Weathering the Viral Storm

By Elizabeth Bunn

Map of confirmed tornadoes and tornado warnings by the National Weather Service during the tornado outbreak of December 12–15, 2022. (Source: AccuWeather)

Map of 2022-23 Influenza Season Week 49 ending Dec 10, 2022. (Source: cdc.gov)

What do these two maps have in common? Both serve as a snapshot of current conditions that inform us of possible risks. By knowing the potential dangers of a given situation, we can adequately prepare to have the best outcomes possible.

A week after Louisiana experienced 21 tornadoes in 24 hours, families are trying to piece their lives back together. We are very thankful for the meteorologists who worked long shifts to make sure we all knew when to take cover. They repeated precautions we could take over and over. We know we will have better outcomes during a tornado if, for instance, we stock up on emergency essentials, have access to communication devices, and take cover in an interior room on the lowest level away from windows. Many lives have been saved from these simple but effective precautions.

As Louisianans, we are used to weathering storms and working together as a community to take care of one another.

As we weather the surges of multiple viruses circulating in our communities, our healthcare and public health officials are sounding a similar warning. We have simple but effective precautions for this storm too.

By heeding the warning of our public health experts, you can ensure you are prepared to protect yourself and others. Let’s be a part of the solution and take proper precautions by vaccinating, masking, washing hands, and testing routinely. We are all in this together and, just like when a natural disaster strikes Louisiana, we need to work together as a community to weather this viral storm.

If you are looking for a vaccine, you can talk to your trusted primary care physician, pharmacist, or visit vaccines.gov to find a location near you.

Be well, friends!