It was painfully obvious during the Hurricane Katrina hit on the Gulf Coast and in the aftermath up to today, the government will not and cannot protect and care for us. Disaster planning is UP TO US.  I have been faulted for discussing a possible H5N1 outbreak but, I say to those who would prefer to bury their head in the sand, plan now, prepare now and IF it goes pandemic, your planning will save your life and that of your loved ones. Whether or not we stock our homes and plan how to handle a disaster, no matter what the disaster, we must realize FEMA won’t feed, house or save us. 

Self sufficiency is the name of the game.Whether it is a terrorist hit with chemical, biological or nuclear or even conventional weapons, or a naturally occurring event such as a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, blizzard or a disease event, the same planning is implemented. We should have supplies to last 30 days. A safe drinking water supply also important. I always tell people to make sure that they have, at least, a bicycle. In flood areas, a row boat in the backyard would also be recommended. (A blow up type boat would even be advised.) Whatever fits your pocketbook will help. A motor scooter, motorcycle or moped will help.In a major disaster gasoline will not be available. Fuel oil will also be in short supply. If a pandemic did strike there may be no one available to run gas stations, drive oil trucks etc. A bicycle for each member of the family might just be enough to get you out of harms way. Those in cities may want to plan ahead and contact relatives in nearby suburbs or rural areas. A 60 mile bicycle trip may be ahead.It is also a good idea to keep physically fit.Stocks of first aid medications, supplies, personal supplies and figaro and fido’s supplies as well. If you have a pet, plan for that pet. I think that the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina really opened our eyes to the government’s ability to get the population through a major disaster. Remember, Hurricane Katrina was more or less localized. What about an event that happens across the country, ocean to ocean and border to border? If the government could not cope in the Gulf area, how will it cope if the entire country, and Canada, Mexico are involved?The answer, it won’t. Congress, and most politicians will go running home. The solution? Selfsufficiency.Patricia Doyle