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In the words of the WHO, the pandemic is finally over.  The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life-changing experience for all of us. It has disrupted our daily routines, affected our economy, and left a long-lasting impact on our society. And I would say not exactly a positive one. 

As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, many of us are left wondering what comes next. For those who have been preparing for emergencies, the answer is clear: continue preparing. Ratcheting up a few notches, for those of us who had the feeling something was coming back in 2018. Just check my FB page, and you will see.

What did we learn?

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we need to be prepared for unexpected events that can disrupt our lives drastically within weeks. The pandemic forced many of us to face situations we had never experienced before, such as business closures, job losses, shortages of supplies, and limitations on our freedoms that we had for granted. Well, I mean you in the free Western countries. I had to quit and bug out way before the pandemic crisis hit, as you probably already know.

We have seen how quickly our way of life can change and deteriorate. 

On the positive side, plenty of people could understand why and how important it is to be prepared for emergencies now. They are secretly working on their preps, and surely they won’t make fun of preppers. Or not so loud. 

Here’s an overview of what we dealt with.

If the average Joe had only a few days of food thanks to the JIT delivery system, the most capable could experiment by themselves with the fragility of the chain supply. 

By the way, food for thought: a common situation was the fight over toilet paper in supermarkets. I watched with my own eyes one of these fights in Lima. It was amazing to see how the same situation repeated in Walmarts and some other stores around the world: Australia, the fight I witnessed in Peru, and armed robbery in Hong Kong. 

During the pandemic, many people experienced shortages of essential supplies such as food, toilet paper, and cleaning products. To avoid this in the future, we must have enough supplies at home. As everyone’s needs are different, the volume of what you need is a variable that you will have to determine. This applies to non-perishable food, drinking water, essential medicines, cleaning products, and personal hygiene items. Calculate your consumption rate and plan according to this. (Check out Daisy’s book or online course for more guidance.)

One of the (more or less) unexpectedly severe consequences is the financial crisis the pandemic generated. It was to be expected some degree of effect, sure. However, this effect is still being patent. 

That’s why another very important aspect to consider is financial preparedness. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how quickly our financial situation can change. Many people lost their jobs and suffered financial hardships during the pandemic. Those without an emergency fund set aside to cover unexpected expenses were in trouble to make ends meet. This being said, don´t forget to include a budget plan in place to manage your finances effectively.

What can we do now?

With such a preamble, my perception is this: it is now more important than ever to stay informed about the latest news and developments in the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that things can change quickly, and being up-to-date on the latest news and situational evolution can help us make informed decisions and take necessary actions.

The core of my message is this: this will not be the last pandemic, nor is it as lethal as the next one. You can expect a real tragedy and a stronger and more violent response from law enforcement agencies to control the population. 

For those who are new to the idea of preparedness, it is never too late to start. Preparation is a continuous and evolving process, and the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that you never know when you will need to be prepared. 

A necessary way to start is by assessing your current situation and identifying any areas where you may be vulnerable. Then, take steps to address those vulnerabilities and acquire the necessary skills and supplies to be ready for future emergencies.

Preparing for emergencies is not just about being self-sufficient. 

Under this light, you will never be “self-sufficient.” But you could be as prepared as you need for 80% of the emergencies that can head your way.

On the other hand, it is also about being a responsible member of society. During emergencies, resources become very scarce, and it is important to use them wisely and share them with those who are in need. 

Preparing for emergencies can also help reduce the burden and stress on emergency services and first responders, who are often overwhelmed during times of crisis. I still remember watching scandalous videos of a Spanish nurse with her face branded by the respirator mask over her nose and mouth. Almost crying and selling how unprepared they were and had to work over 16 hours or more. If anyone is not scared enough after watching that, at the end of the video surely will be. 

