As a public health nurse in the community prior to coming to the University of Minnesota, emergency preparedness was part of my job. Now, among many things, I teach basic emergency preparedness principles to my public health nursing students. Everyday, we hope that emergencies/tragic events do not happen. Yet, we still have to be ready for if and when these events occur. In such events, as both a nurse and a human, I would want to be able to respond and use my skills/abilities to help in whatever way possible. Being a member of the MRC allows me the opportunity to be ready and able to respond to serve our communities, if needed. I joined the MRC in 2012 and serve as a member on the N-95 Strike Team. On the N-95 Strike Team, I am ready to deploy in case N-95 respirator masks are needed in an emergent situation.