Because there are so many Texans on this website and we’re spread out over a pretty large area, we decided to keep each other posted on what is going on in different parts of the state. Here in El Paso, we’re still recovering from the heavy rains that caused flooding from Juarez, Mexico to Hatch, New Mexico. Now we have West Nile Virus, and the stores have sold out of all mosquito repellent products. Shades of things to come, right? Okay, Texans - let’s hear from you.
Historey Lover – at 17:15 --- Is this for the entire state? I noticed that there a couple of localized threads in Texas—one for Northern Texas preppers, and another for some little town called Houston… ;-)
History Lover- at 1715:
I am in south central Texas, don’t post much, lurk everyday, though. Am a HCW, and would like to read more posts from Texans, read their prep plans, etc. I am especially interested in what others may know about what our local towns/cities/hospitals have planned when TSHTF.
Hi Texans! I am also south central texas & HCW, most local towns around me have done nothing to prepare, despite news, meetings or other info that has been available.
Hi All…I am west of Weatherford, which is west of Ft. Forth. I really don’t think our town is doing much of anything. :( After repeated e-mails to the High School for instance, (where my youngest is a senior this year) I have heard absolutely nothing about any plans that they have made. I have kind of figured that it will be up to the individual to do what they can for their family if and when the SHTF. I’m lucky in that I live on acreage with horses and cows, chickens, have a creek, pond, pool, woods, etc. I have been preparing for most of my life for whatever the “ifs” in life may be, and believe I am prepared for a year + for a family of five, for whatever may come our way, and resources for a lot longer. I guess I have always been a pessimist in that regard and as a result have always been a “survivalist” at heart. I never expected anyone to take care of me and mine, but myself. I hope to be able to help out with some of my rural neighbors if the need arises and share resources. Our gate will be closed however, once anything begins, and trespassers will not be allowed. >;) Sometimes, it is nice to live in Texas. Except for the heat….last night on the news it was posted that we were 42 consecutive days above 100F. Now we have to worry about global warming too! :( I’m just thankful we don’t live in the city….
Greetings from north of that little town called Houston! I live in a small incorporated city in Montgomery County. In this month’s water bill, we recieved a flyer about Family Disaster Planning. It informed us about hurricane season “again” (as if we could forget) and OTHER types of disasters. It contained a list of info on family disaster planning as prepared by the feds and on the back was a Disaster Supply Kit itemization….water for 3 to 7 days, food 5 to 7 days, etc., bug out supplies and documents. While it pertained primarily to hurricane and storm prepardeness, it could easily be used and expaned on to fit any emergency. My husband talked with the city manager a few weeks back about flu planning and I would like to think that atleast some of this notice is a result of their conversation. It is a beginning!!
Ironmagnolia and TXNurse~~there are HC workers on the Houston thread. You might check it out. I do know that the Houston Med Center hospitals do have plans, but I don’t know the specifics.
Greetings from south of that little town called Houston! I live in Friendswood in far southern Harris County.
Was a Lowe’s and Walmart this weekend. Lots of preps available but almost no mosquito spray here, too.
Not a HC worker but I do work in the Texas Medical Center. Yes, we do have preparations for flu, hurricane, SARS, etc. at my institution. Because my institution is so specialized, the plan is to lock it down should flu appear in the area. Our patients are too vulnerable to be exposed to normal flu much less pandemic. Also, our administration is banning travel to areas with bird flu.
We have been cooler than ya’ll in the northern part of the State. Lots of rain and LOTS of mosquitoes.
Keep prepping!
Live in northwest Jefferson County, work for Lamar University. The university addressed avian flu in mid-July with a campus wide e-mail. It’s close to a year since Rita hit our area and I heard just this morning that there was a run on stores this weekend for last minute storm supplies due to Ernesto. Folks have had 11 months to prepare and their still putting things off till the last minute. I guess some folks will never learn.
History Lover, I had been thinking this weekend that it was about time for a pan-TX thread and voila! Thanks. :)
We are a homeschooling family with four daughters (hence the screen name). I started a ‘safety & emergency prep’ unit with the kids about 4 or 5 years ago and just never stopped. (Although I grew up with a ‘prepper’ father so this fits better with my comfort zone anyway). Even the four year old will watch now for sales and then tell me we need that for a ‘mergency. lol
My husband teaches at one of the bigger universities, but NO mention of anything prep-wise from them at all, sigh. We haven’t had a paycheck since July so pretty much all prepping has had to be put on hold and it’s making me more than a bit edgy (come on, September!!)