However, being an experienced man I put my guts together to remain calm. Especially when I listened to the news (the elders downstairs have the TV on at high volume 18 hours per day, impossible not to hear every single piece of news) that a hospital nearby was “flooding with Cov patients”, so I decided to check for myself. It was so close that I could walk. It is the largest medical facility in the area. Surprise! It was NOT. The stairs (supposedly covered with bodies) were empty. Cleaning over 40 bodies in less than 20 minutes? Peruvians are not that efficient, trust me. 

What will the next pandemic be?

After the tenebrous WHO warnings, my eyes are on these, as the next worldwide diseases spreading soon:

Avian flu: an infectious disease that has spread worldwide in the past. It can infect both humans and animals and can be highly deadly (Especially after a lab tuning-up). There have been several outbreaks of avian flu in China that have infected several people. If the virus mutates and becomes more contagious among humans, it could cause a pandemic.

Nipah virus: The Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted from animals to humans and can cause severe respiratory and neurological diseases. Outbreaks of Nipah virus have been reported in Southeast Asia in the past. Although the virus has not spread globally, it could mutate and become a pandemic.

Marburg virus: The Marburg virus is a highly contagious virus that causes hemorrhagic fever and is transmitted from animals to humans. Outbreaks of Marburg virus have been recorded in the past in Africa, and it is known to have a high mortality rate. If the virus mutates and becomes more contagious, it could cause a pandemic. I´m not an expert though, and haven´t listened about this virus before 2020

Rift Valley fever: Rift Valley fever is an infectious disease that is transmitted from animals to humans and is endemic in Africa. The virus causes fever, muscle pain, and other symptoms, and can be deadly in severe cases. If the virus mutates and spreads more easily among humans, it could become a pandemic.

Coronavirus (a new “mutation”, “strain” or variant): While COVID-19 was a pandemic, new variants of the coronavirus may emerge in the future. For whatever reason that I´m not obviously going to detail. The virus has proven to be highly contagious and has wreaked havoc worldwide. While efforts are being made to control the spread of the current virus, new variants that are more contagious or more lethal may emerge, so it belongs to this list. 

A special mention deserves the following diseases: Chikungunya fever, Ross River fever, Eastern equine encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

They are dangerous enough to elders as they are now, however, any new strain only God knows what consequences would bring. We have been continuously suffering from Chikungunya and Zika these last few years in some parts of the country.

As a non-expert on this issue, you have the choice not to take this too seriously, and I encourage you to research too. 

This is only based on my common sense and pandemic experience.

However, as much as I don’t accept personally the poor way many people were mistreated worldwide with the excuse of “fighting C19” and all the pressure to accept the jabs, even in small children, I do know the next pandemics could be much more deadly.

These are just some of the possible pandemics that could occur in the next five years. New infectious diseases that are not yet known or mutations in existing viruses that make them more dangerous may arise.

To be prepared to face these possible pandemics, it is important to take preventive measures. 

This means our measures, of course.

We have seen the reactions of the health authorities. They are focused now on a plan to close borders and issue “papers” based on the “status” of the people. (Got the jab?)

How we face this coming threat, is going to depend on each one.

Here’s the takeaway.

It is important to note that preparedness has stopped being just for survivalists and preppers. It became mainstream. Everyone must be prepared for emergencies, whether it is a natural disaster, a pandemic, or a personal crisis. Being prepared to reduce anxiety and stress, and give you peace of mind knowing that you have taken steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Preparedness is also not just about physical supplies and resources. It is also about mental and emotional readiness. During emergencies, it is common to experience stress, anxiety, and fear. Learning coping mechanisms and stress management techniques can help you stay calm and focused during a crisis.

In addition to personal preparedness, it is important to advocate for community preparedness. This is hard to assimilate, but my thinking is it will have to be a necessary evil. Encourage your community to develop emergency plans and to be prepared for emergencies. 

What are you doing to prepare?

Do you expect another pandemic? What kind do you think it will be?

Are you stocking up on toilet paper and cleaning supplies? Do you have any guesses on what the next big shortage item will be? Do you see these things happening in the near future? Let us know in the comment section.

About Jose

Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t  go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.

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