time overcome.

I thank you.

Although most of the scores so far have been pretty high on this meter, I wonder if you are really scoring yourself honestly or how you see yourself in your own interpretation? Reason I say this is because in my own life even though people want to think that they are a certain way in real life they do not always act on how they feel.