The COVID-19 pandemic proved that the world is vulnerable to contagious diseases despite advancements in medicine and technology. These viruses move quickly from person to person, so a world population of 8 billion will have difficulty stopping the spread of any contagion no matter how we respond as a nation.
COVID-19 appears to be fading, but what if other viruses are waiting in the wings? It only takes one person to spread a disease thousands of miles each way. A second pandemic could be looming, so it’s best to understand what it could be and how to prepare.
What Could Cause the Next Pandemic?
COVID-19 is the most significant pandemic of our lifetimes. It’s a once-in-a-generation (or more) pandemic, like the Spanish flu. However, it’s not the only virus the population is susceptible to. These are among the biggest threats to humans.
Coronavirus
Many people refer to COVID-19 as the coronavirus — however, that term refers to a family of viruses. The coronavirus family includes COVID-19 and others you’ve seen in the past. For example, the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) emerged last decade and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had an outbreak in the early 2000s.
Coronaviruses are dangerous because they’re relatively new to humans. Scientists didn’t take them seriously until SARS 20 years ago. Now, disease experts find that viruses easily mutate and are more common than previously thought. COVID-19 likely came from bats, typical hosts of coronaviruses. Bats compose about 20% of mammals, increasing the likelihood another pandemic will come from them.
[Editor’s note: Or it came from somewhere else; I’ll let YOU decide where that could possibly be.]
Nipah Virus
Bats are carriers of numerous diseases, one of which could be the Nipah virus. Currently, this disease is a problem in South and Southeast Asia. However, it has cause for concern because its mortality rate is about 73%, with a low sample size.
The World Health Organization (WHO) gives the Nipah virus a low risk at the global level but a high risk at the national level in Bangladesh. Experts have precautions to protect against the disease, but no vaccine exists to combat it. Bats are carriers of the Nipah virus in addition to typical farm animals, like pigs and horses.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever doesn’t come from bats but raises concerns because it’s found in ticks and livestock. Cattle, sheep, goats and other animals are essential for food and other supplies, so this pandemic could cripple supply chains.
WHO measures its fatality rate between 10% and 40%. It occurs regularly in Africa, West Asia and Southeast Europe. There is no vaccine for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and it’s difficult for scientists to discover infections in ticks and livestock.
Disease X
Scientists are familiar with the previous three diseases. However, a pandemic comes from unknown viruses, which scientists call disease X. Humans have studied animals like bats for centuries, but it’s challenging to know every disease that every species carries. Predicting pandemics is complex, so preparing in case one comes is essential.
How to Prepare for the Next Pandemic
COVID-19 is still relatively fresh on our minds, and people will likely discuss its ramifications for decades. There were nearly 700 million cases and 7 million deaths. Recovery is still happening, but it’s not too early to begin prepping for the next pandemic. These 11 steps demonstrate how to make the next one easier.
1. Revising Your Plans
The first step in improving plans is to look to the past for reference. Those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it. Survivalists should have their stay-put plan ready to execute at a moment’s notice. How did you and your family react when it hit the fan in early 2020? Review your plan and evaluate what worked and what didn’t.
[Editor’s note: This is actually a very good point. Although we can’t know what will come, we can reevaluate what happened and how we reacted. Thus, if something similar occurs again tomorrow, would you be ready? Could you stay put for weeks or months? Or do you have to run to the grocery store every day, like my mother-in-law? I swear she forgets to buy half and half on purpose sometimes.]
Living in a rural area will likely make insulating yourself from neighbors and the outside world easier, but an urban setting becomes more difficult. Many people are likely living around you, so avoiding human contact is nearly impossible. Ensure you take extra precautions if you have to go outside or interact with others.
2. Coordinating With Those Closest to You
Your next step should be coordinating your pandemic plan with loved ones. These people include your family, closest friends and sometimes neighbors. Family members may live hundreds or thousands of miles away, so ensure they also have a stay-put plan.
Also, it’s critical to check on those who are elderly or have physical disabilities. When news of a pandemic hits, they might not be able to react to a SHTF scenario as quickly as others. Have a plan so you can be there for them or ensure they get the help they’ll need.
