At least 10 tornadoes touched down in North Texas last night, while most were asleep in their beds. Preliminary numbers are that six people have lost their lives and over a 100 others have been injured. With Fourteen people unaccounted for these numbers are likely to change, and the death toll may rise. Roughly 120 homes in the Granbury neighborhood were destroyed and they are just one of several neighborhoods that were impacted.
4-15-13 Threat - TERRORISM
Twin bombs exploded Monday near the finish line of the Boston Marathon within seconds of each other. No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack and an investigation is underway. Evidence suggests they were pressure cooker style bombs that contain hallmarks that could be considered common to either foreign or domestic terrorists. Current casualty reports list 3 dead, including an 8 year old boy. There have been 183 hospitalizations and at least 13 amputations.
4-9-13
Threat – EARTHQUAKE
A Magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southern Iran today killing at least 37 people but seems to have spared nearby Bushehr nuclear plant from any damage. The quake severely damaged the city of Kaki, as well as the cities of Kormouj, Dayer and Kangan. Currently the total estimated injuries is up to 850 with 100 of those considered to be severe injuries.
1-6-13 Threat - PANDEMIC China reports 18 confirmed cases of the Avian Flu virus in humans, thus far, and 6 deaths. In a desperate attempt to stop the spread China has suspended live poultry trading in 3 cities, and slaughtered more than 20,000 birds from a live poultry trading zone in Shanghai. Isolation units are being set up to treat potential new avian influenza cases. Prior to these 18 cases the H7N9 avian flu virus had never been found in humans. It is not known how these humans contracted the virus and it is not yet believed that the virus has mutated to the point of being able to be contracted from human to human. Researchers in the United States have started work in developing a vaccine for H7N9 but have not yet found a solution.
Experts say if a pandemic where to break out it would most likely start in a major metropolitan area. It would move through the local population through public transportation and typical public interaction. It would quickly spread to international airports and from there various regional airports. From the airports it would move into the public transportation network, the commercial sector and family homes.
In this type of situation the spread of panic would likely be just as dangerous as the spread of the virus. People would rush to gather supplies depleting stores. They would rush to the hospital at the first sign of a sniffle overwhelming medical staff and preventing the diagnosis and treatment of those actually infected. They may become violent in their attempts to procure food and water.
It is recommend that Prepare in advance by stocking food, water, and medical supplies so that you and your family can simply relax at home and avoid all contact with other. The BUK-KIT store partnered with Wise foods can provide you with everything you need.
Supposing that we have a pathogen that is able to meet these obstacles - that means (a) it is easily transmitted, (b) has a long incubation period, and (c) it evades detection. Such a disease most probably would start as a virus in a major metropolitan center. It would move through the local population via public transportation and personal commercial interaction. It would quickly move from one international airport to others and then onto regional airports as the public traveled. From the airports, it would move into the public transportation network, into the personal commercial sector and onto individual families. To spread to the more remote areas, it might take as long as a year.
When considering these factors, public health authorities state that the greater danger in an epidemic is not the disease itself but the spread of panic. When a disease is under control, maximum medical attention can be provided to those who are infected. However, when individuals avoid precautions, panic and act irresponsibly, their actions can spread the disease more widely, quickly overwhelming healthcare systems, thus resulting in limited care to infected patients.