It may be that "that event" is on our doorstep: A large and even mega surge in COVID-19 cases that is sweeping the world and certainly revealing itself here in the United States. While the response is largely a medical one, I'd like emergency managers to think about what you would do for a mass casualty event of another type, let's say a plane crash with many survivors. Some people have perished in the crash and can't be identified, others have terrible injuries and the medical system is overwhelmed. Where do you put the dead bodies, where will people be buried, how will the transport of patients and bodies be handled, what relief, if any, can you help the medical community with?
Emergency managers are not doctors and nurses, paramedics and emergency medical technicians, morticians, truck drivers, law enforcement or private ambulance operators. However, we support all of these people and their functions in some small way.
As the case counts go up from the coronavirus, the hospitalizations surge and then the death toll mounts, think of this as a mass casualty event and plan now for that potential eventuality. I don't think any region of the United States will be spared, so plan now while there is time. How can you help with the information sharing, coordination and resource surges that will be necessary? Since it will be happening everywhere at once, mutual aid and regional/national resources will not be forthcoming. Don't forget personal protective equipment (PPE) all the manufacturing shortages have not been fixed and emergency management will continue to be called upon to help. Remember, you will be on your own in many respects.
Think worst case!
