A quick note before I hopefully get back to more campaign and volunteering diaries. I've put in a lot of volunteer work over the past few days and want to update people on what I've seen.
But for now just a word of caution and a reminder to have your emergency plans ready to go.
Despite the masterpiece of organizing that kept our party from being bought by oligarchs at least for now, many of the fundamentals are still baked in. The enemy plan to use the courts to take power is still very much a thing. The possibility of lawsuits in several states over the ballot, which would probably be scooped up by the Supreme Court, is still very much a thing. The likelihood that the transition of power in this country will not be peaceful is higher than it should be.
If you are enjoying the excitement and enthusiasm of a new candidate and race, by all means continue to do so. Use that energy to volunteer and reflect that we lost one of the best presidents we've ever had but have the chance now to elect one just as good or better. We can thank both Biden, who sure seemed perfectly mentally capable in pulling this off, and Harris, who has so far read the room pretty perfectly, for turning a big disadvantage into an asset.
But remain prepared for anything. Political violence might still be not likely to many, but I would prepare just in case. Hurricane season is quiet for now, but it won't be for long and in a political year this contentious I would not assume that government aid would be immediate if you end up in a disaster area.
For both eventualities, now is the time to make sure you have plans in place. Get all your important papers in a fireproof and waterproof box, make sure you have canned goods and filtered water in case a storm knocks out your power and double check the expiration dates. Get a hand crank radio if you don't have one. If you haven't updated your passport definitely get in line to do that ASAP (especially if like me you're not in a state that wants to comply with the REAL ID Act).
Make sure you have a way to check up on anyone super vulnerable in your neighborhood, especially if you live in a red area.
If you live anywhere where there's a fire season make sure you memorize your evacuation codes and routes. Driving in smoke is hard enough, add mild panic and it just gets harder.
If you have family away or kids in college, make sure that you include checking in with them as part of any emergency plan. I had family I could not reach during a hurricane a couple of years ago. I was getting pretty worried, but turns out they were fine and just couldn't get a hold of me. It might not be possible to avoid that, but having a plan will help allay some of those fears.
Call me a cynic if you want but July is often the best month to double check your emergency supplies and plans. And just the existence of this year on this timeline is enough of an emergency, so please remember to stay safe and stay ready.
