# 817
As the Pandemic Flu Leadership Blog Summit moves into its second week, the question before us changes from "Why prepare for a pandemic?" to "What do I need from the Department of Health and Human Services — or others — to be able to make a contribution?"
I'm certain we will see a great number of creative ideas come forth from the bloggers, and those who are commenting online. I hope you will join in with your suggestions, as well. We need input from all sectors. There is no one answer to this question.
I wrote this week's HHS blog entry, which I will post in the next day or two, more than a week ago. In fact, I wrote it before the first blog I posted last Monday. `How' was simply more interesting to me than `Why'.
By now, most of us know `why'.
In it I present two initiatives that I believe the federal or state governments could undertake at minimal cost to educate and help prepare local communities. But there was a problem.
For it to work, it would require the participation of hundreds of flubies, members of flu forums, from around the country. To find out if they would rally to the cause, last week I posted a poll on two flu forums, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
I really wasn't surprised, but I was heartened by the response.
For you see, flubies are not only knowledgeable, the are passionate about pandemic preparedness They understand that it isn't enough that they are prepared, their communities must be prepared as well.
Many are already out there giving presentations in their communities, often printing up leaflets at their own expense, and donating their time and energy to getting the message out. But it isn't easy. Local officials aren't always receptive to private citizens promoting the message, even though we are being encouraged to do so by our own government.
The flubie community is remarkably diverse, robust, and talented; and yet we find ourselves often ignored or marginalized in our own communities. Remarkable given that our members include doctors, nurses, scientists, respiratory technicians, business owners, housewives, computer specialists, EMT's, Firefighters, LEO's, and representatives from practically every sector of society.
But our message, the need to prepare for a pandemic, isn't always warmly received. Understandable, I suppose, as it requires not only accepting the possibility of a pandemic, but a willingness to do something proactive about it.
And both can be hard to sell.
But if we are to be prepared when the next pandemic comes, we must get this message out, and local preparations must begin in earnest. Once a pandemic begins, it will be too late to play catch up.
Today there are hundreds of well informed, dedicated, and rational flubies that gather on a handful of flu forums. They meet in cyberspace, often without ever meeting in person, and work together to discuss and solve pandemic issues.
Dedicated newshounds diligently comb through obscure media sources in faraway places like Yogayarta, Indonesia or Islamabad, Pakistan for the latest news. They translate, and interpret news articles, giving us a better perspective of what is really happening on the ground in these countries.
Preppers share tips and techniques on how to prepare for a pandemic. Activists promote awareness. And doctors and scientists discuss openly the challenges we will face.
Two of the better known forums are Flu Wiki and Flutrackers, where you will find an impressive array of knowledge and information, but they are not alone. Some forums, like PFP, are geared more towards preparedness, while others focus on community activism, or scientific discussions. I maintain a list of many of the popular forums in my sidebar. Each has a unique flavor, and role in the greater flu community.
These flubies are perhaps our greatest natural resource when preparing for a pandemic. They are motivated, informed, and passionate.
We need to recognize them, and utilize them.
I hope you will join us at the HHS blog Summit this week, and for the next month, as we explore ways to improve our preparedness for the next pandemic.
Your participation, and most importantly, your input, is essential.
