Here a GP is reported to request that electricity continues to power his practice.

A flu pandemic across the UK could result in "1,000 September 11ths" and preparations are "woefully inadequate", a doctor warned today.

Dr Steve Hajioff will tell doctors at the British Medical Association's annual conference on Tuesday that a flu pandemic would have "enormous" implications. He believes stockpiling anti-virals is less important than getting transport, fuel and water companies to make adequate plans.

[...]

Dr Hajioff said the Government had taken action but stocking anti-viral drugs was the "icing not the cake".

He added: "It's not anti-virals that are important, it's how we keep going, keep functioning as a country and keep the flu from spreading. I'm a GP and I can prepare my surgery, but if the electricity company that supplies my power has not prepared, then I am not going to be able to treat patients.

It looks like the "bad pandemic" scenario is starting to sink in.

A "not bad" pandemic would disrupt health-care services. Just do the numbers: no surge capacity, and many people simultaneously ill. Yes, that means health-care providers too.

The magic word is ... simultaneously.

Simultaneously in your hometown and mine. Simultaneously all over the country. Simultaneously all over Europe. Simultaneously all over the world.

Now, add the length of time it takes for a pandemic wave to unfold. What would that be? 4 to 8 weeks? A simultaneous, long-lasting mess.

Ah, yes, but there's bound to be a period of calm after that, right?

Wrong! It will be a period of calm before the second wave. So, no matter if the first wave is mild or not, people will remember 1918. (I certainly will remember it.) They will remeber the second wave was much worse.

And they'll stockpile. In a rush. And of course, again, simultaneously.

Do you really think a "now that there's no pandemic going on" buying panic would hurt us? Well, then, I suggest you multiply that by whatever amount you chose, and that's what the real thing would be like.

Look: we don't know when there will be a pandemic. But even with a "not so bad" one there will be panic buying. Lots of it. So better start now and build things up slowly (fast!). Doesn't it make sense?