The Launch of GetPandemicReady.Org

The Launch of GetPandemicReady.Org

# 1498

Preparing for a pandemic - a crisis that could easily last a year or more - isn't an easy task. You have issues of deciding what you will need, where you will get it, and where you will store it.

For a lot of people, it is too overwhelming to even contemplate, and many are dissuaded from even to attempting to prepare.

Seeing the difficulty of preparing, six months ago a group of people formed a grassroots organization called The National Citizens Pandemic Alliance. Together they have built a preparedness website called Get Pandemic Ready.

Here is how the group defines themselves.

National Citizens Pandemic Alliance

GetPandemicReady.org was created by members of a grassroots, volunteer organization called the National Citizens Pandemic Alliance (NCPA). The NCPA is a group of concerned citizens committed to personal preparation and community resiliency as the foundation for getting though a pandemic. Members of the NCPA used their own experiences and extensive research to gather practical and time-efficient advice to help families prepare for a pandemic. A special thanks to:

• Greg Dworkin, MD Editor, Flu Wiki
• Michael Coston - Fla_Medic - author of Avian Flu Diary
• Elizabeth Erwin
• Melvin Johnson, Lewiston-Nez Perce County Emergency Management
• Justin Kamen, Student - Columbia University, Founding Member of Students Prep America
• Catherine "Jackie" Mitchell - standingfirm - Prepared Citizens LLC
• S. Reynolds - atropine
• Dr Dave

GetPandemicReady.org is hosted as a public service by Nez Perce County, Idaho as part of its disaster preparedness community outreach program.

It is only fair to mention at this point that there were more people involved in the creation of this web site than just the 8 people listed. And although I'm listed here, my contributions were small compared to the work of most of the participants.

This website boasts more than 30 small PDF files with preparedness advice that you can download. They are easy to read, illustrated, and chock full of solid advice.

All of this has taken, literally, months to bring to fruition. It is simply amazing the work that a project such as this requires. I am proud to have played a small role in this site's creation.

The hallmark of this site is the advice that households stockpile three months of food, water (or purification capability), medications, and basic supplies.

While greater than the HHS recommendations of 2-weeks, many local health departments and government agencies are also recommending 30, 60, or up to 90 days of supplies. The generous hosts of this website, Nez Perce County in Idaho, recommend this 90 day stockpile.

Once a pandemic erupts, there will be a mad scramble to prepare. Millions (likely billions) of people will be caught flat footed and will all be trying to acquire the goods they will need to survive, all at the same time. Most will find they waited too long, and won't be able to get everything they will need.

The time to prepare is now, before a crisis begins.

The advice on the Get Pandemic Ready website will serve you well whether you are dealing with a hurricane, and earthquake, a terrorist attack, or a pandemic. If you are ready for a pandemic, you are pretty much ready for anything.

Visit it soon, visit it often. And share the contents with everyone you know.

It's that important.