Bronco Bill - Anyone is welcome on this website (especially someone with a handle like yours) but I thought it would be a good idea if Texans could keep each other up to date on what is happening in their area. I wouldn’t mind hearing from New Mexicans also, because I’ve only seen perhaps one New Mexican posting.
Texans - Great posts! Our County Hospital is having a Bird Flu Awareness seminar in September, and I just hope it isn’t too late.
Sorry I meant to say that “anyone is welcome on this thread.”
I’m from up in the Piney Woods of Lufkin. I’m a recent transplant from California. Bill and I used to be on that thread together. I get around East Texas A LOT. I drive a rail crew van hauling crews to/from their trains between Shreveport and that “little town” called Houston. That said I sure could use some advice on alternate routes north from Houston. I’ve been looking at my maps trying to find ways not to get stuck in that little town should they call an evacuation while I’m on a run down there. I may have found a good source for reasonably priced water barrels and 5 gallon buckets in my travels. I hope to be able to know more soon. I know Angelina County had a seminar of some sort about avian flu and preparedness shortly before we moved back here. Still, other than a few people on this forum who live in East Texas avian flu does not seem to be on most peoples radar. The only preparedness on most peoples minds is for hurricanes and most people this far north don’t seem to be doing much toward preparing for that other than having generators. I think East Texas could benefit from the ribbon campaign idea. Maybe we could work out a message for that with information for Texas. One thing I see that people here should be discouraged from doing is allowing their chickens to just run loose. Heck if I had the money I’d build my neighbors a chicken coop just for my own peace of mind.
Poppy~~you’ll know in plenty of time if a evacuation is called…at least a few days, anyway. As for getting to Lufkin, about the only way is up 59 or 45. Both highways are set up for counterflow at a certain point. What that means is that the southbound lanes will become northbound. If you go up 45 to Huntsville, you can cut over to Lufkin through Crockett. Glad ya’ll are settled in and getting to know you way around.
Not much happening here in the area of the Western White House. All’s quiet in Crawford. Just wishing it would RAIN!!!!!
kars - we are in the same neck of the woods; nice to ‘see’ a local face on here. I think Centex is around here, too.
My email is petticoat.junction at yahoo dot com if you want to write. :o)
From the TX Hill Country around San Antonio…
There was a small article in today’s newspaper about gathering important papers in case of emergency but it was in regards to the anniversary of Katrina.
Every now and then talk is floated about preparing for disaster but nothing concrete.
Hey everyone, I am in North Texas ----just north of Dallas in McKinney. I have not heard a word on city and BF. I am still prepping and praying it doesn’t ahppen this winter! As you know it is hot, but just got rain today, not much but have high hopes for tonight. We are looking to move sometime over to Ft.Worth and I can just see me moving in the middle of an out break---- We have considered Weatherford---so Hi snowhound 1.
Well that is strange that is me---Love Texas
I mean strange that it said anonymous---
Hey Love Texas…I think we are going to try to move farther out. Weatherford is becoming just another suburb of Ft. Worth and is growing much too fast for us. The good news is that our house and property have increased in value about 30% in the last six years. We will probably be listing it before the year is up…Our last son will graduate from High School next year, so no reason to keep us here now. I remember when McKinney was “country” too. How times change. My husband used to live in Plano years ago when it was considered way “out”. :)
Petticoat Junction – at 10:04 We are a homeschooling family too…4 girls…2 grown that have given me 4 grand-kids.
Love Texas- 16:09 “I am in North Texas ----just north of Dallas in McKinney. I have not heard a word on city and BF.”
Heres a link to Dallas County :
And one for TX:
Hope the links work…its my first attempt using tinyurl!
We live in a small town in the eastern portion of the state. No bird flu plans in our little town. The only thing they can think about here is new ways to get more tax money out of us. We care for our special needs grandchild who goes to another town for school and I asked them about bird flu plans…they never even heard of bird flu. We aren’t too far from all the commercial chicken houses in these here parts…so I wasn’t too encouraged to find that everybody acts like they never heard of it.
