U.S. under U.N. law in health emergency

[tropical]

Re: U.S. under U.N. law in health emergency

"All the military available to us in the US will not make a dent in public safety. Too few spread too far."
Thinking that an verticaly well funded, weaponised and organised military system created to defend the country in the case of any kind of war isn't able to take control at all national critical land points cannot be true.

"There will be looting, mayhem, murder and citizens will take up arms to protect themselves. Chaos."
Exactly the main reasons why only local schemas wouldn't work alone, maybe only in a moderate pandemic. In a serious novel one the standard public organisation will fell apart. It's o.k. to prepare, but if you live in a town, not in the woods, you cannot prepare for this realy.

"... our assumption that help from elsewhere would come riding in on white horses.......didn't happen. We were clearly on our own. Improvisation became SOP."
Probably true, but did you feel better if the whole is organised in a way that for sure nobody from the military forts and depos will come to give some help? Maybe the local police and firemans will be enough to do the all job?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: U.S. under U.N. law in health emergency

Maybe the local police and firemans will be enough to do the all job?

It was these agencies and lots of local volunteers that got the job done. Without the local volunteers filling and setting sandbags, one town would have flooded.
My point is that we cannot wait for an agency employee to "take care of us" - folks need to assume some responsibility for their own welfare.

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[tropical]

Re: U.S. under U.N. law in health emergency

My point is that we cannot wait for an agency employee to "take care of us" - folks need to assume some responsibility for their own welfare.

I agree, but, summing the number of citizens around the world, no vaccine, scarse medicines, and all the goods, etc., came by globaly trade routes...

If we talk about preparations for a novel serious world pandemic without vaccines and medicines:
Did the local folks assumed the whole responsibility now?
Are they realy prepared, are the goods, other medicines, masks, ventilators, etc., stocked for every town at the moment (who payed)?

Maybe Holywood films (without some 30pc nonsense scenes) realy gave some clue how things can go: "Pandemic; Patriot; Postman; etc."
If we must be on our own realy, than it will be like the medieval plague times (in this case, at last, we are not an high grade civilisation realy).

 

[tropical]

Re: U.S. under U.N. law in health emergency

Connected with this topic - from yesterday "FluTrackers - cartsky post":
"CDC: Excerpts from Public Health Law News"

Re: CDC: Excerpts from Public Health Law News
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
From the Public Health Law Program, Office of the Chief of Public Health Practice, CDC
http://www2a.cdc.gov/phlp/

*** Continental Pandemic Influenza Plan. Mexico, the U.S.A., and Canada have developed the North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza, as part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. View the plan at, http://www.spp.gov/pdf/nap_flu07.pdf.

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"U.S. military begins planning for avian flu pandemic"
Agence France Presse (05/10/07) Jim Mannion
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070510...y_070510181445

Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) released its plan to prepare the nation's military for a role in a potential avian influenza pandemic. The Pentagon's Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza provides information and guidelines for military services and combatant commands. The document prepares for a pandemic that would move quickly and involve catastrophic waves of disease, leading to overwhelmed health facilities and crippled state and local authorities. According to the document, the U.S. military's highest priority is to preserve DoD's operational effectiveness, but another priority would be to evacuate non-infected people from where they are living abroad, and to help the country's allies. Troops will also play a role in distributing medical supplies and medications, and providing security for the production and shipment of vaccines. Finally, the military may assist with the isolation and quarantine of people to contain the spread of influenza. "When directed by the president, DoD will provide support to civil authorities in the event of a civil disturbance. DoD will augment civilian law enforcement efforts to restore and maintain order in accordance with existing statutes."

[Editor's note: To read the Department of Defense Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza, visit [B]http://fhp.osd.mil/aiWatchboard/pdf/...ele ase.pdf[/B].]

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Mutual aid agreements: essential legal tools for public health preparedness and response
American Journal of Public Health (04/07) Daniel D. Stier and Richard A. Goodman
http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/AJPH.2006.101626v1

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: U.S. under U.N. law in health emergency

Folks certianly aren't adequately prepared, but expecting govt. agencies to do the impossible (prepare for everyone) is not realistic or a saleable concept at this point (since most aren't convinced of an inevitable pandemic).

Since so many non-US countries are not advising folks to stock up on essentials, I assume they plan to control the distribution of basic goods. Who knows which system will have the best outcome.

However I welcome all planning by the military (along with other agencies), as that's our only hope for containing chaos. It's not 100%, but it sure beats nothing.

I'm hoping for something better than "the medieval plague times" and while certain issues will be more difficult than 1918, we will have the benefit of advance notice & better communication. I suspect many will follow the same common sense as folks in 1918 - self quarantine in your house!

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