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It has been a really long time since the U.S. has had to deal with something like this, if we ever have.

Driving home last night and thinking that most folks are the ‘it's a no big deal’ mentality yet, I stopped at the drugstore to purchase a few items. All of the medical grade masks were sold-out. Repeat: all of the medical grade masks were sold out. Wandered over to their paint section and the painters dust masks were still available...a whole 5 of them.

This morning on the radio they were saying they have activated the Red Cross Disaster Response teams in Ohio and the National Guard is on Alert to begin receiving supplies. The Red Cross spokesperson talked about what their role and activities will be in the event of a full blown quarantine. They include vaccine and mask distribution and even food delivery for those house confined.

I am trying not to panic, but the poor response by our government to this obvious threat isn't helping matters at all. I have food for months, not just a week. I have charcoal respirator cartridge masks and asst. cartridges from particulate to chemicals. I have a small stockpile of toilet paper and some housebound cash. So if I find myself in a worst case scenario I'll be just fine.

But...all of that still doesn't or isn't calming my fears. I am scared, really borderline flippin’ out scared. I broke down in tears driving home last night from the drugstore. Prevailing thought that prompted those tears? All the masks being sold out over the weekend. I am 47 years old and have never been through anything like this, nor has most of our country. I left the EHS business 5 years ago so I understand a lot about contaminates and decon procedures. Been there done that from chemicals to radiation, but this situation is scaring the daylights out of me.

This situation has been developing since Feb. in Mexico. And our government took no precautions, but instead we were too busy playing American Idol with Barack. Sorry for this rambling post...I'll go try to calm down now.

Your report is excellent, I share your concerns as a fellow member of this planet, just in a very different place at the moment as you (and most other Freepers). Bottom line is to BE PREPARED. I felt this sense around 9-11; it is a very chilling thought and one must construct some outlets (prayer, reading, going for walks if possible in countryside, journaling, e mailing and calling friends, clearing out stuff one does not need, finding charitable causes, working out in a home gym, etc. etc.) to keep tip top mentally above all this stuff.