Caveat Emptor

Feb 17, 2019 Posted by: Karina Warshaw Being prepared,  Did you know

There are all kinds of ready-packed GO-bags on the market. And we firmly believe that everybody Needs a GO-bag. But buyer beware! There are a lot of sub optimal products available. <Read More>

You Want to be Seen In the Dark

Jan 17, 2019 Posted by: Karina Warshaw Did you know

Walking at night can be a dangerous endeavor, especially if you are not easily seen.  <Read More>

California Failed to Prevent the Carr Fire

Jan 17, 2019 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know,  Real emergencies

According to ProPublica "Every level of government understood the dangers and took few, if any, of the steps needed to prevent catastrophe."

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Decision-making: System 1 vs System 2

Jan 17, 2019 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know,  Psychology of preparedness

How we think and make decisions can have a profound impact on how we fare in an emergency. Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize winner psychologist, explores how we make decisions in his book, Thinking, Fast and Slow.  <Read More>

14 Bad Habits that Can Burn Down Your House

Dec 16, 2018 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know

This is worth a quick scan to make sure you're not guilty of any of these potential fire hazards in your home. <Read More>

Herding Bias

Dec 16, 2018 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know,  Psychology of preparedness

Herding bias in decision-making. We see it in fashion, with investing, in the animal world - think migrations and schools of fish as examples, and in everyday life. But there are two traps to be aware of when it comes to emergencies and preparedness - where the consequences of a poor decision can be particularly high. <Read More>

Amnesia Bias

Nov 17, 2018 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know,  Psychology of preparedness

Among the cognitive biases that contribute to "preparedness avoidance" is Amnesia Bias.  <Read More>

The Fabric We Used in the VLES designs GO-bag

Nov 17, 2018 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know,  Emergency supplies

When we set out to design our go bag we knew we needed totally water proof fabric and one that was seriously tough.  <Read More>

Hurricanes Are a Potential Public Health Disaster

Nov 17, 2018 Posted by: Karina Warshaw Did you know

In a world of ever-increasing storm intensities, infrastructure and communication planning are critical going forward. On a personal level, individuals and families need to make a personal plan, consider how they’re going to have access to drinkable water and prepare for an emergency we all hope will never come. <Read More>

Inertia Bias

Oct 10, 2018 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know,  Psychology of preparedness

"The tendency to look for, and choose, default courses of actions is one of the most robust biases in decision making" <Read More>

IPCC Report on Climate Change

Oct 10, 2018 Posted by: Karina Warshaw Did you know

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just released their 2018 report. The news is not good. <Read More>

The Ostrich Paradox - Book Overview

Sep 10, 2018 Posted by: Stuart Warshaw Did you know,  Psychology of preparedness

Two psychologists from the University of Pennsylvania, Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther, explore the question of why we humans consistently underprepare for disasters. It's a fascinating topic, especially considering that more than two thirds of Americans feel they are underprepared. <Read More>