Dh works for a world wide corporation and he hasn’t heard any talk of a plan either.
On a good note we got about 5 hours of rain today!! My poor yard is parched …although if it greens up I will have to start mowing again.
Hello everybody, just got back from Austin for a run into Sam’s, seem to spend most of my money there these days (and don’t have much money!!)Also stopped at a book store to buy a couple of books on baking bread, figure I need to start getting used to it. It’s been awhile since I’ve baked bread. When I used to live in Houston I would go to the farmers market off Airline and buy fruits in quanity for canning, but thats been 18 years ago and I know I’m very rusty now!
Live SE of Houston, in outskirts of Alvin. Moved from Friendswood about 4 years ago. TS Alison did it for us. ALthough we didn’t flood, the national guard truck parked 5 houses from us. Decided then we didn’t want to be that hemmed in if some emergancy situation arose. Originally from the Shreveport area… married to a cajun! This should be an interesting thread, being Texas is such a BIG state!!
TXNurse: Farmers market off Airline? Anybody else know about this? I can’t find a decent farmers market. Where is Airline? I haven’t canned in nearly as long as you… but I am now! It’s like riding a bike!
I am very interested in knowing about what the state of Texas is doing to prepare for a pandemic. I have read the state website. I am talking about really doing, not just talk. Please, post what is being done in your area… if anything. Thanks in advance!!
Enough-Already, Airline Drive is in NE Houston, I don’t know if the market is still there, but is was a very large commercial market for stores, restaurants & the public, I could always get good prices on very large amounts of fruit. Maybe someone in Houston can answer if it still exists. I live near Austin in a small town and our town and one near us I know have no plans for pandemic preparedness, The Hospital where I work does not have any concrete plans, nor do they have enogh PPE’s stored for HCW’s.
The state of Tx PLan is actually a draft from 2004, I have read it. Talks about Health depts, local preparedness and so forth….looks ok on paper..but I believe that is all it is worth. I know the school system in my town is doing nothing, even though this has been brought to their attention for several years now.
Snowhound1---McKinney has 105,000 people now!!!!!! It is no longer a small town. Paper says there are 365 people a day moving to the Dallas—Ft. Worth area.
LoveTexas-
Soon all the small roads will be connected and we’ll have just another exurb like Frisco.
North of Houston – at 14:30 Thanks. It’s beginning to feel like home here. I certainly am learning my way between Houston and Shreveport with this job. The bad thing is I heard the railroad shuts down and sends all their crews home when an evacuation is ordered. It’s our job to get them there. One of the RR guys told me a driver last year dropped him at Houston then turned around to go home and got stuck in with the evacuees and wound up stranded by the side of the road for nearly two days with no food or water after they ran out of gas. I don’t want that to be me but neither do I want to ride out a CAT 4–5 hurricane in Houston as the UP guy suggested to that other driver (and to me). That RR guy stayed home and rode it out in Houston.
I have family at Livingston so I would try for there at least. Personally I think we ought to not drive down there once the evac is ordered. I will have to make that decision when the time comes I guess. Watching this new storm like a hawk. DH is worried about me having to drive down there with this.
Need More Food - My son is a special needs teenager. He has Joubert Syndrome, and I certainly worry about his safety in all this more than anyone else. So I will pray for your granddaughter.
Poppy - I called a few stores in town - feed and grain, etc. - asking about rain barrels, and they thought I was nuts. If you hear of anyone selling them in El Paso, can you give me a holler?
Nurses - I’m so thankful there are so many of you contributing posts.
Enough Already - I asked around and discovered that for El Paso the representative taking charge of the Bird Flu issue is our national congressman. I then called his office and asked to be invited to the next town meeting on the subject. A young man said they would e-mail me. Of course, after I started asking the young man some specific questions - will we have enough chlorine for the water, will we get our share of Tamiflu, etc. - he couldn’t get off the phone quickly enough. I think we’re going to discover that people who visit the Flu Wiki and other sites are more informed than many of our officials.
Enough Already - you have a great resource for veggies in your own back yard. Check out Froberg Vegetable & Fruit Farm. They also have a web site. I drive from Friendswood over there every Saturday morning.
