Markets and businesses in some parts of Africa are closing down, schools are closing and airline travel is restricted. Fear of the Ebola virus will create a crisis in and of itself, anywhere the virus is, and anywhere it is suspected. This will happen in the United States as well.
Residents may very well panic if they suspect there is an Ebola patient (s) in a local hospital. People will not go to the hospital or to their doctor’s offices for care, and some may suffer as a result, but the fear of the virus is too great to do otherwise.
People will have a fear so deep they cannot think, and some may decide to flee if there is a suspected outbreak in their area. People will flee one crisis only to find themselves in another. People will attempt to bug-out in some cases, and if the local authorities believe there is an outbreak then people may not be allowed to leave, because contaminant of the virus will be a priority.
Keep in mind local law enforcement and first responders along with other local authorities will be fearful for themselves and for their families as well. Some may over react, expect some to over react, and expect your local government to overreact and do things they would not normally do.
Schools may close in the area along with local businesses. Your workplace may also shut down. Children will have to be kept at home, which will disrupt work schedules if your workplace is still open. People in general will fear going to malls, stores and restaurants. Truck, train and other vehicle deliveries may be disrupted or stopped completely because drivers and operators fear the virus.
The community as a whole will suffer. In some cases, whole communities may be quarantined. All this because of a possibility, but everyone should err on the side of caution, because to do otherwise may cost you your life. Life will be disrupted and you need to prepare for these disruptions.
Local authorities will make rash decisions, decisions to prevent the spread of the virus. People today can be court ordered to seek treatment for contagious diseases that pose a public health risk. It is conceivable that local authorities will ramp up efforts to make sure anyone suspected of having the Ebola virus is quarantined or incarcerated, call it what you will.
If you live close to a major airport, you can expect warnings or alerts to possible Ebola carriers entering or passing through your community, this is inevitable. Someone on the aircraft is going to believe someone sweating, coughing or generally looking sick has the virus. Tweets will go out, and panicked Face Book postings will pop up everywhere. People will talk, and soon rumors are everywhere. People will have fear like they never felt before, and this will create problems within the community.
People will be hyper-vigilant and will be reporting anyone they believe to be sick, or is a stranger in the community. Then there are those that believe the virus has been manufactured by man and is being let loose upon humanity. Some people will become dangerous because of their beliefs.
Many of you have been preparing for this type of crisis for the last few years. However, you must also be prepared for the effects created, by just the thought of the virus being in your community. You will have to deal with the reaction of other people, possibly violent reactions.
See previous articles on what the Ebola virus is and how to protect you and your family. However, for now prepare for the panic it will cause. The primal fear in people will be real and it may be deadly as well.
Experts will deal with the outbreak. You have to deal with the repercussions. You may experience shortages of home medical supplies, because people will essentially clean out the stores and pharmacies of their medical supplies.
Emergency essentials are not disaster specific generally, but when dealing with a deadly virus you may need additional supplies or equipment.
To err on the side of caution you want to make sure you have fresh common household bleach for disinfectant, oral thermometers, hand sanitizer and bar soap, paper towels for hand drying, face masks/face shields or glasses, medical gowns and quality medical gloves for your hands as well as medical booties for your feet. Personal cleanliness is as important now as it has ever been.
You should be prepared to shelter in place. There is no point in trying to flee to another town or city, because the same fears and problems will be there as well. Ensure you have enough essentials to survive in your home for an extended period, up to three weeks in some cases, if there is a compulsory quarantine, or some sort of travel restriction in your town or community.
There is absolutely no need to panic, think through the problem, and take the steps you know you need to take to protect you and your family.