I see that there is a thread for North Texas Preppers. I would hate to think that Oklahoma preppers were playing second fiddle to Texans;-) so I thought I would start a thread for Okie Preppers. But in the end we’re all in the same boat, so…everyone get out your whittling knives and start making paddles.
Decided it was time to bump this up for visibility.
TTinAdaOK - In case you have not seen it, you have a message on the “55 Percent” thread.
For everyone else in Oklahoma: This thread can be used for Oklahoma prep discussion or questions. Of course, folks outside of Oklahoma are welcome to comment too.
Okies are used to hardship and difficulty - Dust Bowl, Oklahoma City Bombing, Massive Tornadoes, Drought and Wildfires, and the Oil Bust of the early 1980′s (when everyone else’s economy was booming, we were hurting badly). We know in Oklahoma that bad things can and do happen, and hard times may be just around the corner. Best to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
I’m a NTX prepper, but trying to get family and friends in OK to wake up and get on board.
Scary thing is—some of them work for the fed. govt. and they’ve not had any mention of panflu at work. Since “superboss” hasn’t mentioned it, it just isn’t on the radar of something to worry about….
I hope to see more people on this board stat!
Y’all have done the right thing with this thread! I have been concerned that we should know how to contact other preppers in region, for 6 months down the road if things get really bad and long term needs become a priority.
I have family in LA planning to head for home asap when the time is right. Also have relatives who might come from there, and are trying to figure out how they can help with prep from there. It’s a tough situation. I could use more help, but it will come with more people, also. So have shifted gears and considered my space, and trying to wrap my mind around 8 to 12 people instead of 3. I suspect this is something we all may be confronted with, especially those of us who live “beyond the sidewalks.” Any one else have this kind of experience? Would appreciate your thoughts.
My current priorities are a hand pump for the old well and a cellar. I used to think I needed a storm cellar. Now I think I need a bunker…And just how much ammo should I stockpile. Scary, but I’m beginning to think not a bad idea.
I am for sure planning a garden of some sort, even though I may miss Spring planting. I figure by the end of summer, I will need to restock food, and can sell or barter with the surplus. This experience may teach us all to be more interdependent locally, instead of buying produce grown in Cal and Brazil! I learned somewhere that a healthy community economy has the same dollar circulate at least 8 times. This is one answer.
I have experience with self-sufficiency food wise. I used to put up ALL our food. Also a successful home school parent. Our state has lots of home schoolers, so people caught in confinement with schooled kids have lots of experts to consult.
I might be a good idea to pool our knowledge in terms of our specialties, in case we need to set up links to one another later when it will be more difficult to communicate. What do you all think?
Okieman, looks like we’re it for now. I can’t seem to be able to post on the “How much Ammo” site. Dang, just when I had some sanity to interject. I guess most Okies know what’s what on that topic anyways. I’ll try later and see if I can get on the thread. Not everyone on that thread is so far out that they can’t give or take advice, I see.
I talked to an attorney about rights to defend in the country, and most points seem to apply to anywhere. Post “No Tresspassing Signs.” Have motion detectors that ring where you are—mine give me 200 to 500 yards advantage. Call cops if there’s time. Until they arrive, I am the law. I have family to protect. I don’t like the idea of scaring theives off my place only to have them go somewhere where old ladies and single moms will be less able to defend themselves than I am. If thieves can be contained or held until arrested, fine. If not, their demise is their problem. A wounded thief in a hospital where the really sick need help is not a thought I am comfortable with. I once saw a sign in the mountains when I was lost and stumbled(drove, that is)up to a gate to a gold mine: “Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be prosecuted.” It made me turn around. In the country or in the city, dog packs may become a problem. In the country cattle rustling will certainly be a problem. On the other hand, a deer or cow with no healthy owner in my yard will soon be lunch for me and mine, and half of the neighborhood as well. Determent. Stopping power. Dogs and vermin. thieves. Meat. How hard is it to figure this out?
Hey - great to find other okies on board. I’m in OKC. Planning to head for the hills if tshtf.
MG30
Welcome aboard. Hopefully more Okies will be along after a while. I’m fairly certain that there is a good number prepping quietly on the side. There may even be some lurking here in WikiLand. They are welcome too, even if they don’t post.
Good luck to all.
ps-Hope everyone is getting rain and not the golfball size hail the weatherman keeps talking about on tv tonight. In another hour I should find out whether my garden gets rain or rain/hail mix. I’ll take the rain, can do without the hail and tornados.
Hey, got a quarter inch of rain, no hail, no twisters. Quarter inch isn’t much, but right now in Oklahoma we’re happy to get anything.
Hope other Okies start posting. I really did not mean for this to be Okieman’s Private Precipitation Blog, but if we get rain…then hey I got to tell someone;-)
Howdy, fellow okies!!(sorry, grew up in Texas, so love them too!) I am mostly a lurker, but glad to have a place to come if needed.
Hello okcinder.
Half of my kinfolks are in south Texas. I’m kinda partial to Texas too, (I just don’t let the Texans know it, they all think the world revolves around them already;-)
Ha-that’s what my husband says! So…what was that wet stuff dropping from the sky yesterday?? I was actually a little disappointed that we missed the turbulence-should have been a meterologist.
Good news fellow Okie Preppers: “Oklahoma’s Pandemic Influenza Statewide Summit” is to be held May 18.
(Please note that this is not the same “Summit” that Secretary Levitt & Company have been holding across the country. The one for Oklahoma has already come and gone. It was held March 29, 2006.)
