The Flu and You

Almost a year ago, before just about anyone anywhere had written about it, Roger Downey penned a cover story about the likelihood in the next few years of a pandemic flu outbreak. At the time, governments were just starting to consider how they could respond. Today in our newspaper were two inserts that deliver the same message our story did then: If it happens, you're on your own. It's every family for itself.

Bleak though this sounds, the inserts in the papers today—one produced by Public Health/Seattle and King County, the other by the state Department of Health—do a good job explaining the dangers in simple terms and suggesting how to avoid getting sick and what to stockpile. In addition to the duct tape and plastic sheeting long suggested by the federal Department of Homeland Security (we kid, but their general preparedness supply list is actually very good), we should all stock up on medicine, food, cash, and alcohol-based hand cleaner.

You might also want to make sure you have the software necessary to work from home. Your job doesn't involve the use of software? Could be interesting.