Are We Ready for Next Hit: Pandemic and Bioterrorists?

20-50 Million people were killed during 1918 influenza pendemic world wide. The gene mutation is a rare word to most of us, but that was the fact happened in 1918 starting from chicken flu. Both Germany and Allied soldiers were contaminated with the deadly diseases. Will it happen again?

A UN health official (http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4423927)has warned that another pandemic could happen at any time and kill between 5-150 million people. The question is "Are we ready for another hit just like hurricane katrina?" New York event happened a few days ago challenged again the current crisis handling readiness and efficiency. Do we have enough flu shots? Bush wants more flu shots!http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/10/07/us.birdflu.ap/

To learn more about the current research about the influenza, you can visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/1918flupandemic.htm

Here are some facts: since 2003, bird flu has swept through Asia and killed huge numbers of birds and more than 60 humans.

Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) endorsed a three-year plan with 2 million research and training fund to combat the spread of the virus.

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Evacuation from Hurricane Rita

After Hurricane Katrina's devastating hit and severe damage with confirmed death toll of 1,000, FEMA ordered an evacuation of Galveston, TX to make a full preparation before Rita hits most of the Texas coastal area. Residents are ordered to leave before Thursday morning. Trucks of emergency supplies and equipment are ready to deploy. People are gathering whatever their beloings to find better places to stay.

Meteorologist Chris Landsea of the National Hurricane Center in Miami predicted that even though with its current strength of category 4, Rita could evolve into a Category 5 hurrycan with wind over 155 mph when it meets warm gulf water.

Galveston was one of the dagerous area along the path of Hurricane Rita. An unnamed hurricane in 1900 killed between 6,000 and 12,000 people and caused one of the most devastating disaster in the hurricne history. Cameron Parish is also ordered to evacuate because it is close to Hurricane Rita's path.

As several oil refineries are on the path of Hurricaine Rita, the toxic spills might cause tremendoud enviornment pollution and thus make the area not appriopriate to live for a while. Since one quarter of the US oil production comes from the refineries, the gasoline price will skyrocketing soon.

Newest prediction shows that the hurrycane Rita turns north rather than the previous prediction of landing spot, which makes the Houston a possible disaster area. It might also bring a pouring rain into New Orleans and the levee faces another test.

The long exodus car line along the high way is not a good experience for those got stuck and could not go anywhere. Most of the gasoline station are run out of gas and people might not be evacuated by the time Rita hits the land.

For more information, see Evacation from Hurricane Rita. Another prediction says that Rita could be a national disaster as it might hit the nation's oil refinery facilities around the area. See Rita, the National Disaster.


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Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

1. Preserve our environment especially wetland. Since the application of the levee system, the supply of the wetland was partly cutoff. Louisana acounts for 80% of the country's coastal loss. Other hydrologic projects modified the path of the freshwater, thus hindered the sediment needed by the wetland. Salt water intrusion from Gulf of Mexico becomes more and more severe and will move inland 30 miles by the year of 2050 (See Land Loss for more information). Continuous expansion and development, eating-out of grass and roots by foreign invader Nutria, underground pipelines, global warming also contribute to the damage of the environment (See Going Under for more explanation).
2. Galveston, TX was hit the most in the history 105 yeas ago this month by category 4 hurricane. The "Wall" was built since to protect the city. The "Levees Only" policy already caused devastating disaster in 1927 to New Orleans. Tropical Storm Betsy in 1965 and Georges in 1998 also caused unprecedented disaster to the area. Even though floodways, channels, dams, reservoirs, and pumping plants were applied to handle excess water by The Army Corps of Engineers, the cut of funding requested by the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for holding back the waters of Lake Pontchartrain reached more than 80 percent. The further cut in funding caused hiring freeze(see Life Along the Levee for more information). The funding for maintaining levee was decreased 20% to $71 million (ABC news).
3. The unpredictableness of the Hurricane Katrina might also play an important role in destroying the city's infrastructure. "The winds that are advertised for the tropical storm over water are never going to be sustained over land." said Josh Wurman, lead scientist for the Colorado-based Center for Severe Weather Research. Their research group also indicated that some of the tropical storms such as Hurricane Katrian might generate super-strong wind in the hurricane center of category 5 which is not shown in numbers collected by instruments.
4. Dispatch enough man power such as guards, millitary personnel and volunteers in a timely fashion during huuricane. The 1700-person NOPD worked so hard on themselves trying to save lives and restore order. Only after National Guard and other millitary troops rolled into the city one week later could they be released from their around-the-clock tasks.
5. Evacuating more people and resources efficiently before Hurricane Katrina hit. It is a human nature that they would not leave their home after they have habitated for a long time. In this case, emergency plan to evacuate these people should be set. Extra buses should be prepared.
6. Set up reasonable amount of shelters at reasonable distances. Superdome could not provide enough utilities for housing that number of people. With thousands of people rushed in at almost the same time, people over there stated that it was a hellish environment filled with odorous human waste.
7. There are no detailed emergency plan for handling disaster as severe as this one caused by Hurrican Katrina. "Every official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be fired, Director Michael Brown especially."(Weblog by Times-Piscayune). Both Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Director Mike Brown were advised by Dr. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center about the storm's potential devastating damage. There was even an excersise sponsored by FEMA and the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in July 2004 that simulated exact the disastrous effect that Hurricane Katrina would generate.
8. Reconsider the building code of the levee which could protect the city against urricane stom category 3.
9. Analysis of rebuilding the city upon the same site. As dissapearance of the wetland around the New Orleans area and ever-increasing subsidance of the city surface, the cost to rebuild the city will be extremely high. Rebuilding the levee could be an option, but how about other cities, other type of disasters?
10. Controling of the rioting and looting at the disaster area. The widspread looting and crimes gave everyone a great shock. This was not even simulated in last year's exercise.
11. Prevent large-scale disease after hurricaner. Contaminated by chemicals, rotten animal and human bodies, the water is most possible source for spreading of diseases. Mosquitos will also play a major role in the possible west nile deseases.
12. Offer as much help and comfortness to children as possible. Community should also be utilized at the most to help people who lost properties, pets and especially those who lost family members during huracan seasons.