As written in the invitation letter I recieved recently, the May 18 meeting “provides the launch point to discuss pandemic influenza and its potential impact on Oklahoma’s schools, businesses, healthcare system and communities.”
“Oklahoma is currently in the process of revising our “Pandemic Influenza Emergency Plan” and refining our state response plans. Excerpts of this plan will be shared during the meeting. Feedback from businesses, community leaders, and healthcare organizations will facilitate the state’s planning process.”
Apparently the meeting has a limit of 500 people, but additional regional meetings are planned for July and August. I consider this to be a very significant and important step toward our state’s preparedness. My thanks go out to the Governor and all those putting this meeting together.
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Okieman, thanks for posting that, I’m in NE OK and have cruised around the gov’s site frequently, the OK Dept of Health etc and was dismayed to find no mention. I found our draft plan early on but would like to see us use the King County (Seattle) model for the actual plan.
Tami, I have felt for some time that the state plan needed to be extended to other areas of concern besides the health care issues. Of course health care is of great concern, but during a severe pandemic (versus a mild one) other areas such as utilities, law enforcement, school closures,…etc would need consideration also. The consequences of major social disruption during a severe pandemic could very well eclipse the health issues. Sounds like the May 18 meeting is a good step in the right direction to address these deficientcies.
OKM—let’s hope they address those issues - doubtful though, but I could be suprised.I’ve been to all of the utlilites’ sites and none have anything like for example, Denver water, serving pop of 1.2 million. Article earlier this month in Rocky Mountain News as to how they were preparing. Admirable and impressive I thought.
Looks like the Sooners may be laters.
Tami,
It actually looks like the Sooners are in front of us in VA.
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Hi Okieman,
I’ve got foods stockpiled, water stored in old milk jugs, and my garden is planted. I can’t decide when I should get rid of my chickens, though. I enjoy fresh eggs. If it starts spreading H2H, I don’t think the chickens will be my biggest worry. My husband isn’t likely to want to bug out of the city, but he is supportive of my being prepared.
I am not a gardener and would never do it for pleasure :), but in light of our present situation have begun looking into it. I have a small area of Oklahoma Red Dirt…could anyone help me out on what grows well, if anything, in that soil?
okcinder
Edmond is full of red dirt. We mixed a truck load of cow manure and ashes with ours.
Okra grows well in the hot summer and will keep making as long as you keep the plants picked and watered. We’ve also grown tomatoes (I like Roma’s for picante sauce), potatoes, cucumbers, and squash with good yields. This year I’m trying carrots, but my understanding is you have to get them out early, before the last freeze, because they can’t take the hot weather. I think you can also plant them in the fall. I guess we’ll find out how they do this year.
I hope you get much fruits (or vegetables, as the case may be) from your labor.
okcinder and Michelle
You might want to check out the OSU website shown below. If you want info about vegetables, then click on the Vegetables folder, then choose the factsheet that best addresses the question you have. There is a huge amount of info tailored for Oklahoma weather, soils…etc. When I was a kid I didn’t care for gardening much, the older I get the more I enjoy it. With the possibility of pandemic flu and significant social disruption occuring it might be an important skill to have.
Here is the link http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-215
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Hi ya’ll. Glad to hear from other Okies. I have been watching the posts alot and learning much. Thank you for the info. It seemed that the only post I could viably contribute to was the one on guns and ammo. I guess its a cultural thing. However, I am interested in the upcomming summit. I am in NE too and is less than an hour to the real woods. It seems that country folks may have an advantage to coping with the bfp than city folks. I think we all have canned or have relatives that put-up some corn relish or made jelly. I dont know anyone that has never shot a gun, and not many that hasnt hunted or fished for food. But I also know that where I am from, when things are tough economically, no one will ever have a whole dozen eggs, because they will have more than they need and will give them away to someone that doesnt have any. It is this helping spirit of this culture that gives me hope when/if tshtf. I have had neighbors leave a sack of tomatoes or corn or okra on the porch, and I have dropped off some crappie filets for them in return. There is a reason they call us good ol’e boys. Cant speak for anyone across the river though, but I am sure there are some there too.
Thanks for the gardening info. I kill my indoor plants, so the thought on embarking on gardening is terrifying!
I made my Mom’s indoor lemon tree bloom in December by failing to water it while she was on vacation. Shortly thereafter it lost all its leaves… My thumb is definitely not naturally green.
If I can learn to enjoy gardening, anyone can do it. There’s some great information on the forum about container gardening if you want to start small and avoid weeding. You can even purchase soil at TLC or Wal-Mart to fill the containers, if you like.
t-town traveler - Meant to say “howdy” earlier than this. I agree, the culture in Oklahoma generally is to help one’s neighbor (of course there are exceptions). Most Okies subscribe to Teddy Roosevelt’s philosophy of “speak softly, but carry a big stick”. I think most will want to help, but won’t hesitate to bring out the big stick if bad folks threaten. I believe the rural areas will fare best, but if enough people prepare and try to help their neighbors, then maybe things will be a little more bearable everywhere.
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Where’s a good small town in Oklahoma for a bunch of California city folk who are sick of all the sirens in a town that’s grown too fast (we’re up to 80,000)? We need good stable jobs, affordable housing and a Costco, Sam’s Club, and/or Wal-mart within an hour drive? Hubby just lost his job so since we have to make changes….
Problem is we don’t want to live in a big city like Dallas TX. Sure we have family in Arlington TX but we just don’t want to live in a metro area so we were thinking Kansas or Oklahoma so we would be within driving distance for visits.
