Planning Considerations Most planning advice is like the recipe for bear stew: "Take one medium size bear. . ." they begin. They don't say what steps are involved in getting the bear into the kitchen. In the following steps we will try to be a little more helpful. Planning is largely a matter of comparing what is with what you'd like it to be, and then making a list of the things you need or the steps you need to take to get from where you are to where you want to be. The perfect plan does not and will not exist. First, you probably do not have unlimited resources. Second, between today and the time when the dreaded event happens some time will have passed-time when you have to carry out your plan. The fire will not be as predicted--people you thought would be available to help will not be, resources you planned for will turn out to have disappeared or will be in use for other purposes. Even if all reasonable measures are taken, chance or sheer bad luck can't be ruled out. The most important part of the plan, next to acting on it, is the thought process. Consider the process of making the plan the first rehearsal. The forms we present you in the following sections are just to jog your memory. Feel free to add details, but delete things with care.