Do you realize how much your everyday life depends on whether or not truckers are able to do their job? The American Trucking Associations (ATA) put out a report in 2006 about what would happen in the event that trucks became unable to deliver supplies to a given area. There are many reasons why trucks might be unable to make their deliveries in an emergency, whether it is because of actions by the government halting or limiting truck traffic or the extreme traffic jams and destruction of roads that can occur in a disaster. Whatever the reason, the potential consequences are alarming. Below is a timeline from the ATA giving a brief description of those consequences. For a more in depth look, check out the whole article entitled "When Trucks Stop, America Stops".
"When Trucks Stop, America Stops
A Timeline Showing the Deterioration of Major Industries Following a Truck Stoppage
The first 24 hours
• Delivery of medical supplies to the affected area will cease.
• Hospitals will run out of basic supplies such as syringes and catheters within hours. Radiopharmaceuticals will deteriorate and become unusable.
• Service stations will begin to run out of fuel.
• Manufacturers using just-in-time manufacturing will develop component shortages.
• U.S. mail and other package delivery will cease.
Within one day
• Food shortages will begin to develop.
• Automobile fuel availability and delivery will dwindle, leading to skyrocketing prices and long lines at the gas pumps.
• Without manufacturing components and trucks for product delivery, assembly lines will shut down, putting thousands out of work.
Within two to three days
• Food shortages will escalate, especially in the face of hoarding and consumer panic.
• Supplies of essentials—such as bottled water, powdered milk, and canned meat—at major retailers will disappear.
• ATMs will run out of cash and banks will be unable to process transactions.
• Service stations will completely run out of fuel for autos and trucks.
• Garbage will start piling up in urban and suburban areas.
• Container ships will sit idle in ports and rail transport will be disrupted, eventually coming to a standstill.
Within a week
• Automobile travel will cease due to the lack of fuel. Without autos and busses, many people will not be able to get to work, shop for groceries, or access medical care.
• Hospitals will begin to exhaust oxygen supplies.
Within two weeks
• The nation’s clean water supply will begin to run dry.
Within four weeks
• The nation will exhaust its clean water supply and water will be safe for drinking only after boiling. As a result gastrointestinal illnesses will increase, further taxing an already weakened health care system.
This timeline presents only the primary effects of a freeze on truck travel. Secondary effects must be considered as well, such as inability to maintain telecommunications service, reduced law enforcement, increased crime, increased illness and injury, higher death rates, and likely, civil unrest"
I do not share this to scare, but to help prepare. Some things this reinforced for me are that I need to:
1. Become knowledgeable about first aid and have a good first aid kit.
2. Make sure you keep a good stock of necessary medications on hand. (If this isn't possible you may consider researching survival methods that can be used for people with your particular health issues).
3. Always keep your gas tanks at least half full.
4. Keep an adequate amount of food and water storage in an accessible place. This will save you money, time, grief, gas, stress, etc. in case of emergency.
5. Keep an ample supply of money in a safe, yet accessible place.
6. Make sure you have reliable means of water purification.
Ample water supply is a key component of emergency preparedness. See FEMA's Water Storage Guidelines here. For additional information about water storage and purification, this article from the National Terror Alert Response Center is helpful.
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