Poppy - Give me a little information concerning your preferences: population of the desired town, hilly area versus wide open prairie…etc? Oklahoma is a very diverse state as far as geographic features. Most everything west of Interstate 35 is relatively flat (compared to the east side) and there are less trees. East of I35 it gets pretty hilly and lots of Post Oak forest (its called the “Cross Timbers”). Down in the southeast portion of Oklahoma it is very, very hilly. Since you have kinfolk in Arlington, TX you probably already know all of that but I wanted to mention it anyway.
Since you are “a bunch of California city folk” you might want to think twice about choosing too small a town. Oklahoma is very conservative, and as we have had a few Californians already move here, they are looked upon with some suspicion by some folks. Which is odd in one respect because huge numbers of Okies moved to California during the Dust Bowl, and some returning Californians are just distant relatives “coming back home”.
Oklahoma does not have as many jobs as many states, but on the other hand the cost of living is far less too. I know of a house that was recently sold. It was a two story, 2000+ sq foot house in a town of 900 pop. It was built in 1903, but had been remodeled and was in pretty good condition. It sold for $47,000. If it had been in a nearby town of 10,000 pop. it would have sold for around $75,000. I can’t imagine what it would have sold for in California. My wife recently paid $2.69/gal. for gas the other day. I reckon it is quite a bit more in Californa. Texas and Kansas are usually 10 cents higher than Oklahoma.
If you can give me a little more info. I will make a few suggestions.
I am in the second largest city in OK (Tulsa), we don’t look with suspicion on Californians.
Questions for Okieman — I read on another thread that part of your job is to prevent water systems from being contaminated, or something similar.
Maybe you know something about OKC’s or metro area near you that you could share in terms of pandemic preparedness?
Also, I think you said you were one of those invited to the May 19th state meeting on pandemic. Are there any links that you can post which discuss this? I’ve found this one http://www.oml.org/evps/evitem.cfm?id=238.
Is this an OU Health Sciences Center-sponsored event in addition to the OK Muni League?
uh, May 18, rather. SOrry.
Tami - The letter I recieved was from the Governor and the envelope had a return address:
National Conference Logistics Center University of Oklahoma OUtreach 555 E. Constitution Ste. 138 Norman, OK 73072
It was stamped “State of Oklahoma” “Official Mail”
This event is not sponsored by the OK Municipal League, but rather the site you link to in the above post is an invitation to attend. Is the OU Health Sciences Center and the National Conference Logistics Center related (other than being affiliated with OU)? At this moment I am not aware of any other links that discuss the meeting other than the date. If I find one I will post it here on the FluWiki Oklahoma thread.
Since I do not live in the OKC or metro area I can not speak to how prepared they are for a pandemic. I suspect more prepared than most smaller communities, but I don’t know. I generally work with water systems under population 10,000 and many times much smaller. I can not even say how far along they are, but they have had a heads up warning since July 2005 if they recieve the Oklahoma Rural Water Association magazine the “Advocate”.
Finally, I did not mean to infer that all Okies are suspicious of Californians. I just know that some (definely not all) of the more rural folks in Oklahoma look at Californians as almost foreigners:-) To much tv time I reckon. There are good folks and bad folks in California, Oklahoma, Vermont, Montana…etc. Alot of small town folk are good people but fairly insular. I suspect that is true everywhere. During the Dust Bowl days when the Okies were going to California to find work and a better life, the Californians look upon them with suspicion. I guess human nature really doesn’t change.
I would rather have a few hills than everything being too flat. I’ve dealt with a tornado before so I figure the hilly ares may be a bit safer where those are concerned. I was sort of thinking of eastern Oklahoma. My DH’s mom was born in Bartlesville, his dad in Oakfuskee. Both left before the 30s and met in California. We probably have family there we just have not met. The town we live in has grown to 80,000 (way too big & noisy), I remember when we hit 16,000 and thought that was so huge. We have lived in a small town under 5000 before so we know a bit about small town life. We might be better accpted by some rural folks if we can manage to take our rabbits with us. We breed and show them. I sure hope we don’t have to leave them behind with new owners. Mostly we are looking for manufacturing/production, warehouse, forklift type jobs. My oldest can do electronics tech work and my younger son does landscape maintenance and can drive a small tractor. We live in a city but we’re kind of country types.
Poppy - You might check out Durant, Oklahoma. It has a pop. of about 15000 and is booming with the type of jobs you mention. It is also not far from Denison and Sherman, TX which also have quite a bit of manufacturing. Lake Texoma is a great lake if you like to fish. Kingston, OK is west of Durant and seems to be a nice little town. North of it is Madill and it has alot of manufacturing jobs. It is about 4000 to 5000 pop. I’m a country boy, so I would probably favor Madill to work in and Kingston to live near. This area is fairly hilly and I think a pretty area of the state.
I lived in Kansas three and a half years. I would suggest McPherson, Kansas. It is about 10,000 pop. and it has a lot of manufacturing. I might even be able to put you in touch with a person I know that owns a landscaping business that might need help. I noticed your post on the KS City/MO thread and that someone suggested Hesston, KS. Hesston would be another good one. It is about 10 miles from McPherson. It is flat around that area with a lot of farm land. You can go northwest and northeast of McPherson and find some pretty good hills.
You mentioned Bartlesville and Okfuskee, Oklahoma and the possibility of having kinfolk there. Try to track them down and visit with them over the phone. It is always good to have some ties to the area where you live. They would probably look on ya’ll as the long lost Okies returning back to the promised land;-) It wouldn’t hurt to try.
