CLEARFIELD – What would you do if disaster struck? With the help of Amanda Ripley’s book Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why, book reviewer Carol Romanski prepared the audience of the second AAUW: Books-Sandwiched-In 2011 series to face many disasters and walk away as survivors.
On March 23, Anne Betts began the program by introducing Romanski and her love of the book Unthinkable. Betts explained the AAUW began planning for Books-Sandwiched-In 2011 in May of last year. At that time, Romanski, who works as a business manager for Hess & Fisher Engineers, expressed a desire for her son’s scout group to read the book, one she felt was a worthwhile and interesting read. Her enthusiasm for Unthinkable landed her a position in the Books-Sandwiched-In line-up.
Romanski began by asking the audience to close their eyes and envision that the Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Public Library, where they are currently enjoying a lunch and book review, suddenly goes up in flames. The audience was then asked if they would know what to do. Would they know where to go if the exits were blocked? Would they wait for a friend or go on alone? Would they grab any belongings before trying to leave? According to Romanski, some people in a situation such as this would freeze and be unable to respond, while others may even deny any problem exists.
Unthinkable explains that the study of survivors of disasters began after a ship collision in December of 1917. While one ship sailed on, the other, which was carrying twenty-five hundred tons of explosives, caught fire and caused an explosion that shattered glass 60 miles away. A fire, a tidal wave, and a blizzard all contributed to a “perfect storm” in the Nova Scotia area. In the end, 1,960 people were dead. An Anglican priest and scholar named Samuel Henry Prince, who opened his church to help care for the wounded, was interested in what enabled some people to survive.
The study became popular again after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. According to Romanski’s review, it took some people almost 45 minutes to leave after a plane struck the first tower. She relayed a passage from the book about a woman who believed the cause of the first plane crash was a heart attack from the pilot but changed her opinion after the second plane crash: she believed the planes had been racing and crashed as a result. For her, it was too difficult to grasp that terrorists had flown planes into the World Trade Center.
In her review, Romanski discussed the Arc of Survival, which includes three components: denial, liberation, and the decisive moment. The Arc of Survival can impact how a person responds to a situation and, inevitably, whether that person will survive the situation. She talked of the group mentality and how a group of strangers suddenly forced into a dangerous situation together will no longer seem like strangers. This can also be a downfall, as some people who may have tried to escape a situation will wait if that is what the rest of the group feels is best. Also, there is a level of paralysis that can impact some people faced with a fearful situation. One student involved in the Virginia Tech shootings, fell to the floor and was unable to move as the shooter moved around his classroom. The paralysis helped this student to live through the shootings, as it appeared he was already dead.
Finally, Romanski stressed the importance of preparedness. When someone is prepared for a situation, that individual is more in control. Romanski discussed a breathing technique she uses to maintain control. The first people on the scene of a disaster are usually basic civilians, so educating the general public about what to do in a disaster will result in more survivors. Knowing escape routes and plans in familiar situations is a good thing, but it also helps to be aware of surroundings in unfamiliar situations as well. Lastly, practice makes perfect. The book tells the story of a security guard for Morgan Stanley who prepared the employees of the company by having surprise fire drills frequently for eight years. He timed the employees and ensured they knew all escape routes. On 9/11, only 13 of the 2,700 employees of Morgan Stanley died.
Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why is available for checkout or hold at Shaw Public Library.
The AAUW: Books-Sandwiched-In 2011 series continues next week with reviewer Chrissy Boryenace. She will review the three novels in the Hunger Games trilogy: Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The review will begin at noon on March 30th. Reservations for this and other future AAUW: Books-Sandwiched-In 2011 events may be placed by calling Shaw Public Library at 814-765-3271 during regular business hours. Shaw Public Library is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Additional information may also be found on Shaw Public Library’s Web site.