COVID-19 Community Survey
As the U.S. COVID-19 crisis develops, I want to learn more about our human experience. I invite people from my family, community, and beyond to take this 5-10 minute survey. I ask that we record our experience and think about rebuilding when this is over. Results will be shared and archived here.
This survey can be completed alone, but I also encourage people to work with a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, roommate, or friend. Open communication keeps us bonded.
This survey can be completed alone, but I also encourage people to work with a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, roommate, or friend. Open communication keeps us bonded.
COVID-19 Community Survey Results
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
Kelly Curtis, 36, Small Business Owner - Photography, Amador, CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Finding purpose, missing my family and friends. Calling mom every day, writing a blog, trying to keep up with exercise. I am very worried about the possible loss of lives in my community and family due to COVID-19. I am concerned that our federal leadership did not project a serious concern of a pandemic early-on and thus, our country is largely uninformed about the reality, and potential damage a novel virus can cause in humans and our nation. We have only begun our crisis here in California. Today is April 1, 2020.
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
People we know and love will die due to COVID-19. We will always wonder, could this have been prevented? What could we have done better? Who is to blame? Is someone to blame? We will have to find compassion, remember our humanity, and dig deep to set aside our differences, and rebuild our families, our friendships, our communities, our government, our economy and our local economy. How will our children remember this time?
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
9/11 is the closest I have come to experiencing a national tragedy such as this. At time of writing, we have lost over 4,000 American lives due to COVID-19 - more than 9/11 and the number will climb for a long. Worldwide we have lost over 44,000. Death on this scale is hard to grasp and it will continue in our psyche for a long time.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Love is the glue that holds us together. Cliche, I know, but what else do we have?
Kelly Curtis, 36, Small Business Owner - Photography, Amador, CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Finding purpose, missing my family and friends. Calling mom every day, writing a blog, trying to keep up with exercise. I am very worried about the possible loss of lives in my community and family due to COVID-19. I am concerned that our federal leadership did not project a serious concern of a pandemic early-on and thus, our country is largely uninformed about the reality, and potential damage a novel virus can cause in humans and our nation. We have only begun our crisis here in California. Today is April 1, 2020.
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
People we know and love will die due to COVID-19. We will always wonder, could this have been prevented? What could we have done better? Who is to blame? Is someone to blame? We will have to find compassion, remember our humanity, and dig deep to set aside our differences, and rebuild our families, our friendships, our communities, our government, our economy and our local economy. How will our children remember this time?
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
9/11 is the closest I have come to experiencing a national tragedy such as this. At time of writing, we have lost over 4,000 American lives due to COVID-19 - more than 9/11 and the number will climb for a long. Worldwide we have lost over 44,000. Death on this scale is hard to grasp and it will continue in our psyche for a long time.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Love is the glue that holds us together. Cliche, I know, but what else do we have?
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
Jennifer “Jenny O” Oxier - Hespelt, 42 GEN X, Hair and Makeup Artist, Volcano CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
My greatest challenge today is different than 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago I grieved. I grieved hard. Today my biggest challenge is finding the money to do the home improvements I’ve put off because I was so busy. Today I have plans because I processed that grief. I understand what my industry will look like and what I have to do to be successful again. I’m taking it day by day. When day by day is too much - hour by hour.
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
In a year...... I’m not sure. I’m choosing to stay present and trust that the universe gave me the tools of survival to come out of this, a year later, a better person.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
I have been a stylist for 20 years this year. 20! My business survived 9/11. My business survived the recession in ‘08. But this.... I had to get very creative to wrap my head around this.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I believe we will and can do better than we were. I’m going to take this time to do some evolving. I hope our nation, our world does the same.
Jennifer “Jenny O” Oxier - Hespelt, 42 GEN X, Hair and Makeup Artist, Volcano CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
My greatest challenge today is different than 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago I grieved. I grieved hard. Today my biggest challenge is finding the money to do the home improvements I’ve put off because I was so busy. Today I have plans because I processed that grief. I understand what my industry will look like and what I have to do to be successful again. I’m taking it day by day. When day by day is too much - hour by hour.
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
In a year...... I’m not sure. I’m choosing to stay present and trust that the universe gave me the tools of survival to come out of this, a year later, a better person.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
I have been a stylist for 20 years this year. 20! My business survived 9/11. My business survived the recession in ‘08. But this.... I had to get very creative to wrap my head around this.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I believe we will and can do better than we were. I’m going to take this time to do some evolving. I hope our nation, our world does the same.
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
Jean Sachs, 71, Retired, Auburn CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Allergies that disguise themselves as COVID-19
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
Being able to hold the Democratic Convention, and General Election - VOTE
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
The closest was the polio scare of the 50's, and the nuclear bomb drills of the 50's through 60's
Anything else you'd like to add?
Yes - the monkey in the White House MUST BE MUZZLED!
Jean Sachs, 71, Retired, Auburn CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Allergies that disguise themselves as COVID-19
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
Being able to hold the Democratic Convention, and General Election - VOTE
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
The closest was the polio scare of the 50's, and the nuclear bomb drills of the 50's through 60's
Anything else you'd like to add?