Hope this helps some. Good luck.
Okieman - Thank you so much! You have been a big help. I will look into these areas you suggested. We have a very short time frame due to money issues so I don’t know how much checking I can do but I’m trying to research as much as I can.
Hi Ya’ll! I’ve been busy and not online. OkieM, can you recomment someone who can deal with my well? It once had a pump in it and a tank on top, but my ex threw the works in a ditch when a kid left the water on. I don’t think the pump was ruined, but maybe it was. I have no idea about the depth or capacity of the well, or weather the pump remained in the pipe…it will need to be assessed. However, we used to irrigate a 2 1/2 acre garden with this water, and the previous tenant used it for drinking, etc. I want to have a hand pump installed. I’ve been told to ask around at feed stores, etc., but have not had time to do so. I’d really appreciate a recommendation or two.
I’m hoping the BF doesn’t arrive before the end of June, when I think I’ll be prepared. Other than that, I worry about having better insulated place in case I can’t keep the A/C working. Elderly mom can’t handle the heat due to heart problems. Also, Biotech is advertising an air purifier that doesn’t need u.v. for eliminating pathogens. Cost is reasonable. Anybody know about this?
Haven’t read the gov’t. release yet, but I understand there is a comment in it re: curtailing travel—does this mean quarantine of highly populated areas? A lot of preppers are planning to travel as soon as TSHTF, and a lot of non-preppers are going to hit the highways, too. I have family planning to make the journey here from halfway across the country. Any suggestions? Anyone heard anything about highway closures? Really concerned about this issue.
Some of my friends and I have done a low-key survey of physicians we know. The consensus is to isolate and lay low; tamiflu probably won’t help; prepare to hunker down and ride it out. Most docs we know are on the same track as folks here at fluwikie. I guess that’s the good news and the bad news.
Californified Okies: Don’t worry, there are lots of us here. Jobs are kinda hard to find, and don’t pay nearly as much as elsewhere like CA, but you can get enough space to grow a garden and even raise meat, if you have to, and property taxes in rural areas are practically nothin’ compared to anywhere in CA. Lots of Luck. The neighbors will come to accept you in time. First thing you need to do is join the volunteer fire dept.
Red Dirt Gardener: You can grow anything anywhere in OK, as long as you have water. Just contact your county extension agent and do whatever he says. As for late gardens, when I first moved here, I had seed which was for the Northwest. I planted in June during a drought and watered by hand, hauling water from a pond. The seeds designed for short season worked just fine. We had to rig up some shade for the melons during August, and planted some less hardy stuff in the shade of the cucumbers and bean climbers, but everything grew. Things like cukes and melons and squash seemed smaller than we were used to in the rain-soaked land where we had lived before, but tasted just as good. I still put up enough of everything to feed a family of 5 for the following year. Start with what you need to eat: beans, corn, squash, potatoes(plant in the fall and protect from freezing). Tomatoes are great because you can put them up with beans or squash and use a water-bath method instead of a pressure cooker. Save cool-weather stuff you usually plant in the spring and plant them in the fall, near the house so you can protect them from freezing—spinach, leaf lettuce, broccoli, etc. hot peppers do well, and of course, okra. For a beginner, the square-foot method works well because it’s easy to do the weeding a little at a time. Good luck and enjoy. You may never eat store-bought food again!
Well did not get to see the movie, THREAT of torndao pre-empted. So everyone in NE OK can be assured that the ABC affiliate here will cover it — should BF ever hit — in like fashion.
No wonder I watch NBC
Thanks for the gardening tips TT…it is almost convincing me to give it a shot!
TTin AdaOK – at 01:57
Sorry, I can’t help you with any recommendations. I don’t know any of the well drillers in the area. But I would suggest that you do get a licensed well driller to help you out. They would probably know about the groundwater in your area, know whether your old pump could still be used, and the viability of installing a hand pump and where to get one.
Sorry I’m not able to help more. Good luck
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Just a reminder:
“Oklahoma’s Pandemic Influenza Statewide Summit” is to be held May 18.
See the 28 April 2006 post on this thread Okieman – at 19:54
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Oklahoma’s Pandemic Influenza Statewide Summit is today.
Just in case you miss it on the news thread…
“OKLAHOMA CITY State health officials say they will ask the Legislature for about 700-thousand dollars to purchase more than 41-thousand courses of antiviral medication to treat Oklahomans in case of an influenza pandemic.
Deputy state epidemiologist Kristy Bradley says the state Department of Health wants to buy almost 37-thousand courses that it could use only following a declaration by the president and another 4-thousand-600 that it could use whenever authorized by the state health commissioner.
Her comments came during a summit today with state and federal health officials that included U-S Deputy Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu.
About 400 people representing the health-care industry, schools, American Indian tribes, governments and businesses were told to prepare contingency plans for a pandemic of any sort…”
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=4924306&nav=menu410_3
don’t know why my ‘tag’ disappeared, twas me:-)
Thanks MaMa. I was there.
The Oklahoma state pandemic plan primarily deals with the health care issues, anti-virals, and vaccine allocation/distribution. Little substance in my opinion concerning the secondary effects of a severe pandemic as it would effect critical infrastructure. Apparently it is addressed in another state plan. I intend to find out more about it. I will post a link here if I find it. After the obvious health concerns, I believe continuity of water, wastewater and electric service must be addressed.
I believe this is what they were talking about as “another state plan”.
I attended the state summit. After allowing myself some time to ruminate over what was presented, I have decided to present a concern.