For those of you near Houston, try Urban Harvest. This market is open Wednesday and Saturday and is located behind an office building just north of Richmond and Eastside. Sometimes they have lots of stuff and sometimes not. Mostly organic. Nice soaps and GREAT honey!
You can find retail veggie stands in the 3500 block of Airline and the 3100 block of Produce Row (that’s a street off Old Spanish Trail). Be very careful going to these areas alone - not good neighborhoods. Years ago when I lived in Conroe, my neighbors and I would coop veggies and go there once a month. Most of these places sell by the bushel.
I go to Farmer’s Market on Airline occasionally….Bluebonnet is right…don’t go alone. There was a bad fire about a year ago that destroyed a large section of the market. The anchor store is Camino’s, (no ac, so go early or on a “cool” day). They take cash and debit/credit cards only. You can buy by the pound (like the grocery) or in bulk. Lots of farmers bring their produce and you can buy off the truck, cash. Then there is the retail vendors that sell to the grocers. All produce is seasonal and mostly comes from the valley or across the border. I’ve never seen any organic.
Easy way to get there….take the Airline Exit off North 610 W close to I45. Follow the feeder. Traffic light at Airline. Turn left and go south about 2 blocks. You can’t miss it. I only know how to get there from the north via southbound 45. You can also go to the Airline Exit off I45 (near Gallery Furniture) and go south on Airline to get to it.
Hope this helps.
Does anyone in North Harris County know of an organic farmers market north of Tomball?
I’m smack in the middle of Dallas. I’ve been lurking for a while, but have only just started prepping. So far I’ve gotten a small solar panel to recharge itty bitty things like my cell phone and a radio, and about 2 weeks of prepackaged dried foods. Hardly anywhere near enough, but I’m trying to keep storage space requirements to a miniumum so my husband doesn’t start thinking I’ve turned into a pack rat ;)
I live in San Antonio and do not know anyone else who is prepping. When Levitt visited Austin our mayor did not attend as he had a prior commitment. I have called the health department and the mayors office several times to inquire about plans but they always act like I am a nut. I called and then emailed our homeowners association with absolutely no results. After numerous calls our water department did say they were formulating a plan. They could give me nothing specific. Two weeks ago while visiting my daughter-in-law and new grandson at one of our large hospitals I asked the nurses if there were any plans. The answer was NO. I have a friend who works at UT Health Science Center and nothing has even been mentioned. I called HEB management here to inquire about food shipments in a pandemic three times and they never returned my calls. I called both Red Cross offices and asked if they had any courses on caring for bird flu patients. They told me if it happens they will offer courses. I did read the Texas plan which I believe is useless. I cannot help but wonder if I am a nut case or everyone else is stupid. I hope I am a nut.
If anyone in the Houston area is lookin for water barrels ( I have purchased five 55 gallon water and one 30 gallon rain barrel) go to bayteccontainers.com They are friendly and easy to deal with. They lent a ton of great advice on storage and purification of water. Easy to find located down by the Kehma Boardwalk. They also sell Freeze dried foods. Just a heads up.
Howdy fellow Texans! Good to know ya’ll are out there.
zeta at 20:18 - good luck on that! My DH once exlaimed “OMG, now where are you going to put THAT?!?” and I just laughed and told him that it might be a good idea for him not to bend over any time soon or I might just have found a new place to hide some more stuff. Funny….he’s tended not to ask since then.
Grandma - my son is a Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy. In June or July they were briefed by Homeland Security and given bioterrorism/bird flu packs.
I agree with you about the Texas plan. Sounds good on paper but what are they going to DO besides “contact the local Health Dept.?”
As to your Homeowner’s Association, could you volunteer to make a presentation? I did TWICE and it has not really impacted anyone. I have chosen to concentrate on my street instead.
Our son and daughter live in San Antonio and, trust me, they are prepping but quietly. I think you might be surprised at how many folks are prepping.
I ride a van pool of 15 to work everyday in the Texas Medical Center. I brought up flu this morning and everyone on my van had heard about it. This may be because of where we work. Several people commented that they had heard FEMA say to prep for 30 days for a hurricane rather than the usual 72 hours.
All the nurses on my van said they would NOT work if there was pandemic flu. Scary thought, huh?