Yes - the monkey in the White House MUST BE MUZZLED!
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
Stevens Price age 61, Postal Carrier, also self employed with Table rental Business. Sutter Creek, CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Keep my wife who is more susceptible to the virus, from worrying so much about the virus. I try to do all the things she is asking ,me to do within reason. .
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
To stay focused and know that we are all susceptible but we can work through it all and survive. take each day at a time and keep stay more close to home.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
Nothing like this for me.
Anything else you'd like to add?
No
Stevens Price age 61, Postal Carrier, also self employed with Table rental Business. Sutter Creek, CA
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Keep my wife who is more susceptible to the virus, from worrying so much about the virus. I try to do all the things she is asking ,me to do within reason. .
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
To stay focused and know that we are all susceptible but we can work through it all and survive. take each day at a time and keep stay more close to home.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
Nothing like this for me.
Anything else you'd like to add?
No
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
Kristi, 38, event florist, Pioneer, Ca
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
It has been challenging ti have everyone at home all day. Husband is working in his new bedroom office and our kids are adjusting to being home schooled..
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
Moving past all this fear and uncertainty will be challenging for some people. It will depend on how much you buy into all the hysteria over the virus.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
I dont think anyone has lived through something quite like this before. Our country has never shut down over a virus outbreak. Tens of thousands of people die every year from the flu, including this year, but this response is unprecedented.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I believe a more responsible news media could have prevented some of the hoarding and hysteria surrounding the situation. People who are scared tend to act irrationally.
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
Kimberly
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Living alone (well I have a cat)
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
My 401k just tanked. Not sure, suppose I work a bit longer :-)
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
NO!!!
Anything else you'd like to add?
I am utterly overwhelmed on every aspect of daily living. I am very, very happy to be in America and thankful for technology!
Kimberly
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Living alone (well I have a cat)
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
My 401k just tanked. Not sure, suppose I work a bit longer :-)
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
NO!!!
Anything else you'd like to add?
I am utterly overwhelmed on every aspect of daily living. I am very, very happy to be in America and thankful for technology!
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
California
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Getting depressed; talking, texting, facetiming friends & family; keeping busy working on things around the house/yard.
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
Biggest challenge will be for many to keep their businesses alive, staying alive, training people to learn better ways of coping, getting life to be a new 'normal'. Not sure how we can get people to think of others, not hoard and be better humans.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
Natural disasters like earthquakes, fires, floods, long term power outages but the difference was that we were able to stay close to those around us and everyone wanted to help others, not avoid them.
Name, Age/Generation, Profession, Location Where you Reside:
Christine, Library Help, Administrator, Mariposa
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Lacking scheduled structure and missing working since I was laid off.
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
Financial recovery and the fear of what happened with how we handled Covid-19 without unification; many of our Americans will have to learn to relax their politics this year, and perhaps it will unite our people and not continue to divide with political lines. We're all in this together and we must focus on how this effected us equally regardless of politics, creed, sexual orientation, religion, race or where we came from. Covid-19 sure doesn't discriminate... Maybe that can be one way to see less discrimination among our own species.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
I think not. This is unprecedented and even fears in the 90's of AIDS, or SARS, H1N1, Mad Cow, or Ebola... all scared so many of us, and we survived those. This is different.
Anything else you'd like to add?
The media: Often I battle with the American 'news' and it used to be a reliable source of information, now it is so politicized, polarized and biased. I have chosen to get my news from a much more secure source of information: BBC OS. I use the iHeart Radio app for my phone and computer to hear via WYPR in Baltimore. It is informative world news with very precise broadcasters who do not sensationalize or exaggerate and editors that regularly add to interviews and give up to the minute updates. Plus, they are polite and kind with all interviews. I love it!
Christine, Library Help, Administrator, Mariposa
What is your greatest challenge right now and how are you working to overcome it?
Lacking scheduled structure and missing working since I was laid off.
What will be our greatest challenge in a year and how can we overcome it?
Financial recovery and the fear of what happened with how we handled Covid-19 without unification; many of our Americans will have to learn to relax their politics this year, and perhaps it will unite our people and not continue to divide with political lines. We're all in this together and we must focus on how this effected us equally regardless of politics, creed, sexual orientation, religion, race or where we came from. Covid-19 sure doesn't discriminate... Maybe that can be one way to see less discrimination among our own species.
Have you ever lived through anything like this before?
I think not. This is unprecedented and even fears in the 90's of AIDS, or SARS, H1N1, Mad Cow, or Ebola... all scared so many of us, and we survived those. This is different.
Anything else you'd like to add?
The media: Often I battle with the American 'news' and it used to be a reliable source of information, now it is so politicized, polarized and biased. I have chosen to get my news from a much more secure source of information: BBC OS. I use the iHeart Radio app for my phone and computer to hear via WYPR in Baltimore. It is informative world news with very precise broadcasters who do not sensationalize or exaggerate and editors that regularly add to interviews and give up to the minute updates. Plus, they are polite and kind with all interviews. I love it!