Overview

Section contents

Specific aims of this portal

Introduction

-      Objectives of this resource

-      What might constitute a crisis?

Scenario building

-      Disasters impact lives in multiple ways

-      Levels of emergency

Preparation

-      Factors that might contribute to a crisis.

Specific aims of this portal

1. To support the family, and offer guidelines to preparing, responding to and serving in the context of disasters. It is aimed at preparing things on the physical level such that their inner state remains stable and they are able to provide support during disaster situations.

2. To provide guidelines for psychosocial and spiritual support to help those affected by states of emergency to re-acquire a sense of security and control in their lives, to assimilate and integrate the event, and then to create a new life with a positive outlook and the experience of the Divine’s protection.

3. To educate the family about the bigger context of disaster and how they might interact with and support local councils and other voluntary organisations. 

Introduction

This resource is a combination of the experiences and knowledge of the Brahmin family both in the UK and abroad and offers guidance in the following areas:

•   understanding disaster and its implications

•   food and water preparedness, ,

•   shelter and warmth,

•   health and first aid,

•   safety and security

•   communication options and,

•   how to offer psychological and spiritual support during such times.

Objectives of this resource

The objective of this resource is to offer guidance and support to the Brahmin community in preparing, responding to and serving in the context of times of crisis. It is aimed at making appropriate and adequate physical preparations, wherever you live, to support your inner stability so enabling you to provide support to others during disaster situations. All sections are likely to apply to BK Centres and many to householders.

Some of the document may be relevant to share with your local community outside of the BK family, too, as disaster seriously undermines people’s sense of what is true and permanent in life, as well as one’s sense of safety and identity. It disrupts the normal ebb and flow of life; roles are challenged and standards of living are drastically altered. What you share may help to provide guidelines to re-acquire a sense of security and control in their lives, to assimilate and integrate the event, and then to adapt to a new life with a more positive outlook and maybe even the experience of the Divine’s protection.

Click on the following link for a useful background: The Effects of Being Unprepared - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fjGh0-3JexFWtxL44o9pv_TbtGLuyLw_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108493757608847660095&rtpof=true&sd=true

Scenario-building

Disasters impact lives in multiple ways.

•  physical, (a destroyed home, bodily injury and financial loss)

•  social (disrupted relationships, routines and social networks)

•  psychological (mental, intellectual and emotional suffering)

•  spiritual (challenges to faith, searching for meaning and connection)

There are a number of different scenarios that will affect how one manages in a crisis or indeed whether the crisis is affecting where I am:

•   I live in an urban area; I live in the countryside;

•   I live alone; I live with other people; I live in a Centre;

•   I am able-bodied and mobile; I am older-bodied and require help with some tasks;

•   I have transport; I rely on public transport or others for a lift;

•   I have limited finances available; I have adequate finances available.  

Preparation

The following are the key areas that must be considered in planning for a crisis. While some areas may seem to be unnecessary or optional, if we have not considered them then, should some disaster occur, we may find that we have created unnecessary difficulty for ourself. For example, even though we have x days’ supply of food, if we had not considered distributing to those around me, I may have grossely underestimated the period that that supply will last..

Factors that might contribute to a crisis:

•   Human pressure - in a city, there will be greater demands on limited resources e.g. fresh and tinned food, bottled water;

•   Transport - usual means of transport may be unavailable e.g. buses or fuel may be restricted/unavailable;

•   Power cuts may be happening; mains gas might be limited; water pressure may be reduced or limited to certain times of the day/week;

     •   Social upheaval – strikes, demonstrations, looting, violence;

     •   The environment – rubbish collection may have ceased and so waste building up. This can lead to obnoxious smells and pathogens may be more prevalent;

     •   Health might be compromised through prevalence of disease e.g. epidemics;

     •   Financial institutions may be affected and cash withdrawals unavailable;

     •   Telecommunications may be compromised affecting communications with other BK’s.

What preparations do you need to make? 

We hope that this document will help you to focus on that question.