[Editor’s note: Trying to deal with the elderly, especially those who are incapable of helping themselves, will be a real challenge during any sort of pandemic. Think very carefully, therefore, before making a rash decision, such as pulling them from a nursing home. It may ultimately be the best option for their safety, but you’ll need a strong plan in place to care for them for weeks or months on your own. Ensure you and your family are up to the task.]
3. Chartering Flights
A pandemic typically starts as an epidemic, a disease that has spread throughout a region or country. It becomes a pandemic when it spreads worldwide, especially when people take international flights. When news of a pandemic strikes, you may be unable to use commercial airlines for you and your loved ones to travel since governments shut down airports to mitigate the virus’s spread.
It’s wise to choose chartered flights in a SHTF scenario. These planes have fewer passengers and reduce the spread of disease. Flying private also means you have more control over who gets to board the plane. Chartered flights typically use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that remove 99% of germs from the air, ensuring a cleaner journey, too.
[Editor’s note: This is an interesting idea, and one I haven’t considered before. My two major concerns are cost and whether this is even a possibility. I’d imagine chartered flights still require some sort of FAA oversight, flight path planning, fuel (which may not be functioning or locked down), and probably a dozen other concerns I haven’t a clue about. Look into this now if you expect to rely on it as a way to get loved ones home from far away.]
4. Remembering Cybersecurity
COVID-19 was the first significant pandemic in the digital age. There were no computers and cellphones when the Spanish flu or bubonic plague ravaged the planet. The recent pandemic taught that cybersecurity should be a significant focus for any major outbreak in the future.
Cybertheft rose sharply during COVID-19. Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) information shows that data compromise spiked by 68% in 2021 compared to 2020. Thieves take advantage of these disaster situations and use them to exploit people, primarily through phishing. An email will mimic an authoritative source, like the federal government, and prompt you to click a link to information about a stimulus check or new laws, but it contains malware that compromises your device.
Ensure you and your family practice cybersecurity basics. It’s wise to do them at all times, but pandemics are especially critical. For example, you should scrutinize every email you receive by examining the sender. It’s easy to spoof authoritative domain names, so be extra careful. Also, you should update your software regularly and rotate strong passwords among your accounts.
[Editor’s note: I’ve watched YouTube videos about how scammers spoof emails and whatnot; they’re quite tricky and only getting better. I’ve come close to falling for a few scam emails over the years, and I’m not that technologically out of touch. My general advice is this: If if feels wrong, don’t click it! And certainly don’t click on links in emails you’re unsure about (you can always navigate/search on your own online) and don’t call the phone numbers listed, either. Do you own research via Google or wherever.]
5. Ensuring a Ready Stockpile
In March 2020, lockdowns began in nearly every state and city nationwide. You could only travel to essential places, like the grocery store, where shoppers quickly emptied shelves. You can’t rely on local stores for necessary supplies when the next pandemic strikes. One major lesson people learned is the importance of starting a stockpile of supplies sooner rather than later.
Depending on the severity, the next pandemic could last weeks, months or even years until a vaccine comes. The priority in your stockpile should be food and water. Get one gallon of water per person daily if you don’t plan to leave your home to get to the store. Your best bet for nourishment may be canned food. These goods last indefinitely as long as you store them correctly. Find cheap protein like peanut butter and canned beans because they have a long shelf life.
[Editor’s note: I wrote a book on the topic of food storage for just such an occasion! Well, that or any sort of long-term disaster. Whether you follow my advice or not, stock up on shelf-stable foods now, while they’re still cheap and while you don’t have to fight the masses for something to eat.]
6. Constructing a Safehouse
Your home is the safest place to take shelter during a pandemic since you can lock the doors and control who comes in and out. However, shielding your house is more difficult in urban areas. When diseases spread, evacuating to a safehouse may be the best bet for safety.
Isolated homes have become more popular since the pandemic. Some survivalists even build structures on rural land inaccessible by roads. They’re often miles from the nearest stretch of pavement or gas station. The seclusion makes it much easier to avoid contact with others and protect yourself from unwanted visitors, like criminals.
