I came back from a college graduation trip to Europe, via New York, landing in Memphis with $2 in my wallet. I was sure I was fine.

My father was beside himself.

“What if the plane was delayed? Had to land someplace else? What would you have done?”

Well. I had not thought of that but, then, it didn’t happen did it? See? Everything turned out fine, Daddy. Don’t worry so much.

Fortunately for me and my father, I did move past the “What me, worry?” method. However,  should anyone want the full list of  my oversights, lapses in judgment (general and specific), errors and general screw-ups, rounded out nicely with the dates, times and incriminating specifics,  do ask. He would be all too happy to provide the full report.

Maybe, in fact, I was ahead of my time.

• BP  had no disaster plan for correcting the one they have right now.  Companies, but most especially those in high-risk lines of business, should have a plan for every kind of disaster as normal part of doing business.  This weekend, I heard an interview with the Chief Operating Officer of BP talking about the team on the scene. He made it sound as if everyone was in agreement and “focused” (a word he used so many times, I could not keep count) . This strains credulity. People who have worked in tough spots—not even disasters—know of the tensions, the fears that more will go wrong if they cannot get on top of this problem and their unease about certain colleagues’ assessments. What if they are wrong? People fight fast and hard when risks are everywhere they look. These kinds of workers must have strong views as they watch this horror unfold, yet this is not the time to figure out the disaster plan. Plan-free disaster response is what they are forced to do. Everything that could go wrong, did, and for weeks.

• The Office of the Inspector General reports that the Department of Justice—with the exception of the FBI—is not prepared in the event of a terrorist attack which would affect its functions. OK. Investigations and arrests could happen but who would prosecute terrorists? There goes one of the Constitution’s biggest protectors and criminals’ worst nightmares.

• This week, a new study showed that more sexually active teenagers were using the rhythm method as their birth control method, one which is known to fail 25% of the time. (The study also notes more than one form may be used at the same time.) A lot of young lives will be changed forever because of their ignorance about contraception and the lack of guidance from adults about the enormity of the responsibility for creating a new life. These teenagers are young enough that their lapses in judgment are understandable. Adults’ lapses in educating them are not.

When one sees an absence of awareness of the importance of having a worst-case plan in all corners of our society, it ain’t about the plans, folks.

It is about us. We are like that young college grad with $2 in her wallet. We are so sure it will all work out just fine.

Is it time for America to ask who does have a disaster plan? Would that not be simpler?

Who is ready to do what in this can-do country when the can-do may count most? That’s what we need to know and fast.

Maybe it would be simpler if we asked those who do have disaster plans to report immediately.

People with a disaster plan are the kind who would report immediately—if we are lucky, there may be a whole bakers’ dozen of organizations with plans. Thank you, FBI. One down. Twelve to go. Anybody else? Raise hands?

That done, it would be safe to proceed on the assumption that everyone else did not have plans for natural or man-made disasters—which would save wear and tear on the Inspector General’s Office and others charged with oversight of disaster planning.

Maybe we should declare a National Disaster Planning Month. Everyone could submit their completed plans at the end. That could work. Anyone not doing it would stand out.  Then again, these are people you don’t want in your planning group. Send them for coffee.

Do start planning now.

You really do not want to have to hear from my father.