HARDWICK – The first 72 hours after a disaster is the period when communities rely most heavily on what is already in place locally. The flooding in 2023 made that reality very clear in Hardwick.
During those first days, it quickly became obvious which things actually helped people get through the disruption and which things mattered far less than we might have expected.
Preparedness, in that moment, was not about being fully self-sufficient. It was about reducing pressure on already stretched systems, and to buy time while help, information, and access slowly came back online.
Looking back, a few things made the biggest difference.
First, people who had basic supplies on hand, enough food, drinking water, medications and household essentials for a few days, were able to ride out early disruptions without needing immediate assistance. That did not mean stockpiling. It meant having a small buffer when deliveries were delayed and stores were harder to reach.
Second, ways to stay heated or cooled and powered without electricity mattered more than many people anticipated. Whether it was a safe alternate heat source, extra blankets, a cooler place during hot weather or a simple way to charge a phone, households that had thought through a short power outage were less stressed when outages lasted longer than expected.
Third, knowing where to get reliable local information made a real difference. People who knew how the town would share updates, where notices were being posted or how to check in when communications were inconsistent were better able to make decisions.
Fourth, neighbors checking on neighbors filled gaps that no formal system could cover immediately. Informal check-ins, especially with older residents, people with mobility challenges or households dealing with medical needs, often happened before organized assistance could reach everyone. Those small acts reduced risk and anxiety in meaningful ways.
Finally, flexibility helped more than any single plan. People who were willing to adapt, delay non-urgent needs, adjust routines and share resources, made it easier for emergency responders to focus on situations that truly could not wait.
None of these things required people to be isolated or on their own. In fact, they worked best when combined with connection. Prepared households were better positioned to help others, to wait when waiting was necessary and to ask for help when they needed it.
Preparedness is sometimes framed as a personal responsibility. In practice, it is a shared one. When households can cover some basic needs for a short period, it reduces strain on shelters, responders, volunteers and municipal staff during the most chaotic phase of an emergency.
That breathing room matters.
Prepared does not mean isolated. It means being ready enough to help each other through uncertainty.
Kristen Leahy is the zoning and floodplain administrator and the resilience and adaptation coordinator.
