What is The Pandemic Effect?
Simply stated it is the impact on our local and global society. But, it is also more than that.
Imagine the psychological and physiological impact of a major pandemic lasting 6 months or longer where a significant portion of the worlds population becomes ill. Even those who do not succumb to the illness, will be impacted.
Still having trouble? Imagine this: Your standing in line at the grocery store to purchase some essentials for you an your family. Bread, milk, eggs, juice, and perhaps some cold cuts. There is an illness going around and the authorities aren't sure how it spreads at this point. Many have died, but where you live seems to have been not been impacted yet.
All of a sudden the person behind you sneezes. Once, twice, three times. You feel fluid hit the side of your face. Are you infected? Was or is he? Do you go home? Do you become angry? Do you collapse in fear? What will you do?
How would this impact you?
On a much smaller scale - Would you be able to leave your home? Could you purchase groceries at your local store? Is someone you know ill? Do you care for them? Will hospitals turn sick people away? Could they handle the influx of sick people? Do doctors and nurses call in sick or disappear? Are ambulances or 911 still working effectively? Can you still go to work? How do you work? How do you go to the bank? Pay Bills?
Predictions:
It has been said there will be a 30-40% absentee rate for most workplaces - We expect it to be higher - more like 60-70%. Perhaps greater depending on the mortality rate.
Many plan to work from home but this may not be possible for everyone since this is a major plan for most emergency managers and businesses alike. Emergency Managers will get priority access to telecommunications - most businesses would be out of luck. Remember those days of the 56k Modems and dialup? If not let us refresh your memory.
The dialup was slow - uploading and downloading of files took hours not minutes. Everyday, when the kids got out of school and jumped on the internet - everything slowed down. This is what it may be like even if your lucky enough to get access to a connection.
Still think you can work from home?
Major rationing of medicine, food, and other goods will likely occur. If you did not stockpile food and water you may have to go days without food if the supermarkets close.
Do you have the right masks or other protection if you do need to go out in public? Will you go out in public?
If you want to know how the next pandemic will impact you and the effects it will have on you and those around you - you must read and follow The Pandemic Effect.
The Pandemic Effect is brought to you by the experts in Pandemic Planning from the Continuity Company.