The Oklahoma Pandemic Influenza Emergency Plan primarily deals with the health care issues relating to an influenza pandemic. These issues are extremely important, granted, but if a flu pandemic was very severe, then the health care system would in all likelyhood be over run in a matter of a few days or weeks once it reached Oklahoma. In my opinion, the plan in its present form seems to have been developed around the expectation of a mild to moderate flu pandemic. The problem with that is the H5N1 strain appears to be similar to the 1918 Spanish Flu which was very severe. Again, in my opinion, we should be planning for the worst case scenario (just as the U.S. government has) and hope it will be a mild flu pandemic.
If a flu pandemic were severe then essential services such as water, wastewater, and electric utilities would likely be stressed to continue service. Our federal government has stated that disruptions in such services could be possible. The State of Oklahoma Emergency Operations Plan (see link up above) appears to be designed for relatively short term emergencies in small geographical areas, such things as tornadoes, floods, ice storms…etc. These are things that Oklahoma has had to deal with numerous times, and it seems to be a good plan for such emergencies. But, the problem is that an influenza pandemic is no “normal” emergency. It will hit the whole country in a relatively compressed amount of time. If the state pandemic plan does not deal with secondary non-medical issues relating to a flu pandemic, then the Oklahoma Emergency Operations Plan needs to be adapted/modified to deal with these issues. In my opinion it needs to be done sooner and not later. No one knows when a flu pandemic may begin.
Just my two cents worth.
ps- If anyone has any questions or comments for me this evening, I will try to get to them in the morning. I cannot address them this evening.
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Just a shout-out to all my fellow Okie preppers. Good to know you’re out there.
Welcome aboard OKbirdwatcher
Hey Okieman, We just purchased an additional few acres beside our land, it has a spring on it…but we have heard the water around here is “salty”. I am absolutely at a loss…can this water be treated, do you get it tested? The ground is wet in that area…how do you “tap into it’? I apologize beforehand if the answers are obvious or the questions are just plain ignorant.
And thank you beforehand for any help!
I’m a fellow Okie prepper, good to know other Okie’s are prepping. I live in OKC.
Hey okiehome, Howdy…I’m just down 35 from you. We haven’t done much chatting on this thread, but it is always nice to know if TSHTF it’s here!
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Okiehome - at 23:37
Welcome! I’m in the NE corner of the state. Good to have you here.
Welcome again Okiehome at 23:37. I live in Edmond, so we’re officially neighbors.
bump again for Okieman… see okcinder’s question from June 14.
OK, so if it all starts to get bad we can meet at Cracker Barrel for a little support group! Ha!
okcinder – at 23:28
Sorry about being slow to respond. I have been out of pocket for some time attending a conference related to my job.
I found a website that might help you with getting water from your spring.
http://www.quantumlynx.com/water/vol13no1/story4a.html
It was written for developing a spring for livestock watering purposes but it should work for emergency use for people too. I have a spring near my house I intend to use if my usual water supply is no longer available. I intend to sink a perforated 50 gallon barrel in the upper portion of the seep, dip the water out, carry it to the house, and chlorinate it for drinking purposes.
If you want to see if your spring/seep is salty you might want to sink a clean perforated 5 gallon bucket in the seep, let it collect for a few days, then have it tested for sodium at a water testing lab. I am sorry, I do not know how much it would cost or who to recommend, but you should be able to find several in OKC. Check the yellow pages or google them, then give them a call to see if they can do it and how much it costs. They can tell you what is safe to drink and what is not. Just remember, if it is fairly high in salt then boiling it for disinfection will just concentrate the salt content.
Hope this helps you out some. Good luck.
Okieman, Thank you so much for responding…at least I know where to start now!
Sorry, the above was me.
okcinder RE: water tetsing
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) does some water testing. They mailed me a collection kit for testing water out of the tap. Perhaps the procedures would be similar for a spring. Their number is 405–702–1113 and they are located at 707 N. Robinson in downtown OKC. When I called, the representative was very informative over the phone.
A full routine chemical analysis would have been $65. I think you can have specific things tested for less than that.
When I attended the Oklahoma Pandemic Summit (the public one, not the first one that was private) one of the best presenters was the head of the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce (Oklahoma Association of Business and Industry). In his Power Point presentation he mentioned the difficulty he had in finding pandemic preparedness info for businesses, and that they were going to create a website addressing the issue. I had forgotten about looking for the website for some time, but after my memory was joggled by another thread here on the FluWiki forum I thought I would look for it again. Here it is:
Michelle :04- Thank you!!
Okieman-I wonder how many businesses will are aware, care, or are considering any action…and with the apparent lull in reportable news on BF wonder if it makes it appear less of a priority. It has certainly confused me.
okcinder – at 18:01
I wonder the same thing as you about how aware businesses in Oklahoma are about risk of pandemic flu. After the gentleman from The Chamber spoke at the summit I have begun to wonder whether they are more aware and proactive than the state health department (see earlier posts).
In the past three years we have had lulls similar to what we are seeing now. I have to wonder whether “no news is good news” or rather the Indonesian government and certain other governments (China?) are tamping down the news to keep it quiet and calm. Wish I knew. One thing I think we can bet on is that it is still out there mutating/adapting/reassorting/recombining/whatever.
Prepared in Chickasha. THIS IS A LONG POST- my 1st - AND I HOPE USEFUL. I have a Biology background and am closely following genetic mutuation reports and WHO verified “human to human” cluster reports. Making a little progress with getting family, friends, neighbors prepared. Have to be careful or they seem to start thinking I’m crazy. Most of them are listening because I am more the scientific logical technical type- not seen as the cry wolf, survivalist, paranoid type. BUT I take this threat very seriously and I am prepared.
