How Hurricanes Answer the Question, “Should I Have an End-of-Life Plan?”

To prepare? Or not to Prepare? Is that seriously a question?

Hurricanes

In 2003 my family moved to Florida. We learned that hurricane season was from May until November and there were some things we should purchase in the event of one happening. There were several different attitudes about this information. Some were very specific and prolific in their preparations i.e. a 4-week supply of food, a whole house generator, tarps, extra roofing materials and a host of other supplies. Others were much more casual in their emergency arrangements. A few cans of tuna, extra crackers, peanut butter and a few gallons of water rounded out their stockpile. Then there were those few that were willing to risk it with nothing, because there hadn’t been a hurricane in our part of town in more years than they can remember. Every hurricane warning had been a false one, so why spend the money and have the aggravation for no good reason?

In 2004 and 2005, our town in West Palm beach suffered major damage and losses from 3 separate category 3 hurricanes. Fortunately, we erred on the side of caution and purchased a generator, a good chain saw and a month’s supply of food.

When a hurricane is on the horizon you have a good week to prepare. It’s not like an earthquake that hits suddenly. You know about it long enough to get gas, get food, shutter up your windows, fill your bathtub with water, etc. It’s very anxiety-producing while you’re waiting, but having things in order helps tremendously. The actual hurricane, though loud, intense, and scary, is generally pretty quick. It rarely takes more than a few hours. What makes hurricanes awful, is the aftermath. The storm surge, the flooding, the torn-up landscaping, the debris, the power outages for up to three weeks (in the hottest, most humid time of year), no stores open, no streetlights, and more. It’s a giant hassle, not to mention mentally and emotionally exhausting - and that’s if you have what you need. When you don’t, it’s devastating, for a long time. The one thing that makes it bearable, is generally, neighbors are out checking on each other, sharing food, sharing ice if they have it, really being neighbors.

I was so grateful my late husband and I listened to the counsel of others to be prepared even though many around us were ambivalent. Even though it was expensive upfront, even though there was a distinct possibility that we’d never experience a hurricane and indeed hoped we wouldn’t, I’m grateful we listened. In the end, we were merely annoyed at the inconveniences, while we were relatively comfortable with enough food, a generator for our refrigerator, freezer, and fans.

Death — Are you Ready with an End-of-Life Plan?

Or better yet, if you end up the survivor of a loved one dying, are you ready to settle their affairs and live life without them?

Unlike hurricanes, which are merely possible, death is absolutely inevitable. If properly prepared, the worst kind of devastation can be avoided. How would you rate your readiness?

One way to test your readiness is to imagine that at this very moment that you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and are suddenly killed in an accident. Think about your family. Is there a financial plan in place to give those who depend on you time to face the reality of your being gone without having to make any rash decisions? Are you providing an income that needs to be replaced for your family to maintain their lifestyle? Will your loved ones incur any additional expenses in taking care of the duties that you managed in running the household, such as childcare, filing your tax return, doing yard work, taking care of the car, etc.?

Are the appropriate legal documents in place so that your investments and other assets can be dispersed quickly as per your wishes? Have you communicated your wishes to your family so that they know what you want? Are you a single parent with underage kids? Have you made appropriate plans for them and documented those plans properly, or will the courts need to make those decisions for you?

Do you own a business? In a February 13, 2023 article called “When Founders Die, Businesses Suffer,” Businessnewsdaily.com wrote,

“Businesses suffer long-lasting and significant negative impacts following a founder’s death. Sales figures often flounder, and there may be layoffs as the organization struggles to stay afloat.”

Do you have a succession plan in place for such an emergency so the business can continue, be sold, or even desolved?

Have you had any conversations with your family about death, how it might impact the family, what your wishes are for them, and what they might do to grieve appropriately while moving forward in life? And is there a plan in place to fill your shoes in carrying out household chores and duties?

After answering these questions in your mind, how do you feel? How do you think your family will get along? In what areas are you confident the family will be okay? What are you most concerned about?

Now, go through the same exercise again, but this time imagine that your spouse/partner/significant other/parent is the one that is killed. How confident are you in knowing what to do? Does the process of settling your loved one’s affairs stress you out, or are you at ease because a plan is in place? Do you feel like the resources are in place to support how you want to live?

If going through these exercises is too hard for you, then check out our free readiness quiz.

If you feel any uneasiness about your level of preparedness, please take some time to evaluate what you need to do and make a plan to get it done. We promise that you’ll feel a tremendous burden being lifted off your shoulders knowing that you’re ready for the worst. If you need some help, reach out to us. We have coaching and other resources that might be of assistance to help you get this done.

All the best,

Katie