I survived an F-5 tornado in Oklahoma that destroyed my home while I was inside, but would I survive another disaster?

Factors working against me in surviving a disaster

It is important to know what factors you have working against you in surviving a disaster so you can counteract them as well as possible. Other than the actual physical event itself, a person’s thought processes and reaction to a disaster are probably their biggest enemy to survival.

Here are the factors that are likely going to work against me during a disaster like another monster tornado in Oklahoma:

1. Denial

I like to think it is my optimism that causes me to initially deny a disaster. My brain just seems to refuse to accept that something bad is happening. During the tornado, we watched it approach our home for at least 45 minutes. All the while, I was sure it would turn, but it didn’t.

My delay in taking action caused by my denial put me directly in harm’s way. It could have cost me my life.

2. Groupthink

I tend to be obedient to the chain-of-command. Maybe I am partially programmed this way because of my military background. Trusting in others like flight attendants, firefighters and government officials to decide when to evacuate during an emergency and to provide the proper guidance can work against you. This was made evident after Hurricane Katrina.

Remaining calm and orderly is essential to everyone’s survival, but real survivors take responsibility for their own safety and act in their best interest regardless what the group or leaders think.

3. Limited experience

I’ve only been exposed to certain types of disasters. In those situations for which my brain has no point of reference, I would be less likely to survive. I might freeze or panic. Our brains go into a sort of autopilot mode under extreme duress. Without any previous experience to rely upon, it may fail to act appropriately.

This is why emergency drills at work and at home are so important. These exercises preprogram our brains so they automatically know what to do when disaster strikes.

Factors working in my favor for surviving a disaster

Fortunately, I also have some characteristics and experiences working in my favor should I get caught up in a future disaster. Here’s what will help me:

1. I’ve survived a tornado in Oklahoma

The experience of being a survivor helps our brains to remain calm in future scenarios. It gives us some additional confidence that we can survive. Our minds also have some reference points from which to draw conclusions. In essence, I got an education on disaster survival the hard way.

My experience surviving a tornado would be most valuable in another similar disaster, but it would likely help me to some extent regardless of the situation.

2. I taught others how to respond in emergencies

I served six years in the Air Force as an aircrew member. The last two years I spent training new aircrew members how to respond to emergencies. I was also subjected to simulated aircraft emergencies. In addition, I jumped down an aircraft evacuation slide multiple times while I was in the military.

This experience would certainly benefit me in the event I was involved in an aircraft emergency. I know how to use the equipment and I am well acquainted with many of the reasons people fail to survive these types of disasters. This all would be to my benefit.

3. I don’t usually panic

Panic isn’t as common in disasters as one might think. However, it does occur and when it happens, it often costs people their lives. I’ve been in some fairly scary situations and have come to discover that I don’t seem to be predisposed to panic.

The ability to remain calm and think decisively in a disaster is paramount to survival. This tendency would certainly be to my credit in future situations.

My survival likely depends heavily on the specific situation

As you can see, I have some powerful things in my favor for surviving a disaster. However, I also have some equally negative tendencies working against me. I probably have an above average chance of surviving another tornado or an aircraft emergency. On the other hand, if I am presented with a situation that I’ve never expected, my chances will go down dramatically.

One other advantage I have is that I’m honest with myself about my weaknesses. This might help me recognize my poor responses sooner so I can take corrective action quicker. Hopefully, these things will be enough!

How likely are you to survive a disaster?

If you are interested in learning more about disaster survival, I would recommend reading The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why. You can also visit Ready.gov.

Photo by tlindenbaum