I always kept extra food, battery lanterns etc. due to many years in WA. where regular winter power outages sometimes lasted a week. Once a year I donate all the stocked food to local charity then restock. Have a Home run computer business- Internet Marketing consultant. So, don’t have to worry about getting out to work - just my clients staying in business and paying me. So I have enough saved to pay the bills for over a year. Have Cable internet -not phone which could have line issues especially if overloaded with new telecommuters and phone traffic.
I SEE TOO MANY sites / articles/ government officals saying prepare for 3 months.
When in reality the last “bird flu” pandemic in 1918 lasted ~ 18 months as it came in 2 waves, the 2nd more deadly than the first. I have, if stretched, a 1 year food supply on hand for me and the cats. The second I hear online that human to human transmission clusters have increased “anywhere” in the world- I will run out and get another year’s worth. Get to know local farmers! Grow a garden and in the fall heavily mulch the tomatoes, squash etc. and they will survive the winter. Get a friend (like many of us) who have tons of pecan trees.
Water is the biggest issue, not it running but it being safe. Chlorine supplies would quickly run low. I have a friend / neighbor with a back yard well, I rotate 5 −30 gallon bottles of water- have always since i moved here because Chickasha water taste terrrible. Buy water treatment tablets and have bleach on hand - Chlorine Bleach (Ratio for water purification: 2 drops per quart, 1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons. Double dosage if water is cloudy.
Heat and cooking? Get a gas kitchen stove that doesn’t require an electric burner/ oven starter. Buy a tiny tripod heater (used by army and campers) that uses pellet fuel. It’ll hold a regular sized cooking pot or a small skillet.
Buy a hand cranked radio for news- the one I have also has a cell phone charger, an alarm, and a bright light- one minute of hand cranking gives an hour of radio/ cell phone charge time- also great for power outages. Have mtn. climber used camping solar body heater balnkets / sleeping bags. Much of this I bought at http://nitro-pak.com/
Many websites are sold out/ back ordered for months on N95 masks but you can still get masks (and gloves/ goggles) at medical supply houses. I used http://www.allheart.com/in3000.html
Respiratory flus such as the Asian Avian Flu kill with congestion and diarhhea. Buy a steam-type vaporizer. Stock up on expectorants containing guaifenesin as the main ingredient. Do not use cough suppressants—anything with active ingredients like dextromethorphan or diphenhydramine. Stock up on both anti-diarrhea medicines (such as Imodium AD—an anti-spasmodic) and electrolyte solutions such as Pedialyte.If commercial ORSs are not available, I have read that you can make an emergency solution as follows: • 1/2 teaspoon of salt • 2 tablespoons honey, sugar, or rice powder • 1/4 teaspoon potassium chloride (table salt substitute) • 1/2 teaspoon trisodium citrate (can be replaced by baking soda) • 1 quart of clean water
Protection •I have all windows which open (not the 2 large front picture windows) enclosed within a 6 foot fence, topped by a 4 foot lattice, the entire perimeter covered with beautiful thorny protection- giant climbing roses which also produce rose hips for high Vit. C tea and very thorny evergreen pyracanthas. My vegie garden is hidden from view and anyone trying to get in would be bleeding heavily from all the thorns. •An alarm system. •Guns and knowing how to use them. •Know your neighbors.
I hope this is useful. I was gone for 20 years but am ver yhappy that I returned home 5 years ago. DC
DC,
Welcome to the FluWiki/Oklahoma Preppers thread. Sounds like you have done a lot of preparation. I think the 3 month recomendation is to get folks through the first wave. I have put aside for a bit longer, just as you have done. Under the circumstances, I think it is the wise course.
Heh OKBirdwatcher
Any thoughts on our friends the birds?
Some concern over the fact that migratory birds could bring in trouble. MY garden is DESIGNED for those birds- everything from pyracantha berries to hundreds of coneflowers, bird baths, winter feeders… Following the news on cats in europe dying from BF after killing/ eating infected birds. have 2 cats that only go out “attended” so they don’t get at birds. Concerns seem to be radically rising over bird- cat transmission and cats as 1st infected mammals - transmitting to humans. Wondering when/ or if to start completely elimating the cats beloved morning garden time
AND whther I should consider trying to decrease the multitudes of birds that visit my garden.
DC
Welcome! and thanks for the helpful post. Sounds like you’re well prepared. I’ve been working on my preps for about 3 mos. and still have a ways to go, but I’m getting there thanks to all the great info and people on the FluWiki.
I feel sad and depressed about the backyard bird situation. For years we’ve been avid bird watchers - provided food, water and plants for nesting and cover. But now, like you, we ponder the possible risk of continuing to do so. Some think H5N1 is already present in our wild bird population. Can’t imagine having to think of them as “the enemy” and something to be avoided:(
I don’t have cats, but do have a little weenie dog who likes to sniff and snoop all over the backyard (while safely tethered). And there’s not much she won’t put in her mouth, so I even worry about HER getting hold of a bird - don’t know if she’d actually eat one (wouldn’t doubt it). As of now we don’t watch her every minute she’s outside, but that may need to change. Otherwise, she could choke down a bird and we’d never know. And you know dogs love to roll around on gross things sometimes… and yes, she is an inside dog.
A lot to think about.
Heat and cooking if electricity is down. Been examining data in many threads and decided to take action in case of electric grid issues. No matter why the power goes out- common around here due to millions of squires- Gas much more likely ot be working. Problem is most modern gas appliances incorporate the use of electrical components.
