Living the Pantry Lifestyle - How Ebola might affect us

My daughter and I were talking about the Ebola situation in Dallas recently.  Mainly because a friend of her husband's family is one of the two American doctors who contacted the disease and were brought back to America.

It became a blip on my radar when the local newspaper had a front page story of Universities monitoring students from that part of the world where the outbreak has occurred.

So I decided to learn a little more of what some favorite news guys were saying about it.  You know... the places online which talk about the "news behind the news" and all that.  Places where discernment is needed but where they often have sources of information not available to people like myself.

I told Stephanie that after listening to a couple radio programs (and then only the first half hour or so since I didn't have the time for more), what they were saying was much as I thought all along.

The first being that an Ebola outbreak is more possible than the CDC was saying and that law enforcement officials and hospitals throughout the country were encouraged to prepare for possible cases.  The second point I took away from my listening was... what was the most likely scenario for the American public.

Both of which was entirely what I already suspected.

The statistical chances of an average American contracting Ebola would be very small.  Much more likely is the scenario which is possible for any pandemic.  That would be forcing people to stay inside during an incubation period.  

Think it not possible?  I'm certain the family of the Dallas Ebola patient that died thought the same thing and now they have armed guards (at least they did the last I saw any photos) by their door.   Not to mention there is a precedent in past influenza epidemics in cities.

Now, I know the chances of myself or most blog readers having a family member arrive from Liberia carrying Ebola is pretty much nonexistent.  But a family member arriving to visit a University student who unknowingly carried the disease... improbable but worth the consideration.

The preparations for having to remain indoors in case of a pandemic is really no different than what we do in my part of the world to prepare for winter storms and blizzards.  For both force most people to stay inside.  The main difference would be that after a blizzard, one could get around on skis, snowshoes, snowmobile, or possibly a 4 x 4 vehicle.

In a pandemic, it doesn't matter how you could get around.  You will not.   And that is a good thing in the long run for wherever a pandemic could break out, staying in your own home may keep you healthy. 

Am I concerned?  Not at all.  I'm more concerned about winter storms than Ebola.  Especially if we have another winter like we did last year.  But the preparations are the same for my household.  Have on hand what is needed should we be housebound for awhile.

Should you be in a position which bring the statistical chances higher... such as a first responder like police or fireman, a hospital employee, an airline employee, a missionary in that part of the world, etc.  Of course, then you need to be educated on taking further precautions.  I'm certain that is going on already.  At least one would hope so!

I remembered a good article that was written when the Swine Flu was going around and I found it in my archives.  It was written on the Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op website which is now defunct but thankfully their archives are there.  That link can be found below.

As with all such things, we always trust God and not fear... but simple preparations are wise indeed.

Swine Flu article... here.

CDC website... here.

ABC news story (from which above photo is taken)... here.