Apparently the H5N1 virus — commonly called the “bird flu” or the “avian flu” — is at Stage 5. You can read about the various stages at the CDC site, but here are the definitions of Stage 5 and Stage 6:
Phase 5: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans, but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).
Phase 6: Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population.
You can read lots about the impact H5N1 pandemic is going to have and the lack of preparation we’ve done at Just A Bump In The Beltway and the H5N1 Blog. And then go out and buy lots and lots and lots of emergency supplies.
Between this and seeing what the response was to Katrina, all I can say is: Buckle up, ’cause there ain’t no one coming to help us.