The Savvy Scot

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5 Things Hurricane Sandy Can Teach Us

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5 Things Hurricane Sandy Can Teach Us

As I am sure the whole world knows, 50 million people on east coast of North America are embracing themselves for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. Public transport is grounded and over 7000 flights have been postponed. The storm has already taken 60 lives, has disrupted the presidential campaign and shut down Wall Street for the first time in nearly 30 years. This really makes us realise what little control we have over things…

Adapted from the BBC

Ever the optimist, I have Five positive things that this storm can teach us:

  • We don’t know what we don’t know. Storms come and go with little warning. We take too many things for granted: we are used to the tube working and flights arriving on time. We complain when they are a few minutes late, but really – in the presence of this almighty world – we are very small and our efforts relatively insignificant. We can’t take on nature and she is always in control. Don’t take things for granted in your own life. Just because you have a job or you have your health, don’t take them for granted. These things can change in a heartbeat. Similar to how you should keep stores of food and maintain the weatherproofing of your house, you should work hard on all aspects of your life. When you try and do it all at the last minute, sadly it is often too late.
  • We can never completely account for the unexpected. Think you have it all worked out? Got all the Emergency Funds you need? What would be your backup plan if a storm destroyed your house tomorrow? Do you have proper insurance? Do you have enough money to temporarily relocate? We can never have a safety net that is too big. Just because you have accounted for the washing machine breaking down and the car’s service, it doesn’t mean you have thought of it all. Realise that disasters don’t always happen to someone else.
  • Relationships matter. In times of danger and panic, you never know who you might need help from. That neighbor you never made an effort to speak to? The old friend from college you never bothered to call back? We need to maintain our relationships and ensure that we have friends that are genuinely willing to help us. Equally, we have a duty to help our peers, neighbors and others.
  • The importance of diversification. This hurricane has the potential to destroy houses, shops, offices, parks and worst of all lives. Even if the storm doesn’t affect you directly, there is no telling what catastrophic effect this could have on stocks, businesses and property. Whether you are a landlord, investor or business owner; the storm could destroy your income or interests. Having all your eggs in one basket is a dangerous game. Diversify your stocks/funds between local and foreign markets, buy property all over the world and expand your businesses in different neighborhoods.
  • Realisation of how good we actually have it. Disasters remind us of how lucky we really are and what we take for granted on a daily basis. Experiencing a disaster gives us a sense of grounding and the realisation of what others constantly have to live through. It reminds us that instead of buying a new car or a bigger house, that there are people with no car or no house.Above all, disasters bring us closer together.

 

To all my friends around the world – I sincerely hope that you and all your loved ones stay safe. Don’t try and be heroes, we can’t fight the power of this world.

Lovely comments

  2. budget & the Beach says

    Very well said! I know I can’t even imagine how scary it must be being on the east coast right now, especially while we are having perfect weather out here on the west coast. But you know, even though we have good weather, earthquakes can happen at any moment, so it’s good to be prepared. It’s one of those things you don’t think about much till it happens.
    budget & the Beach recently posted..Week in Review-10/28/12-I Buy FitnessMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      Thanks 🙂 It is strange to think that only a couple of hundred miles away, people are oblivious to the horrendous weather. Stay safe with those earthquakes!

  3. Miserly Investor says

    Hey savvyscot, I promised I would pop by soon!

    What a thoughtful article. Our thoughts are definitely with our friends across the pond at this difficult time for them.

    I know we all moan about the weather here in the UK every time there’s a drop of rain or a snowflake falls, but this definitely puts it all in context – we really are very lucky to have such a moderate climate.

    And thanks for making the point about diversification of your stock portfolio!

    Best,
    MI
    Miserly Investor recently posted..Dividend Investing: Tools Of The Trade – Part 2My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      Hello! You did – and Hey!

      I for one will not be complaining about a little bit of frost or a heavy rainfall now. Had to tie it into finance somehow!

  5. Catherine says

    I totally agree! We were hammered (Halifax) in ’03 by hurricane Juan, we knew we would get the crazy winds and surf off the ocean but we didn’t account for the 100+ yr old trees in the city which caused million of dollars worth of damage, blocking roads, knocking out power for up to 2 weeks in some cases and killing people…it was sad and scary. Can’t mess around with Mother Nature- she’s boss.
    Catherine recently posted..Paying More For Loyalty?My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      Wow! That is crazy. It is a totally alien concept for me in the UK, but I have seen on the news the devastation that mother nature can cause!

  8. Veronica @ Pelican on Money says

    “We can never completely account for the unexpected.” Isn’t that true?! This past several years has been nothing but unexpected events for me. New job check, moved twice, check. Depressed, check. Got out of being depressed, check. So much can happen so quickly and life can take you in so many directions, the best we can do is prepare a little ahead of time.

    • savvyscot says

      True That! That literally breaks my heart to read stories like that… My wife’s friend was killed in a car crash yesterday and left a new baby fatherless. I sincerely hope their finances were in track – it is tragic 🙁

  13. Mandy @MoneyMasterMom says

    I’ve been watching the clips. The images from New York are a great reminder of what is really important. Here, in the southern most part of the Great White North, we’ve been told to get our 72 hour emergency kits ready and it’s been wet, but apart from the duration hardly noticeable. Urks me a little I spent time, money, and energy getting ready.
    Mandy @MoneyMasterMom recently posted..Preparing for Hurricane Sandy: A Mommy’s GuideMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      I agree. It can be fun to lose the ability to go online, put the tv on, lights on, appliances on etc… but for a while! Let’s hope North America can recover quickly

  15. nubwaxer says

    that’s it? doesn’t it seem like more erratic and intense storms hitting low lying areas might suggest climate change is real? who will pay for the major damage and loss of life from climate change? aren’t the predictions that doing everything possible to stop climate change or doing nothing will cost the same estimated $60 trillion over decades or the whole century? and don’t people know that doing everything possible to stop climate change results in positive outcomes while doing nothing does not?

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