You had to plan your entire day around when you would and would not have power. It was a national crisis!
Fortunately, we are in the rainy season now. The dams and reservoirs are filling, and we have power all the time. Now the problem is how to deal with the damaging effects of too much rain. There are landslides, roads are washed out, bridges are severely damaged, and towns run the risk of being cut from the supply chain.
The fact that I am here and have been working on this project for five months is one way this need is being met.
I have collaborated with members of my host organization to design a set of classroom lessons and activities to help young people reconnect with their natural surroundings. That is one part of environmental education.
Another part of environmental education is disaster-risk reduction or disaster planning. We do this in the United States, too. At school you probably have fire drills and maybe even tornado drills. Knowing what to do in an emergency and being prepared for emergency situations is disaster-risk reduction. Everyone should have an emergency plan for different situations. Part of my job is helping young people in Ecuador plan for the emergencies specific to this region.
This is something I have always done in my own life. Maybe your family does this too. Do you have an emergency kit in your car or at home? I hope you do. I always keep a few useful supplies in my car back home in Texas. I also have an emergency kit here in my apartment. It was useful during the power outages. If you’re interested in creating an emergency kit, look at the recommendation from the Red Cross or FEMA websites.