Your space might not have access to municipal power, water and sewage systems, so you’ll have to take care of them yourself. Fortunately, it’s easy to generate power with solar panels. You can get a 30% tax rebate through 2033, hopefully allowing enough time before the next outbreak. Renewable energy helps you become self-sufficient and protects you from other SHTF scenarios like a power grid attack.
7. Practicing Self-sufficiency
Self-sufficiency is critical in everyday preparedness, but pandemics emphasize this even more. You can’t rely on accessing grocery stores because they could close, and you risk contracting a spreading disease. Avoiding any store or public place is difficult, but you can lower your dependence by practicing two survival basics: gardening and hunting.
Picture your ancestors from hundreds and thousands of years ago. Most of them were hunters and gatherers, and it’s worth honing those skills when a pandemic comes. Starting a garden is a viable idea. Many fruits and vegetables are easy to grow with adequate sunlight and maintenance. If your area doesn’t have proper daylight, consider a greenhouse for your plants.
Supply chains can hit the meat markets hard, especially during a pandemic. You can help your family by sourcing your meat through hunting. The animals you can hunt depend on your area and what your state wildlife agency permits. You’ll also need to get a hunting license if you don’t already have one and check when you’re allowed to hunt which animal.
[Editor’s note: I don’t know how many people are going to care about getting the proper license to hunt if they’re starving, but I do know this: now is the time to learn such skills if you truly expect to rely on them during a SHTF situation. Same goes for gardening. Being self-sufficient isn’t easy, and you can’t just pick it up the next day after a pandemic.]
8. Dedicating a Quarantine Room
You can take as many precautions as possible to avoid the virus, including isolated homes, masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE). However, there’s a chance you might contract the virus. It’s tough to avoid if you live in an urban area or have to be around others for work. If someone does get the virus, put them in a designated quarantine room.
The quarantine room should be a special place in the house only for those needing isolation. For your safety, having at least two entryways is best to reduce the risk of spreading. Prepare the room with a bed, communication devices, food, water, medicine and hygienic needs until the quarantine is complete.
9. Building Ammunition Stockpiles
The spring of 2020 brought the pandemic and produced civil unrest nationwide. Many cities saw looters who ransacked businesses and homes despite public health concerns. Your house could be at risk, especially if you live in an urban or suburban area. Self-defense should be a high priority when the next pandemic comes.
Thieves don’t care much about infectious diseases. They’ll seize any opportunity to find those vulnerable and ransack their house. You could be a target for burglary if people know you’ve prepped with a stockpile, and you must ensure you have ammunition ready to take on outside threats. Also, clean your weapons and put them on maintenance schedules. The last thing you’ll need is a worn-out gun when a looter arrives.
[Editor’s note: And proper training, too!]
10. Getting Support
There aren’t many positives about pandemics, but you can take solace in that you won’t be the only one with struggles. The COVID-19 outbreak negatively impacted mental health, especially for those with anxiety and depression. Contact a medical professional as an outlet if you’re concerned about pandemics. This is also an opportune time to check on your loved ones to ensure they’re doing well emotionally.
[Editor’s note: Many health-related visits can be done virtually, now. From doctor’s visits to mental therapy, there’s a chance you can get some help even if it’s only online.]
11. Finding Hobbies
The pandemic taught people the value of hobbies. Staying home for extended periods can quickly become boring if you don’t find ways to entertain yourself. For example, you could learn how to make homemade beer, fix up an old car, or train in a new sport with your kids. Having something to do will help you pass the time and provide a stimulating learning opportunity. It can also boost your mental health.
[Editor’s note: This is especially true for children who have been inundated with artificial stimulus their entire lives. But, if I’m being honest, I spend too much time on the computer or watching YouTube videos that tell me the world as I know it is about to end, so what do I know? Maybe we’ll all look forward to another lockdown if it means resetting our priorities.]
Preparing for the Next Pandemic
The next pandemic is a matter of when, not if, it happens. COVID-19 changed how people view infectious diseases and their preparations for them. The next outbreak could be five months or 50 years away, but you should use these 11 strategies to prepare now. The recent pandemic laid a blueprint for navigating this SHTF scenario, and you should take advantage of it.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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