No, you are not a nutcase. Just get used to the “look.”
WIT - you are HILARIOUS! My DH finally got over this with Rita last year when his family came to stay. He is now on board 100%.
zeta - I finally got my husband on board with preps by not emphasizing bird flu. I focused more on hurricane, tornado and terrorism. Plus he loves “grocery shopping in my own home.”
Keep prepping!
Grandma - The Red Cross is going to offer classes once the Bird Flu hits? OMG. I don’t think we even need to comment on the absurdity of that.
Bluebonnet - I asked my cousin who works in administration at Baylor Health Center in Dallas whether or not she had received any information on Bird Flu. She said TPTB had been giving information, but because people were panicking they stopped. Again - ABSURD!
HL - absurd is RIGHT! This is insane.
North of Houston - the closest one I can think of is in Hempstead. See link below. They have AWESOME produce and are located on business 290.
Grandma-
I am a HCW in a large hospital in San Antonio. In May, we had a disaster drill which supposedly included a flu pandemic. I was not able to participate that day, and heard nothing about how it turned out. At the time, I suspected that the drill included a pandemic scenario because of the cluster in Karo. Just wishful thinking on my part. My manager knows nothing about AF, and knows nothing about a specific plan for our hospital. They all say we have a “disaster plan”, and they think that will cover all disasters. Many other nurses I work with say they will not work in pandemic. They have no confidence that they will be protected with PPE’s, etc. There are only 2–3 of us who are concerned about the probability of a pandemic, I mostly keep quiet now, because I get “The Look” when I bring it up and feel I am getting the reputation as a nut-case. I am quietly prepping. Even my close family think I am nuts. You are not the only one.
History Lover Thanks!!! Sending prayers your way also! Too funny IronMagnolia I know “The Look” well! Dh even gives me the look. I’ve been told not to mention it by others in the family so I don’t say anything any more.
Well I guess its not funny…I wonder if TSHF and they show up at my door will I just give them “The Look”!
need more food - I think that is the BEST use of “The Look.”
ironmagnolia - scary isn’t it? Basically my institution in the Texas Medical Center glopped the bird flu plan onto SARS and hurricane preparedness. For instance, they still use the term “ride out team” and “recovery team” for avian influenza.
Kinda have a feeling not too many HCWs are gonna be on the “ride out team” - don’t you?
Heya all:), Just moved into Dallas area myself as well:) Any ideas where to look for Dallas preparedness plans?
Back at ya Grimoire!
You should be able to pull it up on your County’s web site. Click on the link below.
Thanks Bluebonnet, Just what I was looking for (and should have found on my own lol…) Very appreciated :)
Ironmagnolia & Grandma: Howdy, neighbors! I’m in the SA area, too!
History Lover - The barrels I have located are actually in Louisiana. I know the guy told me he gets some of what he sells from the schools. The schools get them with juice in them. I’m hoping he can get me some soon as they should be just right for storing water. Still, checking with your area schools might be an option for getting barrels for water storage. Since you are near a military base you may also find some barrels sold as military surplus. Silenced Within - Thanks for the info on Bay Containers. I’ll check them out.
Poppy @ 23:11 - Thanks. Those are some good tips. By the way, could someone tell me what “DH” means? Is it “dedicated hubby” or “disgruntled harpie”?
DH = dear husband/hubby or it could mean damned husband depending on the poster;-) LOL at the disgruntled harpie!!
Last night I told my husband we didn’t have anything to eat so go and get us something!! He respoonded with what do you mean we don’t have anything to eat there is food all over the house, in every closet!!! I meant cooked food---he is still laughing. He is just soooo cute!!!!
Love Texas - LOL!! In my house, I MUST inventory what I have and where I have it - my DH has gotten a tad bit perturbed when he has to run to the store to get something we both know we have, but can’t find….
History Lover – at 11:16 Is it “dedicated hubby” or “disgruntled harpie”?
