What do you do when the lights go out?

There are three stages to a disaster:

• preparation—planning, training, exercises, etc
• event—this is when the most lives are at stake and time is off the essence
• recovery—when efforts are made to restore life to the way it once was.

If you want to prepare for a disaster, there are several web-based games and quizzes that can help you in your efforts. Two of these are:

• Just For Kids webpage from the government of British Columbia
• FEMA also has a kids’ page with some excellent tests including one that prints as a graphic novel featuring the Disaster Masters when completed

But these two sites are part of the preparation stage of a disaster. They lead to another question: what are you going to do to amuse yourself after the event has passed? Major disasters often result in damage that can take literally months to repair. That may mean a lot of time without power or your usual activities. If you don’t have a computer to read, a Wii to play with, or phone service to text your friends, let alone a ride to soccer practice, how will you stay busy and avoid the trap of boredom and maybe even depression?

Does your emergency kit contain anything on this list:

• A book
• Pen, pencil and paper
• A small musical instrument
• A sewing kit
• A deck of cards or
• A portable game like you might take on a car trip?

What else might you include for entertainment in case you have to leave home for a few days?

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Photo from iStock: Child and mother by Toffic