Survival
Apparently there's a new strain of the bird flu that's resistant to vaccines. It's still not able to pass from human to human, but it's apparently still evolving. Which is troublesome, to say the least.
Once a virus does gain the ability to transfer from human to human, it would probably trigger a worldwide pandemic. Borders would be closed off, of course, but in the world we live in people can travel so easily and quickly that it would probably be a futile effort.
Every year in this area, when we get a week-long ice storm, people panic and buy everything at the grocery stores. After Hurricane Katrina, gas was nigh impossible to find for about a solid week. I can't imagine the chaos that would ensue if a worldwide pandemic began. In truth, the pandemic wouldn't kill us- our asinine reaction to it would.
Granted, the chances of it happening are slim- probably less than 1%. But the consequences of what would happen if that event are triggered is so great and catastrophic that it warrants preparation. It could literally determine life and death.
(In torts, there's something called a cost/benefit analysis. You don't build glass two inches thick when the chance of someone breaking it is slim. The extra cost isn't worth the possible benefit. In this case, however, if the glass breaks (even though the chance is small) the shards could change the world.)
So, I'm going to start accumulating a survival kit, just in case something nasty- worldwide pandemic, terrorist attack, nuclear war- decides to pay a visit.
I'll start listing the items as I acquire them.
Once a virus does gain the ability to transfer from human to human, it would probably trigger a worldwide pandemic. Borders would be closed off, of course, but in the world we live in people can travel so easily and quickly that it would probably be a futile effort.
Every year in this area, when we get a week-long ice storm, people panic and buy everything at the grocery stores. After Hurricane Katrina, gas was nigh impossible to find for about a solid week. I can't imagine the chaos that would ensue if a worldwide pandemic began. In truth, the pandemic wouldn't kill us- our asinine reaction to it would.
Granted, the chances of it happening are slim- probably less than 1%. But the consequences of what would happen if that event are triggered is so great and catastrophic that it warrants preparation. It could literally determine life and death.
(In torts, there's something called a cost/benefit analysis. You don't build glass two inches thick when the chance of someone breaking it is slim. The extra cost isn't worth the possible benefit. In this case, however, if the glass breaks (even though the chance is small) the shards could change the world.)
So, I'm going to start accumulating a survival kit, just in case something nasty- worldwide pandemic, terrorist attack, nuclear war- decides to pay a visit.
I'll start listing the items as I acquire them.