Laughing at that one! Probably safer I not awnser that question of late. He has his moments.
zeta – at 20:18 I was up in your neck of the woods yesterday. Some advice for anyone living in the D/FW area. Get out if you can. The air there is so putrid. Not at all good for the lungs, or for surviving a pandemic. I swear I’m going to be coughing it up for days. Hate to be so graphic but my asthma is mild and I can feel the burn today. At least make sure to get a pneumonia shot this fall. I’m glad to be back out here in the Piney woods. I told my husband when I got home last night do not ask me to move anywhere near Dallas/Fort Worth. The air looks like the Central Valley of California that we just moved away from. Brown.
Poppy - you outta be in Houston when the “air is rare.” We often place ahead of California on smog.
Yellow/brown air is YUCKY! Not to mention the smell of the refineries when the wind is from the East. How anything that smells that BAD cannot be bad for you, I don’t know.
For those of you who liked the term “disgruntled harpie”, I had a few other choice adjectives to use, but none of them were printable.
History Lover at 12:21 - I did like it, I can only imagine what others you came up with, and I have come up with a few of my own;-) Disfunctional Harlot was one of the printable ones.
Poppy - Dallas air was bad even 20 years ago. Does the pine pollen in East Texas bother you?
anon at 15:44 - oops, that was me, must have tossed my cookies!
Bluebonnet – at 10:56 Actually I get to Houston pretty regularly for my job but I’m usually there at night or early morning and just long enough to drop a crew off and get gone again. So Houston has not been a problem for me. I have heard the air in Houston is about the worst in the country so I avoid even getting out of the van if I can.
Watching in Texas – at 15:45 Actually since moving out here my asthma and allergies have been so much better that I’m quite happy to stay put. Maybe it’s just that I have not been through the local allergy season yet since we only got here in mid June. So far though my breathing has been so much better, that I feel better than I have in a long time and have more energy. I can actually take a deep breath here without wanting to choke. That hasn’t happened in years. But after just one day spent in the Ft Worth area I am still coughing and feeling the burn in my chest. I have to be there for several days this fall so I hope they get a good rain just before I go up there.
Folks I really hope this thread isn’t closed, because I enjoy hearing about what is happening in other parts of Texas. If you have something interesting, let us know. Sometimes I feel that I am the only one prepping in all of West Texas although my husband did tell me about someone he works with who is planning to take his family to the mountains and live off the land. Not an option for most of us.
I’m still here! I’m trying to work my way into a regional public health mtg being held here next month…topics at hand include ‘emerging zoonosis of interest’ and setting up DMORT teams(disaster mortuary teams for mass casualities).
It’s not open to the public but I’m hoping that I can talk them into letting me sit in by virtue of having volunteered to be part of a preparedness/emergency response program they’re trying to set up with local non-profits.
Other than that, I am reorganzing prep/food storage in a big way ~ a complete restructure ~ and prioritizing prep lists….in an attempt (not particularly successful, btw) to assuage the growing stress of having basically *zero* funds for prepping right now, but four daughters who make it seem all the more important to do so. :o(
I’m still around too History Lover! I wish I could take my family to the mountains and live off the land, but we’ll have to make do with what we got. My husband is from West Texas. His parents are still there and his mom is taking this threat very seriously since her mother almost died from the flu in 1918.
I also am still here, thinking of making a run into Austin today to go to Sam’s. I tried to buy flour at our local HEB 2 days ago, the shelves were empty except about 2 bags of all purpose, also I noticed all the large bags of pinto beans also sold out. I really hope this means people are starting to pay attention. I gave out my lists at a couple of the churchs last week…who knows… maybe someone took it seriously!
Thanks everybody. When I hear from you, I don’t feel so alone in this.
TXNurse - What lists did you give the churches? Is it from one of the Flu Wiki lists or your own? There are several churches within a stone’s throw of me and I could take some there.
Poppy posted an article about preparations in Lufkin on the news thread, and I’m trying to recreate it here but not having much luck. Anyway it’s http://tinyurl.com/rdfgk.
I’m still here, too. Just really busy at work these days. Not much going on prep wise.
Something for all of you:
A critical lesson for every islander
By Heber Taylor The Daily News
Published September 8, 2006
Most people who live in Galveston will look at the Gulf today and remember the 1900 Storm. If you have a sense of reverence for a place, you learn its history and commemorate its triumphs and tragedies.
Today, of course, is the anniversary of the great tragedy.
The storm on Sept. 8, 1900, killed more than 6,000.
