I can’t say I was a very good Girl Scout, despite spending my elementary and part of my junior high years in troops and camps. But one thing stuck: the proverbial two word motto that all Girls Scouts know: Be prepared.

I think about this almost daily.

No, I’m not a fatalist. I’m not even a pessimist. But I’d rather be prepared. I watched too many news reports after Hurricane Katrina to not get that message. And at work, we’re gathering speed, preparing both personally and collectively should disaster hit.

In 2005 after Katrina, my partner Forrest and I ordered a supply of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), and along with some bottled water, cat food, a few treats and a change of clothes, loaded up a plastic box and tucked it under the back porch. And it sat, out of sight and range of consciousness for the next few years.

The predicted disasters and full impact of climate change may not happen in my lifetime, but if insurance companies are paying attention, it suggests we all might want to do the same – just in case.

I’m not going to comment on whether climate change is Mother Nature’s standard practice or whether 7 billion earthlings are contributing. Rather, climate change is happening – as any respectable scientist will confirm – and it’s causing worldwide weather extremes. Recent examples include the increasingly frequent and damaging floods here in the northwest that decimate crops and carry off farm animals, mud slides that bury roads and drop buildings down hillsides, crazy storms throughout the south, droughts and heat waves in temperate parts of the country…

So rather than debate, I pose the question: How prepared are you?

Here in our urban northwest environment, we also have to plan for the unpredictable. Whether climate change has anything to do with earthquakes or not – and the dialogue about this is worthy – we’re precariously perched on active fault lines as well as the infamous Ring of Fire.

When – not if – the big one hits, the impact to all of us will be immeasurable. Last month, Outside Magazine published an impressive moment-by-moment tale of what could happen should a 9-point quake happen off our coast. While some fault can be found with the article, it’s well-written and I recommend reading it, as well as some of the comments (e.g., Michael Showalter, who consults with contractors about seismic retrofits). Be mindful that it’s scarier than a Halloween ghost story – it stripped away my lethargy and pushed me to take the final steps in my preparedness preparation.

Last summer I went through the backporch box. I tossed out and replenished food, water, cat food, and clothes, and added the requisite items we might need in an emergency. But after reading the Outside article, Forrest and I put together an emergency box for the boat we keep moored at Shilshole, and I finally made copies of important papers that might make things easier should disaster arrive. Thanks to a special offer at work, we both now have comprehensive car kits that supplement the kits I put together. His mom, who lives in Florida, is our out-of-town contact. We have a plan.

Haven’t made any preparations yet but want to? There are some great resources available – here are just a few to get you started.

• Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management – links will help you create a family plan, set up an out-of-town contact, and build your emergency supply kit (they also offer workshops but early registration is recommended as they fill up quickly)

• Ready.gov – a comprehensive national site that addresses both personal readiness – for you and your pets – and links to regional resources

• Red Cross – includes information about various emergency situations and how to prepare for each – including our emotional health after a disaster (note: informational materials can be downloaded in a number of languages)

Disaster may never come, and ideally, my preparation and planning will never be tested. But I sleep a little easier with my kits put together and a personal plan in place, knowing I’ll be less reliant on outside support.

If you have any preparedness tips or resources to share, please post in the Comments section. Thanks!