If you have any kind of naval background, you might immediately recognise the CPO as your Chief Petty Officer. So, you might be surprised to learn that the CPO has now turned up in a different guise as the Chief Prepper Officer for some travel companies.
What’s that all about?
Prepping for travel
Just like for the rest of us, emergencies, crises, and unexpected events – whether natural or manmade – can severely disrupt and interfere with the activities of a business. Companies in the travel industry are proving to be more than especially vulnerable to these kinds of highly disruptive events.
If you are selling and organising packaged holidays or even just flights and accommodation, any number of unexpected events and disasters can put paid to the best-laid plans. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – as it is now known – publishes regularly updated travel advice on which countries and parts of the world it is best not to visit.
It may add to that list at a moment’s notice – because of civil unrest in the country or countries concerned, for example, a natural disaster (such as the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull which caused massive disruption to international flights in 2010), or the more recent global turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Hiring now – Chief Prepper Officer
One of the first sources to coin the title Chief Prepper Officer was the technology website PhocusWire on the 22nd of February 2021, when it stressed the importance to businesses of striving for resilience and preparedness in the face of such an unexpectedly disruptive and extended health emergency as the coronavirus pandemic.
The smart companies, argued the article, are those looking to take on board a Chief Prepper Officer, or “travel prepper” now – so that there is at least one defined role or chain of command dedicated to managing supply lines, partnership deals and customer relationships in the midst of some emergency crisis or natural or manmade disaster.
A personal role
Where businesses may be seizing the benefits and advantages of planning ahead and appointing a Chief Prepper Officer, this is a role you might want to develop for yourself if any amount of travelling is on the cards.
At the moment, of course, there are restrictions on international – and even regional travel – so you might be looking ahead somewhat.
Most prepping routines naturally focus on the familiarity and ease of settling for the known security and comfort of your home. Preppers may have all manner of plans for food stores, safe spaces, and all that is likely to be needed for an enforced battening down of the hatches at home.
If you are on the move and in the throes of travelling when an emergency strikes, however, there are certain ways in which you might be better prepared:
- consider how far away you are likely to be from home – will you focus your energies on travelling a relatively short distance to reach the safety of home or do you need an alternative plan to make your refuge away from home;
- have your travels taken you to a predominantly urban or rural environment – your preparations will be different for each;
- what mode or modes of transport are you using – and are any still available after the emergency begins;
- making sure you have all your necessities, such as medicines, prescriptions etc. on you, so if you are stranded somewhere, you will still be okay;
- carry a small first aid kit for emergencies;
- if you decide to make a break for home, consider the distance involved, whether it can be travelled on foot, how long it is likely to take, and what is likely to be the safest route, suggests the Prepper Journal;
- for more ideas on what may be useful to carry when travelling, please read our two articles: Every Day Carry in a handbag and Every Day Carry – what do you need?
Businesses and individuals alike are almost certain to have their travel plans disrupted – and sometimes severely – by any number of possible crises, emergencies, or disasters.
Whether you formally appoint a Chief Prepper Officer, or grow into the role yourself, preparing in advance for the challenges you may face while travelling may keep you ahead of the game- and keep you a whole lot safer.
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