Prepared?

Disasters at scouting events … been there, done that …

The National Boy Scout Jamboree it getting quite a bit of attention this year after five leaders died in a freak electrical accident, along with hundreds of heat-related illnesses. While people argue over the ability to prevent these problems, I do remember handling disasters at this event a lot better.

Look at the bottom of the artilcle, where they mention a hurricane hitting the 1985 Jamboree … I was there, walking in the open when the camp got hit with 100 mph winds & a sudden downpour. I had to dodge debris & hide in a quartermaster’s tent during the storm, holding the center pole to keep the tent from flying away. Camp was messy after that, but the event didn’t stop. Organizers trucked in a portable laundrymat to dry our soggy supplies, and the Army loaned us blankets (their blankets were much nicer than our sleeping bags, but I had to give the blanket back).

I know this sounds like a old guy bitching from his front-porch rocking chair, but I hope today’s Scouts aren’t too sheltered by lawyers & policies to learn how to make do when bad things happen.