Good topic.

I had a bout with some Norwalk-like virus a couple of months ago. It knocked me down and put the boots to me in less than two hours.

With a pandemic, we may get some early warning from hotspots in Asia. No guarantees, but people are watching for this very closely.

For me, that would be the cue to limit public exposure and use all reasonable infection control measures. Commercial air travel can bring the pandemic just about everywhere within days.

My big worry in a pandemic is that other family members (esp. elderly parents) will be deathly ill. I'd have to go out and help despite the risk. There's really no other option I'd be willing to live with.