First, all Skywarn classes have been canceled this month due to the Covid 19 virus which includes the one in Wayland I usually go to every year. Looking at the news services around the U.S. most if not all have followed suit.
For those who would like to take the course online, the Online Spotter Training can be found at https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23
For Allegan County residents, please submit a copy of your certificate after the completion of the online course to Allegan County Emergency Management 3271-122nd Ave, Allegan, MI 49410, if you would like to receive your Skywarn card.
Most of the info is also here onsite under the MIReady menu.
For those of you who may think this pandemic is not serious, we only have to look back to the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918-19. This was during my grandfather’s time, he was 18 back then.
The pandemic occurred in three waves. The first apparently originated in early March 1918, during World War I. Although it remains uncertain where the virus first emerged, it quickly spread through western Europe, and by July it had spread to Poland. The first wave of influenza was comparatively mild. However, during the summer a more lethal type of disease was recognized, and this form fully emerged in August 1918.
Pneumonia often developed quickly, with death usually coming two days after the first indications of the flu. For example, at Camp Devens, Massachusetts, U.S., six days after the first case of influenza was reported, there were 6,674 cases. The third wave of the pandemic occurred in the following winter, and by the spring the virus had run its course. In the two later waves, about half the deaths were among 20- to 40-year-olds, an unusual mortality age pattern for influenza.
Worldwide the Spanish flu resulted in an estimated 25 million deaths, though some researchers have projected that it caused as many as 40–50 million deaths. We have better health care systems in place in our time which would cut back on this total. Flu viruses have a bad habit of mutating to work around those things we have to throw at them.
Keep in mind the flu is a virus and can’t be treated with antibiotics. The flu shot we received for this year’s perceived flu outbreak doesn’t cover Corvid 19.
The best course of action is to not panic, limit travel and keep your hands clean. This could be with us for the spring into summer (or longer) before it runs its course. Just like the weather, it is hard to predict.
Our government officials are being cautious in lieu of all of this. Governor Whitmer has closed all schools both public and private through April 5th (beginning Monday with exception of GR schools which are closed today).
On the lighter side of things with sporting events being canceled we may see sports reruns or new sports come out of this event such as pig and frog racing without the audiences. We shall see…
Just got some bad news……Nubs Nob is closing for the season! Not because of bad snow condition, because of the corona virus and the governors mandate of no large groups! The conditions were incredible today and tomorrow they would have been packed! I guess the corona virus is also killing winter in MI! Incredible!
Thank God!! Maybe the Coronavirus will cancel your wishcasting too!
Get ready! A major cool down is on the way!
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
More fake news and lies!
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/7f39432f98eef2d300f773cf914253d5f248e7131cb69cb63b087ebda662f574
Lol
Meanwhile back to the weather! It was another great ski day up in snow country and more of the same tomorrow! I love these long winters!
Hmmm???? It would seem that if you were really up there you would know that they closed down at 5 pm today? Interesting…..
So how was your day in Rockford today at home where you really were??
https://www.nubsnob.com/
Lol
Thank God for our President and our government for working together so swiftly to respond to this virus and cutting through the red tape to get the appropriate amount of testing kits into the doctors hands by early next week!! FANTASTIC!!
Wow, stock market up 2,000 today on that press conference!
If this crisis can’t get the Dems and GOP to work together, then nothing will.
Agreed, however this should have been done at least 2 weeks ago. If you look at the facts and the data from the other countries it was inevitable that this was going to spread exponentially! We should have had millions of testing kits out to states at least 2 weeks ago! So better late than never, but horrible foresight it took so long!!!!!!!!!
Blah, Blah, Blah….Trump is getting this done!! Fantastic Leadership!!
Delusional!
Anyone over 60 or has asthma or other related health issues should stay home. Everyone else should be taking as much precautions as possible so as not to fall ill or spread it to others.
Get ready to head North for fun filled weekend of skiing! It should be awesome!
Bad decision. I would stay away from germ infested chairlifts and lodges and not be around crowds as much as possible.
I am not concerned and I will be taking precautions as I continue to live my life! I will not be letting a virus stop me form living! I may also head to the casino this weekend. I do however feel this is a National emergency and everyone needs to make their own decisions on how to handle it.
This type of individualistic thinking is why it’s going to get very bad in the US. What precautions are you actually taking then if you’re still skiing, gambling, and likely staying in a hotel?
I have an idea I will live my life the way I see fit and you can lock yourself in your basement and blog and live your life the way you see fit Give it up!
Careful not to get grass stains on you skiing gear!! Those can be terrible to get out!
It may be a good idea to close the United States no buddy coming or going this is getting serious …I’m thinking that’s coming real soon … The governor of Ohio thinks there’s over a hundred thousand people walking around with this virus right now that’s not the far way …INDY
And IF that is correct there would be millions in the US already effected and then what if there are carriers and then ones who can and do have symptoms. But really if some of the high profile people have this and it would be safe to say there are many more then what is lead to believe. You can be safe to say there are more then 12 in the state of Michigan that is for sure and the only ones we hear about are the ones that have been tested not the ones who are sick with what… Read more »
I am taking Covid 19 virus issue very seriously and think we all should as well. And pointing political fingers is NOT going to help one way or the other. As MV pointed out in today’s blog about 100 years ago there was what was called then the Spanish flu and that lasted for a couple of years. So even if we get past the next 4 or 6 weeks we still have to keep a eye out for the fall and next year. In a way think of this as a 100 year event.
Slim
I will refrain from pointing fingers to any one individual, however I have been extremely disappointed with the federal government response! The fact people can still not get readily tested in ridiculous! Horrible job so far, hopefully the congress can get an emergency assistance bill passed today to help people with medical costs and job loss costs! The feds need to get their act together and fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How many untested people do you think may have this? If the leaders if Ohio are even half correct the national and world total would be in the millions
Slim
Hard to say.
If you want to get a laugh, check out toilet paper being sold on eBay. Some are selling by the sheet. LOL
I was just going to post that. Crazy! Single rolls going for 25 dollars.
Some people must really be full of
Slim
👍
What a beautiful forecast. All 40’s and 50’s coming up with no snow in sight. Since the day I said that winter was essentially over a few weeks ago, we have received ZERO snow! We’re still under 50″ for the season.
The Democratic party /.fake news has our nation running to the stores buying everything in sight it’s called a panic in some since thank goodness they don’t control our weather but I’m sure some want to lol…Have a nice Friday …. Don’t forget your TP it’s a must …INDY
Meijers in Plainwell was packed yesterday – the most I have ever seen with the exception of last minute Christmas shoppers.
Overtime if team members want it stores are running out of supplies this is no Joke it’s time to open fresh Jar of salsa from the Fall have a Sprite sit at the war table tonight put some music on and enjoy the weekend ahead watch Nascar American’s sport maybe even fire one up INDY’S way of panicking lol…..Thank God we have this blog to come feel free to talk ..God bless everyone we are getting there and we are America the greatest nation in the world we will get through this mark it down …INDY
In shopping at Meijer and Costco I seen a lot of our good Republican people hoarding up on toilet paper.The odd thing is diarrhea is not a known symptom of Covid 19 virus. Maybe the ones hoarding the toilet paper are full of you know what? But as I said point fingers will NOT solve any of our problems and and who is to say what news is real and what id fake????
Slim
I hope you do not contract the virus! This is a major health emergency for our Country right now.
Please stop with the partisan comments! This is a health emergency and no time for partisan politics! We are all in this together and we need to work as a united team not Republicans vs Democrats! Please stop!