Navigating the unknown

How do you handle the unexpected?

Last weekend my family faced a tornado warning and not one but two unexpected local water main breaks. One event saw me stuck in the basement for hours, while the other included days without reliable, drinkable water. I felt lucky: The chilly basement didn’t aggravate my foot nerve pain, and our stash of bottled water kept me from becoming dehydrated.

But that experience started me wondering: How do others in our community handle occurrences that are unexpected but out of our control? What plans do you have in place for natural disasters or times you can’t manage your chronic pain or disability as usual?

After those weather scares, I’m determined to create a better disaster preparedness plan. That includes putting single-use ice packs in a go-bag along with multiple days’ worth of my medications and gluten-free snacks. For others in this situation, it might look like planning more than one exit route or alerting your neighbors that you might need support in an emergency.

Planning Ahead

There are so many questions to ask while making a plan that it can feel a bit daunting. If you need help getting started, check out these resources:

• FEMA has a mobile app you can download to receive real-time weather alerts, locate emergency shelters in my area and prepare for common hazards.

• The Los Angeles Chronic Pain Support Group website has a helpful guide.

• The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies recommends tips and resources for everything from extreme heat to wildfires to hurricanes.

• The City of Portland Disability Program offers a downloadable workbook covering emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.

How do you prepare to manage your pain when you can’t rely on your usual methods due to unexpected events? What tips do you have for others in a similar situation?

Turning to AI

Another way to explore the unknowns and look for clarity is to enlist artificial intelligence (AI) in your research. Did you know a recent poll found that about a third of adults are turning to AI for health information and advice? That’s exactly what CPP’s Executive Director Janna Kimel has done. Read her LinkedIn post to see how AI helped her scan smart device data for insights on her chronic pain patterns and triggers.

Have you used AI in your health care and management? What would you urge others to try or to avoid?

Originally published in the Chronic Pain Project’s April 2026 Substack issue; edited to fix links in August 2026.