Having a wall mounted non-vent gas heater installed next week. Requires no electricity. Push button starts flame though a spark process. Supposed to be able to heat whole house. About $200 at hardware stores. Also switching from electric to gas stove- one that can be match lite if electric power required starters lose juice. Will cost almost as much to have gas lines/ installation done as buying the stoves but I think its worth it. Also have army heat pellet tripod stoves, charcoal, and instructions for solar cooker.
My concern now is what about the summer heat -if AC is out. I have health issues that “require” that AC.
Any ideas? Anyone seen a hand cranked fan? Like the hand cranked radios? Have tons of attic insulation. Was planning on eventually adding insulated siding to this 100 year old house (walls can’t be insulated due to lath and concrete construction) - would doing this radically improve house’s ability to stay cool? Would it be worth it to get it done now- just in case?
DC - I share your concerns in these areas - the heating/cooling even more so than the cooking. We have an all-electric home with NO backup heat of any kind (except a kerosene heater). We do have an RV with 2 large propane tanks that would be of short-term help. I recently suggested to my DH that maybe we should purchase an inexpensive wood stove and materials for installation in case it came to that. He didn’t dismiss the idea, but I do believe he thinks I’m a bit crazy.
I’ve not seen a hand-crank fan, but I did purchase a 10″ battery-op fan at Wal-Mart last week. Is supposed to run about 24 hours on 8 “D” batteries. Not a great solution, but my DH would be totally unable to sleep on hot summer nights without even a fan, so I thought it better than nothing. Need to buy about a zillion batteries now:( Think I need to go solar on batteries.
Sounds like you have some good ideas in the works for your place. As for the insulatled siding, we put steel siding (with insulating material underneath) on our home many years ago and we think it made a great improvement. Our home faces the west and our shade trees were just babes then. Whew!
As far as cooking, we have a Coleman camping stove, portable propane stove, gas grill (probably should get a charcoal grill, but I just know I’ll get “that look” from DH again), and I’m buying Coleman fuel, propane canisters and Sterno nearly every time I’m at the store. And have convinced DH to give the kerosene heater a check-up this summer and stock up on kerosene by fall. I just hate the prospect of freezing to death;)
Birdwatcher Thank God I don’t have a significant other right now or he would probably give me “some looks” with the piles of stuff in all of my closets.
I’m glad you’re there. It helps knowing I’m not the only female in Oklahoma prepping. The north Texas forum is full of people sharing lots of great ideas. Where are all the Okies? Each day after I finish my computer work I’ve been checking for international news updates at http://www.topix.net/health/avian-flu and looking at fluwikie forum threads. I think I’ve gleaned alot of useful prep info from the forums. The team in charge is doing a great international service.
I’ve been “carefully” working on family, friends, neighbors.. some are starting. I always remind them that these things are useful for “other “reasons” such as storm power outages, back up supplies in case of losing a job etc. But I know they would think I was nuts if they knew how prepared I am. I asked city hall what the local/ county plans were and they didn’t have a clue. Which I guess means there is not a plan.
After much searching I just found a great website http://www.safetycentral.com for battery operated fans/ lights etc. Guess the hand crank fans don’t exist. Got a case of those “safe” 14 day candles, a variety of battery fans- including one that fits on the front of a cap to cool your face and even one for the cat carriers which they sometimes sleep in. Some of the smaller fans run up to 30 hours on one or two batteries- but also got a 10 inch that sounds like the one you picked up at walmart.
Walmart clerks starting to look at me funny- I’ve been in there so much. Had 3 shopping carts today. Maxing out my credit cards and saving the cash. Heh, I look at it as part of my “savings” plan if illnes or loss of a major client occurs- I have supplies! Walmart has some decent prices on 5 day coolers that could help prolong life of fridge items if power went out and I’m using them now to store things in. Would also keep critters out of any beans/ rice/ cornmeal stored in garage.
AND www.vermontcountrystore.com has the great neck scarf/ bandanna coolers that have gel beads inside. You soak in water for 30 minutes and they supposedly stay cool for hours. Will try them in garden. I’m not supposed to be out there in the heat- but I always push it too long when I go out in the early morning.
Sounds like the siding/ insulation would be a good idea but we’re talking a small fortune - estimates from $6–9,000. MAYBE I should save the money- self employed and who knows what could happen to my work. Have giant oaks on west side of house- towering pecans on north and east. Its the south side that gets unbearable sun. Have some baby redbuds, magnolias, and crepe myrtles (the ones that get huge) planted on south side but it will be years before they help. At the moment I’m just trying to keep them alive- planted mostin March. Have a large screened in porch on the south side- bought bamboo shades today to cut the sun down.
Do you garden? What area of the state? Picked up 10 cent seed packets at walmart- about a hundred packs. Lots of cool weather crops for fall- brocc, cauliflower, carrots, winter squash. BUT I’ve never had a garden here without watering. If there was a lack of water --- would any vegies grow here? When I lived in seattle it wasn’t a problem- but here? Surely some would grow- those early day farmers relied only on God’s rain.
DC
I should say my DH is pretty supportive of my prepping, as long as I don’t talk about it too often or for too long. But when I go beyond food, water, paper products;), medicines, first aid, lighting, cooking, etc., into things like generators, solar, wood heat, i.e. more complex and expensive things (that he would have to become directly involved in), I don’t get far. I think it’s mostly disbelief that the worst case scenario could ever happen. I still deal with a little of that too.
