New Jersey - Tells it like it is -- Almost

[eladdie]

New Jersey has an excellent Powerpoint on the pandemic - It tells you you are screwed in so many words...

Of course it punted on the how much and how long to prepl

here are my favorite pages:

Emotional Challenges
There are many emotional challenges that may face individuals and families during a pandemic. These challenges are not limited to the medical impact of a disease outbreak, but include reactions to:

Organizational and governmental response.

• The impact on society.
• Personal and social economic disruption.
• Pre-existing medical or mental health issues.
• Separation from natural sources of support.
• Grief and loss of friends or family members.

Governmental Responses
Governments worldwide may operate in a ?wartime? mode. This will involve:

• A focus on maintaining infrastructure operations.
  
• Priority will be given to power, sewage, water, emergency services and food distribution.
  
• Food and other supplies may be rationed.
  
• Distribution of most non-essential goods will be discontinued.
  
• Most retail businesses will close.
  
• Quarantines may be forced and violators arrested.

Impact on Society
There are a multitude of ways in which a pandemic would affect society. These include the:

Loss of workforce.

Loss of social capital.

Many stranded when borders close and travel is restricted.

Loss of personal connections during a heightened need for attachment.

Like other disasters and acts of terrorism, the pandemic will magnify preexisting social fractures related to cultural, religious, and economic differences.

Impact on Individuals and Communities
Many social responses revolve around loss. These losses may include the loss of:
Control.

Income.

Privacy.

Autonomy.

Valued civil liberties.

Trust (i.e., in government, in humankind, etc.)

Beliefs or faith (i.e., patriotism, religious beliefs, etc.)

Excellent observation - The fear of loss of these items is why there will be social mayhem and rioting in the early days of the pandemic

Economic Disruption

• High rates of illness and prolonged absenteeism in workplaces.
• Significant reduction in work productivity.
• Drastic decline in retail, tourism, entertainment, travel and many economic sectors.
• Escalating unemployment.
• Impairment of essential services such as utilities, transportation and communications.
• Disruption or closure of financial markets and banking.

Economics and Potential Panic
Economics is not just about the financial markets, it is about how rare assets are allocated.

Vaccines, antiviral medications, hospital beds, and later perhaps basic necessities will be in tremendous demand.

Other important goods, such as food, water, and power will be in short supply, as will critical medicines like insulin, heart drugs, and other prescription medications.

Masks, gloves, antibacterial soaps, and other protective equipment will also be in high demand and low supply.

There is a likelihood of price gouging and the development of a ?black market? for essential goods.

Again, tells it like it is. How rare assets are allocated, is what it will be all about. What rare assets do you have? And how will you protect and or profit from them? Guardia Ray - i hope you have plenty of the above list for your profits.

Personal Finances
Due to closures of businesses, lost work time related to illness or caring for others, and many other factors, individuals and households may suffer great financial difficulties, such as:

• Little or no personal or household income.
  
• Depletion of any available savings.
  
• Increased dependence on credit to replace income or cover large medical costs.
  
• Price gouging and elevated costs for many basic consumer goods.
  
• Risk of default on loans or mortgages.
  
• Potential for crisis-related financial exploitation.

Impact on Individuals? Medical or Mental Health Problems
Individuals with pre-existing medical or mental health issues may encounter increased levels of stress and anxiety, along with disruptions of the health care delivery system. This may impact:

The ability to travel to receive medications or treatment services.

The ability of field workers to travel to deliver medications or treatment services.

Expedited triage and discharge from hospitals to make way for acute medical patients.

Separation from natural care givers and community support systems.



Grief and Loss
Several aspects of the pandemic and public health response may complicate grief and loss reactions. These include the:

• Inability to see loved ones or say ?good-bye? to those who may die in the hospital or while separated from family.
• Inability to retrieve the body for timely burial or funeral rituals.
• Shortage of caskets, burial sites or crematoriums.
• Mass stockpiling of corpses until burial or cremation can be facilitated.

Unique Challenges for Expatriate Employees and Students Abroad
For those individuals working or studying away from their home nations, there may be additional emotional stress associated with:

Not being able to return home due to travel restrictions, even if loved ones are sick or have died.
Disruptions in communications systems that prevent contact with loved ones.
Coping with one?s own illness without the care and comfort of loved ones.
Ethical Issues
Political leaders must consider the emotional consequences of such unavoidable ethical issues as:

Which groups to prioritize for vaccine or antiviral medications?

How to ration medicines, healthcare services, equipment and basic supplies?

Should the limited supply of antiviral medications be given to healthy people to reduce the risk of becoming ill, or to ill people to reduce their risk of dying?

http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/Pandemic InfluenzaFamily Issues Version NJ .ppt