Sadly the economics of being in constant readiness for 100 year events just doesn’t work.
“Sadly the economics of being in constant readiness for 100 year events just doesn’t work.”
Things work fine when it is an “average” day. Even on bad days (ice storm, numerous car wrecks) people can get the help they need.
Big things like a Hurricane in New Orleans one year, and an earthquake in California the next year - then it becomes impossible to help everybody the same day. But give it a week or more and most people at least can be reached and taken to a hospital or shelter.
This pandemic is on a whole ‘nother level when it comes to what the system is designed for. But - we will increase the numbers of beds, ventilators, etc. Perhaps not as quickly as we would like (just like the person waiting three days in there water-logged home to get rescued), but things will happen.
More of a concern might be the number of medical folks. I know in the Seattle area, numerous firefighters have been under quarantine, and a doctor has the virus now. I haven’t heard, but I imagine many of his co-workers are on quarantine?
Perhaps that is where the National Guard medical personnel can fill in?
With the way people travel around the globe these days, it’s going to be more like a 10-year event.