When people picture an emergency, their minds will usually jump towards chaos, screaming, and everyone running around. Real emergencies will sometimes look like that, sure, but that’s rare. Here are some thing you need to know.
by Kim Hobbs
Typically, things appear much more docile.
Take a family who’s trying to get out of the house. Yes, they know the situation is urgent, but they aren’t screaming and running like Godzilla is on its way to their house. The bags are by the door, half-packed, kids are looking for their jackets, and someone yelling to check if they’ve packed the dog’s medicine.
This is such a raw, unscripted moment, isn’t it? All that’s left is just pure instinct.
You see who’s in charge of what’s happening and who is the logistics officer fussing with the practical details. Of course, there’s also the person who tries to lighten the mood with the worst, most inappropriate joke.
I’d say a crisis is where you see the truest story, right?
What You Start to Notice Once Everything Falls Apart
The power grid has failed, and you’ve been ordered to evacuate. What now? That first hour is just chaos, but once the initial shock wears off, you see patterns. You see what people truly rely on, so let’s see what that looks like.
Adults Stick to Habit Even if It No Longer Works
The cell towers are down, but someone is still trying to check the internet for updates. As an outside observer, you might think that’s completely silly or that they’re stubborn, but really, it’s neither of those things.
When a crisis happens, adults grab for their familiar routines, regardless of the fact that they no longer make sense. The brain is on autopilot, and it desperately seeks some sense of comfort and control. Hesitation is also very common, where people will try to ‘wait and see what happens’.
That’s usually useless, but it still feels safer than going into the unknown.
Kids React First and Don’t Hide It
Adults try to act normal, but kids? No way. Unlike adults, who mask their feelings and compose themselves when stressed or under pressure, kids don’t have that “filter”. In kids, you see how they feel with one glance. You’ll see kids become super clingy, or they might even start sucking their thumbs. If that’s unusual behavior for them, they were looking at stress.
What’s important to note is that, during crises, stress makes common signs of child abuse or distress easier to notice because control and routine fall apart.
Family Roles Change Under Pressure
Who pays the bills? Who’s in charge of homework? Forget all that because, under actual pressure, the roles in the family change.
The parent who’s usually calm/composed might become the decision-maker (the leader) simply because they’re able to make more logical decisions while being emotional. So, even though the other parent typically “runs the show”, in crisis, they might step down temporarily from their role.
And while all this is happening, kids are there looking/listening and absorbing it all. And of course, they start mirroring/copying what they see.
What Does All This Teach Us?
Is the lesson here to have a better flashlight? Make your list of supplies longer? No and no. Those things are important, but actual readiness comes from looking in.
Let me explain.
Being truly prepared is not so much about the stuff as it is about the people. You can have the perfect go-bag, but what good is that if you don’t know how your partner reacts under stress? Or which kid will throw tantrums before listening to instructions? What is meant by this is, you have to be aware of the people you live with just as much as of the storm outside.
This is especially true with kids because their immediate reactions are usually the clearest sign that something’s wrong, whether on the surface or under it.
And that’s probably the ultimate thing that these (crisis) moments teach us, the parents. The crisis won’t really change anything; it’s all basically just a game of “hold up a mirror”. It’ll show the patterns that were already there, and the pressure will amplify all of it.
So wouldn’t you say that being ready means looking at what happens every day and being honest about it?
Maybe focus on making your connections stronger and try to understand what role you have right now, on a Tuesday like every other, because your preparation is only as strong as your everyday foundation.
So what’s all this mean?
Your REAL emergency kit is your people; your family.
The crisis situation is messy and honest, and no matter how perfect your plan is, it will unravel if you don’t know what to expect from the rest of your family.
So what’s the best advice? Honestly, it’s an easy one.
Pay attention on a normal day. See who calms down and who does a silly thing that makes everyone laugh. Because when the REAL crisis comes knocking around the corner, that’s exactly the person you’ll have to rely on.
Kiim Hobbs
Kim Hobbs is an accomplished writer, storyteller, and creative thinker whose passion for the written word has captivated readers worldwide. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for weaving compelling narratives, Kim explores themes of resilience, transformation, and the human experience.
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