Confessions of an old Boy Scout

This week, the Boy Scouts of America filed a Chapter 11 petition in the Delaware bankruptcy court under the saddest of circumstances. The bankruptcy applies to the national organization and not to local councils, and although official statements from the organization insist that they intend to continue operations, national recruitment numbers have been down.

We are fortunate to have two fine Boy Scout Troops here in our community and I wish the very best for both of them. In my youth, I recall learning a great deal from scouting as a Cub and a Webelo and lifetime memories as a Boy Scout hiking and camping on the C&O Canal. In some form or fashion, I hope that the better traditions of the organization find a way to carry on.

I am reminded of a few of these lessons as I watch the unfolding of geo-political developments associated with the novel (ie. new) Coronavirus, now officially identified as “COVID-19.” The virus, which is very similar to the original SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003, has sickened thousands in China, killed hundreds and triggered home quarantines and travel restrictions.

As of this writing, the Centers for Disease Control reports only 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, but that number does not include cruise ship passengers brought in under quarantine, some of whom have been sent here to Nebraska. At this stage, we are being reminded that far more people are sickened and killed by the conventional, annual flu virus, and there is no need for undue concern, but there is no shortage of intrigue around the source of COVID-19.

It was initially reported that the virus originated in a fish market, but that claim was quickly debunked. Claims by others that the outbreak is related to bio-weapons research has also been challenged, but it seems no coincidence that the fish market in question happens to be near the Wuhan Institute of Virology, mainland China’s leading biosafety laboratory.

There are, however, confirmed cases of accidental infections in the organization, and at least one pundit has compared the outbreak with Chernobyl. What is certain is that China has been less than transparent throughout the process, impeding western governments in their ability to understand and react to the virus.

I don’t want to fall victim to conspiracy theories, and certainly don’t wish to spread any. In fact, it is with some embarrassment that I confess to having been a bit suckered in by the Y2K scare of twenty years ago. As most of you recall, there was a concern in the spring and summer of 1999 that code on legacy computer systems had been written with dates that did not anticipate the turn of the century and multiple failures ranging from the power grid to global financial systems were predicted.

At least I wasn’t one of those who went down with the ship. By the fall of 1999, it was generally understood that the glitches associated with the date change were not as numerous as feared and that the IT community had stepped up their game to ensure that critical systems were patched if needed, and would function as promised. They did. Nothing happened.

But oh, in the summer of ‘99. The dire predictions were everywhere, and I blush a little when I think that I bought any of it. The positive spin that I can put on that experience is that it raised my awareness. At the time, I was a first-time father, a relatively new homeowner, and was, after all, an old Boy Scout. The Boy Scout motto says, “Be prepared.” Of all the good lessons that scouting teaches, that’s one that seems to have stuck with me.

So it’s then that I began paying attention to the basics of preparedness. You won’t see me starring on a reality show about “preppers” anytime soon, but I try to cover the basics. I make sure I have a few flashlights and a few candles, some extra food and plenty of water on hand. I also make sure that we have a few battery-powered radios and a safe place to go when the tornado sirens are activated (besides the front porch).

For those who are similarly concerned, The Department of Homeland Security has a very nice web site at READY.Gov that’s worth a look. It contains some basic, common-sense suggestions on what to keep in an emergency kit, but also includes a treasure trove of information specific to the care and preparation of children, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and pets. There are also several pages of information for businesses that wish to implement an emergency response plan and specific information regarding a variety of threats, ie. tornadoes, and pandemic.

As for the virus, the CDC has not yet declared a pandemic, so it’s not time to run out and empty the shelves of N-95 respirators just yet. So far, we’re encouraged to do the things we would for the more likely threat, the common seasonal flu. Wash your hands, try not to touch your face, cover your cough or sneeze, disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, and try to keep some extra food on hand in case you need to stay indoors for a few days. It never hurts to Be Prepared.