It’s something that many people probably don’t think about. But for me, especially considering the epidemic flu season we are currently in the middle of right now, illnesses that could increase after a wide scale natural disaster or if there were to be a grid down event.

Seeing how easily the flu is spreading right now has got me thinking about illness risks and infections after a large scale natural disaster or SHTF type event. As we always say, the main event may only be the first domino to fall. That event could cause many other situations we need to be aware of.

SPP241 Illnesses Risks After Large Natural Disasters or Grid Down Events

I added a brief description of the topic Dale and I covered in this weeks show below, but we also talked about a couple other things. Dale talked about the new website he is working on The Preparedness Experience, and how they will be doing live videos each week.

He also mentioned that their first VIP (Very Important Prepper) will be Todd Sepulveda of Prepper Website. If you don’t known much about Todd and his websites, head over and have a look at the page we set up for him.

Water Related Communicable Diseases

Access to safe water after a large scale event can be compromised. Some of the diseases that could potentially cause a problem are cholera and e-coli, salmonella, cryptosporidium, and even hepatitis A and E.

And while these illnesses are more likely to occur in developing countries, rather than an industrialized nation, according to the CDC. However, even in industrialized countries such as the United States, after hurricanes Allison and Katrina, there were people effected by diarrheal illness. Salmonella and cholera were two of the most noted causes of illness. So even though the United States is a country with vast resources, people still got sick.

Crowding Diseases

Another thing to consider is after a large scale event, there will most likely be crowding. Large groups of people will be living in very close quarters. Hurricane Katrina comes to mind for me. And when people are forced into tight spaces with a lot of other people, the viruses and bacteria have a much easier and faster way of spreading.

Crowded living conditions make it easy for disease transmission from person to person. A few diseases that have occurred are measles, meningitis, and acute respiratory infections.

Vectorborne  Diseases

Natural disasters particularly hurricanes, cyclones and flooding can affect vector breeding sites, which can increase illness. Some of the diseases that can increase after one of these events, malaria, dengue fever, west nile, and now Zika.

And We Can’t Forget The Flu

Now imagine if a grid down even happened during the middle of flu season or continued. Think about how rampant the flu has been this year, even with vaccinations, and access to medical care. The flu is spread by droplets, and its easy for the virus to travel an crowded emergency rooms, or class rooms. And of you take away many of the modern conveniences that most of us have right now, well the results could be disastrous.

Other Infections

And once we have talked about some of the diseases that can happen at the onset of a large scale natural disaster, or grid down event, we can’t forget about the every day illnesses that occur. Because once we don’t have access to medical care on a routine basis, there are other things we need to watch out for as well.