I’m guessing all the other Okie preppers are just really busy with summer activities. Okieman has been busy on the forum lately (other threads). Hope they’ll post and give us updates when they can.
I tried to talk to my Dad about the possibility of a pandemic but he basically gave me the “don’t worry, be happy” response - and I never even got to the *being prepared* part. So you can guess whether I’ve tried talking to any other family members:-/ And, like you, if they saw my pantry and knew of all the other preps, they’d label me a loon for sure. But if I sense the situation getting more urgent, I will encourage all of them to get prepared and they can think what they want. If TSHTF and I hadn’t tried to warn them, I couldn’t live with that. My 21yo daughter pokes fun at my preps now and then but SHE gets it. It took almost nothing to convince her to come SIP with us if need be. Go figure. I told her nothing would make me happier than for us all to have a good laugh, in say 20–30 yrs)about the pandemic that never happened.
I thought maybe I was imagining the funny looks from the WM clerks. Guess not. I don’t even want to know how much money I’ve spent there since I started prepping. But my mantra is “better safe than sorry” or “low probability, high consequences”, or pick another. Keeps me moving forward. You do the same.
The siding/insulation is definitely a major expense. Maybe not the best time for it. We sure have to weigh all the options. During the years we had no shade on the west side, I invested in pleated shades with a *metallized reflective backing* that helped A LOT. I’ve seen them in the JC Penney catalog and pretty sure Lowes and Home Depot have them. Got mine at Sherwin-Williams many yrs ago. Looked nice too and I’m still using them. Other than shades/blinds, insulated curtains, window tinting? or awnings, I’m fresh out of other ideas to beat the heat.
We have never had a garden. Family (both sides) have always showered us with bountiful produce from their gardens. (Spoiled, I know.) But we did put out some tomato plants this year. DH has expressed interest in gardening “now that I’m getting older” (his words), and we’ve talked about buying and keeping seeds on hand at all times. So that’s a work in progress… Oh, we live in the NE part of the state (NE of Tulsa) and as far as watering is concerned, I’m researching rain barrels…
It just never ends. Great “talking” to you, DC.
Hi!
Finally catching up on reading the threads. RE: expensive but necessary insulation for heat, I am in the same boat. By the time I get the pump installed and the water tested and supplies stockpiled, I will probably not have the money to install siding or extra insulation. But…I remember living in an old trailer house which was just as warm or warmer than the outside in August. Anything I put on the walls or ceiling helped. First, I put quilts over the windows. Then, I sewed pockets out of any fabric around, sort of like pillow cases. Into these I inserted newspapers, and said dang the fire danger. They worked! So I thumbtacked some to the ceiling, too. Then I began to read and learn about temprary shelters made of saplings, what we call a “brush arbor.” Now I’m sure I could cover my house with some kind of rigged up frame and throw brush or tarps over it, leaving a couple of feet for moving air to flow over the top of the house. If Necessity is the Father of Invention, then Desperation is the Mother of Ingenuity. Once you get a few ideas, cruise the alleyways and let your imagination work on the possibly useful discards piled there. It will surprise and inspire you. Incidentally, that couple of feet above the house under a tarp is an excellent place to dry food during the warmest days, if you have screen or cloth to keep the bugs away. Keep on keepin’on!
DC
DH and I were discussing the possibility of no A/C. I asked him if we could use a generator to run a room-size unit to cool just one room for several hours during the hottest part of the day and/or for sleeping. He said yes. Would something like that maybe work for you?
TT in AdaOK
The expenses do just keep mounting up don’t they. Some really creative ideas you have there - thanks for sharing. My brain cells have never had to ponder some of the issues we’re dealing with now so I’m always looking for inspiration :-)
Glad y’all are here…thanks for all the sharing!
okcinder
Glad you checked in. Have a great 4th of July!
OKbirdwatcher, TTin AdaOK, and DC,
Howdy all,
A quick note about the Oklahoma summer and dealing with the heat without AC.
If pandemic flu looks like it is firing up, start raising your thermostat a little everyday. The idea is to begin acclimating to the heat. Idealy you would do this in early spring by not turning on the AC at all, but just get by with a fan. Yes, you sweat alot, but if you will acclimate yourself to the heat then it simply becomes something uncomfortable and not something that is life threatening. Our ancestors got along without AC and we can too. (The exception might be someone with health problems.) I know this is much easier said than done, but it can be done. Year before last my family did it and got by ok during one hundred degree heat. One of the things that helped was that at that time we lived in a house that was build in 1903. Lots of windows, tall ceilings, it was build for life without AC. In our new house we built it is such that we can open all the windows and let the wind blow through if need be. We keep out thermostat on eighty degrees right now, but if panflu starts up so will our thermostat.
Anyway, just a thought or two. I’m glad there are several folks on the Oklahoma thread now. It is encouraging.
Okieman
Great idea (‘cause I’m really a sissy about my A/C - it’s how I grew up - don’t know any different). I think I’d be OK; I worry more about DH.
My husband mentioned preparing for bird flu to his brother yesterday. I wasn’t around so asked DH if his brother was ROFL. He said he wasn’t and that his brother responded “That’s what we should be doing.” So maybe another Oklahoma Prepper in the works? People are at least thinking about it:)
bump…and hoping for rain here in Oklahoma. Wish the folks on the east coast would stop hogging all of it:-) For their sake, I hope they get a break pretty soon.
Okie,
No such luck, heavy storms expected later today and tomorrow.
It’s time to split this thread due to length. The new thread can be found here