Follow up thoughts on 'Hoarder'

My point is this: I am writing from a position of extreme privilege. We have internet and computers at home so Mr Husband's job and the kids schooling have continued with some adjustments, but no concerns. We have excellent health insurance and everyone is registered with a health care provider so we have as much of a safety net as it is possible to have within the flawed American health system.  Actually, correction, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the very rich around here are buying their own ventilators and doctors - during the wildfires wealthy communities in LA hired private fire fighters. 

Even with all this privilege, we faced a minor blip of concern about food security this week. We could have been better prepared and the community could be doing more. 

In terms of how to prepare, the health reports from Dr. Scott Morrow, Health Officer for San Mateo County (a neighboring county) come to mind and I urge everyone to read them. They are the best advice I've seen, written in the most compelling way. He also has an awesome beard, check it out. 

Dr. Scott Morrow, February 27, 2020:

"What matters most is how households, neighborhoods, community groups, businesses, and other organizations prepare. What does that mean? Preparedness equals self-sufficiency.  Government will help where it can, but it may have a limited ability to respond directly due to the scale of the disruptions. 

Individual and community preparations should focus on three tasks—reducing each person’s chance of getting sick (see both individual and more general public health recommendations below), helping households with basic survival needs during a pandemic, and minimizing and coping with larger disruptions in how the normal day-to-day world works.

All businesses and other organizations should now review their continuity of operations plans for how they will operate if their employees are unable to work and how they will interact with members of the public and prepare to implement these plans soon.

All medical facilities and providers should review their surge plans for how to handle increased numbers of patients and be prepared to implement.

Getting ready for a pandemic is largely about preparing for possible shortages. In a pandemic, supply chain disruptions are inevitable, but are also unpredictable.

Since it contains vital supplies, a good start is to make sure your earthquake kit is up to date and ready to go. Of course, having supplies beyond the typical earthquake kit is a good idea. What you decide to have on hand is based on your individual and family situation.

One likely shortage will be medications. You should attempt to obtain a couple of months supply for your critical meds.

If you have other critical supply needs, you should conserve them and stock up on them now.

Now is also the time to think about how you will care for loved ones at home if they or you are sick and how you would limit spread within the family.

Frequent and appropriate hand-washing is far from a perfect solution, but it’s easy, under your control, and has no significant downside.

Like washing your hands, wearing a surgical mask may help a bit but you need to know that surgical masks don’t offer much protection when they are worn by people who are well. They are most helpful when worn by those who are already sick, so that they are less likely to transmit the disease to others. Surgical masks are already in short supply and should be prioritized for use in health care settings.

You should use a barrier, such as a paper towel or tissue, to touch commonly touched surfaces, such as bathroom door handles or elevator buttons.

I am not asking for implementation of the activities below at this time, and the implementation of these activities is not imminent, but these are the types of activities we may need to implement in the future:

- Social distancing—staying at least 6 feet away from all other people and avoiding shaking hands—will be important.

- School closings present a particularly vexing social distancing dilemma but may be necessary to protect public health. These closings may be extensive and extended.

- Event/mass gathering cancellation

- Extensive increase in the amount of remote working or teleworking.

- Under all circumstances, stop touching you face, eyes, nose, or mouth with your unwashed hands.

- Rationing (a process of prioritizing distribution and use) of critical supplies may need to occur.

- To get ourselves through the hard times that may be coming, your community may need volunteers. Think now about the skills you have and how can you help your community.

- Other public health interventions that have been used with some effect in other countries include commandeering of both real estate or personal property, conscription, curfew, and cordons. It is unlikely that these interventions would be used here due to practical considerations."

  
Following Dr Morrow's reports from February 27 and early March there was something of an uproar. People called him alarmist. He stood firm. Going down that last list, most of these interventions have come to pass. I would say we are at the point where rationing is needed here in California. It makes me wonder if the last paragraph of interventions could be on the way.

Life changes very fast in a pandemic. When you look back it turns out there were people who knew what was coming and were trying to tell everyone. It is hard to take in and seems unbelievable at the time.

For people in Canada and the UK, it feels to me that you are maybe just a week behind where we are now in California. I think the health system will function with more unity in those countries, but many of the supply chain and 'human nature' issues will be the same.

Heed Dr. Morrow's advice and make real, concrete plans for your situation and your community.