Fit Enough to Respond: What a Sudden Emergency Taught Me About Preparedness

I was recently part of a small group that was called in to assist with an early morning search for a missing person in distress. I’ll keep the details vague out of respect for everyone involved, but the situation was urgent, emotionally heavy, and physically demanding.

We hiked roughly nine miles round-trip through steep terrain—over 2,200 feet of elevation gain—while carrying gear and staying alert. It was hot, the footing was rough in places, and there was no guarantee of success. We did what we could with the time and tools we had.

This experience drove home a powerful reminder: fitness isn’t just about looking good—it’s about being ready when you’re needed.

You Don’t Need to Be a Navy SEAL—But You Can’t Be a Couch Potato Either

I’m 55 years old. I stay active, but I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore athlete. I’m just a guy who believes in staying functional. That morning, I found myself keeping pace with someone nearly 30 years younger. He had to stop a few times while I caught up, but I made it—mile after mile, step after step.

Emergencies don’t schedule themselves around our gym time (or lack of it). They show up when they show up. In a real-world scenario, you either can go—or you can’t. There’s no faking it.

Gear Matters—But Only If You Can Keep Going

I’m a gear guy. On this hike, I brought several useful tools:

Two FRS radios for team communication
A GMRS radio installed in my vehicle, which we used as a base station
A drone for visual recon in tough-to-reach areas
Trekking poles, a trauma kit, and a 10mm sidearm for safety

All of it helped. But none of it would’ve mattered if I couldn’t physically make the hike.

This wasn’t about “cool toys”—it was about capability. Your gear is only as useful as the body carrying it.

Carrying With Care: Armed and Accountable in Community Response

When responding to a crisis involving a missing person, I debated how to carry my firearm. While I normally use a drop-leg holster for outdoor activities, I opted for a concealed fanny pack setup instead. If we had found the individual alive, I didn’t want him to feel threatened or further destabilized by seeing a visible firearm.

To my quiet relief, when we gathered at the church, I noticed our church leader had come prepared as well—openly carrying on a chest rig. It was a subtle reminder: preparedness isn’t something to be ashamed of, even in a faith-based setting. When approached with humility and purpose, carrying a firearm can be both wise and respectful.

Nutrition: The Weak Link in My Chain

Here’s where I dropped the ball. I didn’t eat before the hike. Afterward, I had a “Fruit by the Foot” (yes, really), then toast and chocolate milk when I got home. Later, it was Skittles at work and a quick dinner on a lunch break nearly 5 hours into an 8 hour shift.

Not ideal.

That experience showed me that fueling your body is just as important as conditioning it. Without the right fuel, performance drops and recovery drags out. I’m lucky I didn’t crash harder than I did.

I’ve since made a plan to stock better trail fuel—nuts, jerky, energy bars—and to prep more intentionally before and after strenuous activity. I’ll be ready next time.

Sleep: Readiness Doesn’t Wait for Rest

We were still gathering details and coordinating logistics well past midnight, and I was up again around 5 a.m. to gear up and head out. The lack of sleep wasn’t a choice—it was part of the reality of the situation.

That experience reminded me of something simple but often overlooked: get good sleep when you can. You never know when an emergency will hit and deprive you of rest. Preparedness isn’t just about what you do during the crisis—it’s about how you live before it starts. Fitness, nutrition, gear, and yes—sleep—are all part of the equation.

Recovery Is Part of Readiness

When I finally got home, ate some peanut butter toast with chocolate milk followed by soaking in the tub and took what a buddy jokingly calls “vitamin I” (ibuprofen). Then I went to work—a full eight-hour shift. My legs and glutes were toast by the end of the day, but I was grateful I could push through.

Recovery matters. Hydration, stretching, sleep, and proper food afterward all help shorten that recovery window—and keep you in the game if another emergency comes.

Prepared for the Everyday, Too

One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken from this experience is that preparedness isn’t just about catastrophic disasters. It’s often about the small-scale, personal, and local emergencies that happen far more often—missing persons, roadside accidents, power outages, neighbors in need.

You might never face a major societal collapse. But you will face moments where your training, gear, or mindset can make a difference.

Don’t prep just for the end of the world. Prep for the next call. The next challenge. The next time someone needs you.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t write this to pat myself on the back. I’m sharing this because I learned something—and I think others might benefit from hearing it:

Stay active. Walk. Hike. Lift. Move. You don’t have to go to the gym, either.
Keep your gear ready, but know your body has to carry it.
Don’t neglect nutrition. Fuel matters.
Recovery isn’t laziness—it’s strategy.

In an emergency, someone might need you. Not a stronger version of you, not a “someday I’ll get in shape” version—you, as you are.

Preparedness isn’t always about your own emergency. Sometimes it’s about being ready when someone else is in crisis. Being able to help—really help—requires more than good intentions. It takes strength, endurance, training, and the right mindset.

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40 (KJV)

Be the person others can count on when everything falls apart.

Will you be ready?

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