The Emergency

Where should I look for evidence of an emergency before "15 Days to Slow the Spread" was declared?

I keep thinking about “The Emergency” in Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society.

If you haven’t the read the books or seen the Disney shows - and don’t mind spoilers - Fandom captures the essence:

The Emergency took place before and during The Mysterious Benedict Society. The Emergency was an idea manufactured by Mr. Curtain, sent by the…