There is wisdom in the 1907 Scouting motto “Be Prepared,” and over a century later we would be wise to heed its innate wisdom.
In
December 2019, a new coronavirus was detected in China. By late
January 2020, the World Health Organization categorized COVID-19 as a
“global health emergency.” By February, it had become an “epidemic,”
meaning the countries in which it appeared had lost control over its
spread. On March 11th, the World Health Organization classified COVID-19
as a pandemic, indicating it had spread to levels and areas that
impacted the entire planet. On March 13th, the President of the United
States declared a state of national emergency.
Uncertainty has
thrown world financial markets into a tailspin and prompted many to
clean out supermarkets and pharmacies in preparation for possible
isolation and quarantines. As we wash our hands vigorously and
frequently while repeatedly reminding our children to do the same, the
health care system braces for an influx of contagious patients who they
are ill prepared to handle. California had issued a statewide shelter
in place order. In other states across the country, schools are shut
down, restaurants and bars are closed, travel bans are initiated,
sporting events and festivals are canceled, social distancing has become
the norm, and the largest and most influential companies in the world
(along with growing numbers of small business across the country) have
mandated that employees work from home. With history as our indicator,
we should have been ready.
Best estimates are that between 30 to 60 percent of Europe’s
population was killed by bubonic plague in the 1300s. In 1918, the
influenza pandemic infected 500 million people worldwide and killed an
estimated 50 million, 675,000 of those in the United States. Actions to
contain what became known as the Spanish flu and mitigate its
transmission are similar to the recommendations in place to combat the
spread of COVID-19. Infectious diseases are not a new phenomenon and the
Wuhan coronavirus will not be the last invisible killer we will face.
In 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
405,000 people died from malaria. Infectious diseases such as plague,
cholera, Ebola, Zika, and Chikungunyaremain responsible for
approximately 10 million deaths each year. Though the United States is
geographically isolated from the environments that generate many of
these diseases, there is no guarantee they, or something equally as
deadly, will not cross our borders.
I firmly believe that as a
citizen, husband and father it is my responsibility to be prepared and
ensure my family is prepared to be self-reliant in times of trouble. As
Americans, being prepared is in our DNA. It was not long ago that there
were no other options. We are all here today because our ancestors had
no choice but to be self-reliant. We are citizens, not subjects. We
don’t just survive. We prevail.
I encourage you to take notes today and over the coming
weeks. Were you comfortable with your level of preparedness lastweek? Is there anything you would have done differently? What if this
situation is compounded by a tsunami, an earthquake, a hurricane,
tornados, floods, fires, or a terrorist attack? Do you have enough
food, water, and medical supplies? Do you have a way to filter water?
To start a fire? Are you relying on the good will of those who have
not prepared to not take what you have and to do you no harm? Or, do
you have a rifle, shotgun, and/or pistol at the ready, and are you and
your family trained in the effective use of weapons? What’s your plan
if no one is there to pick up your 9-1-1 call? If your house catches
fire, does your family have a plan? Do you have fire extinguishers? Do
you know where they are? Has everyone in your family practiced with
one so they know how to use them? Do you know your neighbors? Will
they be assets or liabilities? What can you do to help them become
assets? Are the cars gassed up? Do you need extra fuel? If you or
someone in your family slices themselves with a knife making dinner and
the hospitals are overrun with virus patients, do you want to go in for
sutures? What if cell service goes down? Do you have a way to link up
with family members who might not be at home? Are you prepared to live
without electricity for an extended period? These are the questions you
need to address before an emergency. If you felt helpless or
ill-prepared last week, remember how it felt. Keep your notes, and most
importantly, take action.
Our current situation has given us the ability to test our
levels of preparedness. It’s not about being paranoid. It’s about the
peace of mind that comes from being ready. Most people don’t get a
second chance to prepare. That opportunity has been forced upon us.
Don’t squander it.
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