Hi, all.
What have I been doing with my summer, you ask?
Well, it hasn’t been boring.
For those of you who are just visiting this site, you might not know that I am in a PhD program, becoming an ‘expert’ on disease, public health, and China. My topic is avian influenza, focusing in on Southeast Asia and on Guangdong Province in China in particular.
In June, I was in Hong Kong during the latest H5N1 outbreak there. The live chicken stalls were closed, though you could walk through them and buy your pork in adjacent stalls. And no one on the street seemed particularly worried or upset. If you don’t count the authorities and the chicken sellers, no one was that fussed. By the third day of the outbreak, the news was relegated to the 7th page.
So, this past week – and for 8 days – I was in San Diego at the IGCC training program for Public Policy and Biological Threats. It was wonderful and terrifying. Wonderful because so many up-and-coming scientists, policy and politics people, and other social scientists (including myself) are passionate about this topic. Terrifying because we have a long, long way to go before we can call ourselves ‘prepared’ for something to happen.
In other words, there is such a thing as “too much information”. I now know more than does me any good. Except that it has made me more aware and determined to do something with my degree.
When I came home, the first thing I did was to make us purchase a disaster kit from the Red Cross. If you don’t have one – and you live in California – you need to wake up, smell the coffee, and go get yourself one. Or build it yourself.
At the very LEAST, here is what you will need:
1. Food and water for at least 3 days for all members of the household. About 3 gallons per person, per day is recommended, but have at least a gallon jug for each person at the minimum. Food ideally should require no preparation – like ready-to-eat soup or power bars. Don’t forget your pets, if you have any. Have enough food and water for them as well.
2. First-aid kit. Self explanatory. If something goes down, you might have a scrape or two. Ideally, sign up for a first-aid course at the Red Cross, so that you can help your family and others in an emergency. It’s cheap, your work would probably cover it, and it’s a good idea.
3. Flashlight (with extra batteries) and solar-powered radio. You’ll need to see in the dark and hear what’s happening, along with instructions from authorities.
4. A wrench and a screwdriver and a pair of heavy-duty work gloves. For turning off the water, gas and whatever else needs done to secure your house (or what is left of it – sorry, folks). The gloves are important, as most people forget them and in an earthquake there will be a lot of rubble and broken glass.
5. A tent would be great. Just in case you need to shelter in place until help comes.
6. About $300 in cash, plus photocopies of all your IDs. In a disaster, the ATMs won’t be working. And you might not be able to get to your wallet.
This is the bare minimum for a kit. Have it in a seal-able plastic tub, and keep it within easy reach. Like in a hall closet on an exit route.
As for me, I’m also taking the disaster preparedness course at the Red Cross, so that I can volunteer in the next disaster. This course helped me to face my fears of something bad happening. What I have personally learned is that being prepared makes me less nervous and anxious.
Also, I’m giving blood next Monday before the rush on supplies on Veteran’s Day (more accidents happen on holidays). But, then, I’m a saint of perfection, so don’t try to keep up with me.
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