Is Smyrna ready for...?

The truth is that we live in perilous times. There is no getting around this fact. Environmental, foreign, and economic issues bring worry and fear into our lives and sometimes the government seems to be stirring the pot.

While people are loosing faith in the federal government, local efforts to prepare us for problems are happening regularly. Smyrna will soon take part in one of these efforts and you might want to volunteer.

The Office of Homeland Security, Tennessee Department of Health and General Physics Corporation will hold the 2008 Cities Readiness Initiative at Smyrna High next month to educate you on what to do in the event of an emergency.

A total of 1,000 volunteers are needed to help test the community's ability to dispense medicines in the event of a large-scale public emergency. Each volunteer will receive a T-shirt and lunch.

Mark your calendar for July 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A reader of this blog sent this to me and I have never found a good place to put it until now. Seems people other then the government have thought hard on what could happen and how to prepare.

Uncle Sam says "Spam your family, friends, and colleagues..."

"And you might want to stock up on some for your cupboard, as well!"

Okay, maybe they didn't say it so many words, but they have released a sample "chain" e-mail for you to use to spread the word about Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. It looks like the federal government is planning to fight a potential global viral illness with a viral marketing scheme. Hmm... This "chain" e-mail is one of the documents from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Pandemic Flu toolkit, recently released in the "Take the Lead" campaign at pandemicflu.gov. Innovative? Or ill-considered? Is there a more effective way to get this job done? Viral marketing is being used to promote all kinds of causes these days and often with good results. How do you feel about such an important message from your government being delivered via e-mail by proxy?

Here's the sample e-mail(pdf).

XIII. Sample "Chain" E-mail
The threat of a flu pandemic is real. It is not a question of IF it will occur, but of WHEN it will occur. You need to be ready to take care of yourself and your family during a flu pandemic.
Preparing now will make it easier for you and your family during a pandemic. Here are a few quick tips:
Stock up on food, medicines, and supplies. You should have enough for 2 weeks!
Improve your health habits. Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your sleeve and wash your hands with soap and water frequently.

Have a plan. Know what you plan to do if schools are dismissed, if you can't go to work, or if a member of your family becomes sick and needs care.
Now that you're preparing, do you know if your friends and family are?
Help spread the word about flu pandemic preparation! Send this message to your friends and family.

For more information on how to get prepared, visit
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/checklist.html

Thanks to R.L. Smith for this email.

You don't need to have camoflauge and guns to do a little basic preparing for yourself and family.

This smyrna drill might be an educational experience for all.