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Recovering Tips after Hurricane Katrina

In Case of Being Stranded by tropical storms

1. Shut down power, gas and water supply. Disconnect appliances to avoid shock when the power is restored.
2. Stay away from windows, doors and open areas during a hurican. Go to the basement or smaller room of lowest floor.
3. Grab some strong support and lower your body and stay away from the corner. Stay under a sturdy table if possible.
4. Keep monitoring the hericans and listening the radio for exact information.
5. Don't be fooled by the hurricane eye where there is no wind.
6. If driving in the herican drive perpendicular to its path and try to outrun it.
7. Get out of your car and find a low, flat location and lie down and protect your head with an object or your hands.

In Case of Evacuating When huricane hits

1. If you are directed by a local authorities; if you live in a high elevations; if you live in a mobile home; or if you live close to a river or flooded area.
2. Follow the disignated route for evacuation.
3. Take only essential items with you in case of hurracaine.
4. Take first aid kit with you.
5. Fill your automibile's gas tank.
6. Pay attention to the sirens and hurrican signals.
7. Secure your properties such as bike, pets, grills and propane tank if you have one.
8. Cover windows with board or tape them to prevent hurrycane damage.
9. Fill all tanks or bathtubs with water.

After the Hurricane Disaster

1. Contact family members, friends or necessary people to inform your situation soon after huracan.
2. Stay away from contaminated water after catrina.
3. Avoid mosquito bite.
4. Check the building's accessabilities before entering.
5. Prevent illness from food. Identify and get rid of contaminated food.
6. Be aware of wild animals.
7. Be aware of electrical and fire accidents after hurrikan katrina. Seek emergency medical services ASAP after shocked or got burnt.
8. Prevent mold from growing. Ventilate the house and let it dry completely.
9. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
10. Seek shelters as soon as possible if your house is inaccessible.
11. Get shot to prevent from West Nile desease.
12. Protect yourself when offering help to others.
13. Stay away from dead bodies.
14. Offer comforting help to young and people needed most for mental health.
15. Protect your house or business from looting and violence.
16. Cooperate with emergency paramedics.
17. Seek emergency services if you are injured.

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Tips of Preparing for Hurricane

1. Learn about the potential damage of hurricanes to properties, human being and pets so the fearfullness of the aftermath could be relieved.
2. Training of family members: how to shut down power, gas and water supploy; which place to go such as basement or small area.
3. Know the international rescue signal "SOS".
4. Learn about the evacuation route of the area.
5. Prepare a water filter, emergency medicine and emergency supply kit.
6. Learn about the location and route to several closest shelters.
7. Make sure everyone in your family knows how and when to dial 911.
8. Check insurance coverage including: disaster, home, personal and vehicles.
9. Attend First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.
10. Fill your car with gas. Make sure emergency kit is also in your car.
11. Basic prescription pills and supplies.
12. Personal hygiene supplies.
13. Keep informed of the current hurricane warnings or weather updates.
14. Always bring a evacuation map with you.
15. Fill all possible containers such as bathtub, bucket, basins with as much water as possible.
16. Strenthen your house especially exterior so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it.
17. Put livestock and family pets in a safe area as they are usually not accepted at shelter areas when a tropical storm hits.
18. Adjust frigerater and freezer to the coolest temperatures.
19. Bring enough cash money with you. It depends on the situation when deciding how much.
20. Don't forget to take identity card, passort, diploma, insurance and other important documents with you.

For detailed preparing document for hurricane, please visit(pdf file):

Living with Hurricanes

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