We've heard a lot of horrific stories coming out of Israel and Gaza over the past few days. The shocking Hamas-led massacre has all eyes on that part of the world and the violence is far from over. The tragedy of this is the real people – families, elders, and children – who are in harm's way, targets whether they personally have ever done anything to the enemy or not.

There are many lessons for those of us who want to be prepared for such events. In these stories, you can find hope, resilience, and strategies that could help you learn more about survival. None of these lessons are political, though many seem determined to make it so. What we're learning from are the stories of real people who experienced something shocking and devastating. Remember, survival is just about surviving.

From what we can see on the news, it seems that most kibbutzes were caught unaware that this attack was different and didn't have time to launch a proper defense. The extreme brutality and rapid onset of the fast-moving attacks resulted in shock and confusion.

This is something we've talked about on this website before. The faster you can process and accept what is happening, the faster you can respond.

How one community survived due to fast thinking and good leadership

One young woman showed remarkable courage and resourcefulness in the face of the attacks. Inbal Lieberman is a 25-year-old woman who has been in charge of security for the Nir Am Kibbutz since last December. Like all young Israelis, she served in the military.  (Some reports have spelled her name Inbar, but I'm going with the spelling on her social media accounts.)

When Lieberman heard the explosions early that fateful Saturday morning, she quickly realized this was very different than the usual rocket sounds. The key to this story – and how she saved her community – is her complete lack of hesitation.