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| SPC Forecast - March 19th |
#15,114
At the risk of `piling on' - when honestly, COVID-19 is more than enough for any of us to wrap our heads around - the fact remains that the same sorts of local or regional disasters we see more-or-less on a weekly basis here in the United States and around the world are still going to happen as we struggle to deal with this pandemic.
Yesterday, a moderate earthquake struck near Salt Lake City, and two weeks ago tornadoes raked Nashville, Tennessee killing 26 people, and causing 90+ million dollars in damage.Today, large swaths of the Midwest are under the severe weather gun, and we've only just entered the spring severe storm season. Another wildfire season lies ahead for much of the Western United States this summer, we are only 75 days from the beginning of the the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, and earthquakes and Tsunamis can occur anytime, and without warning.
Trying to deal with any of these disasters - even in normal times - is difficult, but doing so during a pandemic becomes increasingly problematic.Local governments, first responders, hospitals, FEMA, and the local and global supply chain are going to be stretched thin due to COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, and that will make responding to all of the other major disasters that are likely to occur over the next 12 months that much more challenging.
And it isn't just about seeing a major disaster.During the `pseudo-pandemic' of 1977, the year that H1N1 returned mysteriously after a 20-year absence - an event that pales in comparison to COVID-19 - we saw hospitals filled with sick kids having to close to new admissions, ambulance response times were sometimes 3 or 4 times longer than normal, and exhausted medical staff struggled to cope.
it was not a good time to have a heart attack, stroke, a car accident, or even needing a few stitches. For several intense months - at least where I was working - the cavalry was often running behind.All reasons why, in late February, I urged people to have An Appropriate Level Of Personal Preparedness For COVID-19. Not just because of the virus, but because we live in a dangerous world, where earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods . . . and even more mundane events like auto accidents, or slips and falls at home . . . can ruin your entire day.
And while governments and emergency responders will undoubtedly do their best to help, over the next year their ability to do so quickly may be significantly degraded.Although I've been heavily promoting having a `Flu Buddy' during this pandemic, that is just one side of the coin, as you should also have, and be, a `Disaster Buddy'.
A Disaster Buddy is someone who pre-arranges to help a friend, relative, co-worker or neighbor during a personal or local emergency. If your Disaster Buddy is in trouble, you help them. If you are the one in need, they help you.
It only works if it is reciprocal.
Frankly, having (and being) a `Disaster Buddy’ to friends, neighbors, and relatives should be part of everyone’s family disaster plan. In NPM13: The Greatest Prep Of All, I wrote that I consider this to be the most important preparedness step you can make.
While it is more difficult today than was only a few weeks ago - if you aren't already reasonably prepared for a disaster - you should still do what you can now to improve your situation. Getting a decent first aid kit, and an NWS Weather Radio, would be a good place to start.
Even though I'm in the dreaded `high risk' group for COVID-19 (as are nearly all of my friends, and relatives) - and well aware of our collective mortality - I'm personally more worried about our ability to respond to an onslaught of non-infection related threats.
In 2018's Supply Chain Of Fools (Revisited) we looked at some of the likely knock-on effects of a severe pandemic on society in general, and our healthcare delivery system in particular.Many governments now consider themselves on a `war footing' against this pandemic, and regardless of its ultimate severity, this is shaping up to become the biggest global crisis in my lifetime. We need to be prepared for some unexpected twists and turns along the way.
While I can't tell you what other challenges we will face in the months ahead, I can tell you that facing them with a modicum of preparedness - and a solid coalition of friends, relatives and/or neighbors - will go a long ways towards making it easier.
