Did you know that H-E-B, a San Antonio based supermarket chain, has had a pandemic and influenza plan since 2005, when it first took note of the H5N1 threat. The chain put that plan in effect in 2009 when the H1N1 swine flu hit. The company started looking at what was happening in Wuhan, China, in January and began instituting plans to keep its supply chains functioning, its shelves stocked and its employees safe. “We’re here to take care of our partners, take care of our customers, take care of our community,” said Justen Noakes, HEB’s director of emergency preparedness.

Meanwhile in 2018, Donald Trump dismantled a National Security Council directorate at the White House charged with preparing for when, not if, another pandemic would hit the nation.

Meanwhile on March 11, 2020, Donald Trump declared it

“came out of nowhere”

Meanwhile on March 23, 2020 Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said,

“No one reached out to me and said, ‘As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that America loves for its children and grandchildren?’ And if that is the exchange, I’m all in,”

Meanwhile on March 27, 2020 Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott who has been steadfastly reluctant to give stay-at-home orders said,

“It is clear to me that we may not be achieving the level of compliance that is needed, we will continue to evaluate based on all the data whether there needs to be heightened standards and stricter enforcement.”

Meanwhile on April 11, 2020, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said,

“I’m going to go play T-Ball, on a paddle board, at the beach, with my kids, while worshiping God on Easter Sunday. Fortunately, I live in Texas—where we protect public safety, but aren’t authoritarian zealots—so they won’t arrest me!”

God save the people of Texas.