Is The US Prepared For An Attack

April 27, 2009: The temperatures of arriving passengers on a thermographic imaging device are checked at Narita international airport, east of Tokyo.

As the reported cases of the Swine Flu increase in both the United States and worldwide, concerns about the nation's ability to deal with a true viral pandemic has been called into question. This shows however, the American people's complete dependency on the government for the wellbeing. As a people, we no longer take responsibility for the preparations needed to care for ourselves in the event of a major disaster. We have several examples from our lifetimes that show us the consequences of our apathy.

The most remembered in the last few years would be the results of Hurricane Katrina. We all remember the videos of all the people that were stuck in the city at the few shelters, begging the media for food and water. I remember a story on the news about a man who when into diabetic shock and it took searching among the thousands of stranded civilians to find a single syringe of insulin. A week later, when help in the form of Army Reserve Units, Water Trucks, and celebrities arrived, all we heard was how long it took for help to show up and how the FEMA had failed the people.

Did we as a people not learn from the disaster that fell upon New Orleans? We know from our experiences that we cannot rely on the government to help us in the event of a disaster. This is not a bad thing. It is not the responsibility of the government to provide for those who can provide for themselves. We have the information to shield ourselves from the problems that face us. It is our responsibility to gather the things necessary to survive. The basics of food and water, clothing and warmth are all things every single American has the ability to provide for themselves. Why is it then that we expect the government to provide them for us?

We need to return to a time where each of us provides for our own needs. 72 hour kits filled with the most basic essentials can help us survive the most critical hours in a major disaster. We must also educate ourselves in the basic principles in preventing the major problems. I know it sounds basic, but we need to wash our hands on a regular basis. That simple action will prevent the spread of most major infections. We have been warned by the World Health Organization as well as the US Health Department that we need to avoid travel to Mexico. The government has done its part already. They are doing what they can to protect the public from the near pandemic we face today, but the only one we will be able to count on is ourselves. If we get the flu, go see a doctor. Don't think it can't happen, or that the FEMA will come to the rescue. That mind set will almost guarantee that you will have major problems in the future.

I can't force you to do anything. As always, it is your choice to prepare or not. What I can do is hope that you will take a page from the book of the past and give yourself a chance at protection. We all have the power to make the world a better place, and all it takes is the simple actions that prepare for and prevent the major crisis that may be just around the corner.