More than a century later, the round number still stands. There never will be an accurate count of the dead. A wall of water rolled over the island. Many people simply vanished.
The survivors buried and burned the corpses of loved ones and strangers. Then, they began to rebuild.
The seawall is a testimony to the determination of people who would not be driven from their home.
Many islanders commemorate the day by telling stories that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Some are heartbreaking. The nuns who ran the orphanage tried desperately to comfort the children as the storm howled.
When it became obvious that the last building would collapse, the nuns tied the children to themselves with clothesline — eight or nine kids to each nun.
It was a sad, brave effort to save them.
Three little boys survived by hanging in a tree.
Some of the stories are ironic. When the storm passed, a Galveston matron was delighted to be alive but dismayed to find a drenched cow in her parlor.
In the days after the storm, though, the island was without food and water. The cow in the parlor fed her four little children.
Today, odds are you’ll hear some stories. It may not seem obvious, more than 100 years later, why it’s important to tell these stories and to listen to them. But it is.
Part of the process of becoming an islander is hearing and absorbing those stories, which are as much a part of the island as the beaches, the Strand and the historic houses.
People tell those stories — and listen to them — out of a sense of respect and reverence for this place.
Bluebonnet - Those are poignant stories of human survival. Whenever I teach the second part of American History, I include the Galveston Flood in my lecture on the Progressive Period. Historians have said that the plans the Texas Legislature instituted after the flood were constructive, because they were implemented by professionals in their fields, rather than politicians. I wonder if this is accurate and if it holds some hope for those who survive a pandemic.
Petticoat Junction - If you’re able to attend any of the workshops at the Regional Public Health Meetings, would you let us know what they’re saying. Or not saying.
History Lover - Thanks for posting the article here. My fuzzy brain couldn’t find the thread this morning. I did two trips to Houston yesterday and still have not got enough sleep yet. I’m sitting here actually hoping I don’t get called to work, at least not until morning. My job has me working very odd hours. I get on as often as I can. Sometimes I just read and lurk rather than post.
I was wondering if any of you who are in the Deep East Texas area would be interested in meeting? Maybe at a local library or some other place that could be sort of centrally for us. On the news thread for today someone posted that they have family here in Lufkin where I am who is aware but they don’t think they are prepping due to finances. Frankly my own family has tight finances also. Since we are new to the area I would welcome the chance to meet like minded people to share ideas on prepping and to gain knowledge of the area from others that might make prepping easier and more affordable, and share what I have learned. For me Kurth Library in Lufkin comes to mind as a good place.
Bluebonnet - I got to Houston twice yesterday. The first time around noon. First time I was there near mid-day. Wow! I could see what you meant. You could cut that air with a knife. I did not linger.
I’m around. My allergies are killing me right now so I’m fairly doped up on antihistamines.
History-Lover…it’s my list, let me know your email & I will send you one.
Bluebonnet – at 09:36
It’s been a long time since Froeberg’s has picked fresh fruit and vegetables in their fields. If you notice, out the big back door there’s tons of crates and boxes being hauled in from the valley. Sometimes the prices are good, but mostly I do better at Kroger’s and Stanton’s. I am looking for a real farmers market. Where the folks grow it themselves and sell it out of the back of their trucks kind of place. Basically, I’m hunting someplace reasonable enough to can or freeze or dehydrate the food very economically. Occassionally Froeberg will have sales on buckets of produce. And, I go there at least once a week after dropping my grandson off at Harby Jr High. (BTW, if you like deer sausage and deer meat… Stanton has the same thing sold at Froeberg… for more than half less the price. Stanton also has huge slabs of fresh meat.)
Silenced Within – at 07:10
Thanks for the info on freeze dried foods. What kind of stuff do they carry, and about what is the price range? Thanks.
History Lover – at 08:59
I am very frustrated with Texas and prepping for this thing. Two of my children work in the medical center, and they have asked all around … nobody is concerned at all. I hope they are right. I can think of a number of reasons why Texas, specifically Houston/Dallas/El Paso and all coastal regions, should be prepared-ready.
TXNurse – at 18:39
There is some meeting in Austin this month concerning pandemic prepardness. Do you know what I am talking about?
Does ANYBODY in the Houston and surrounding area have this cough & cold? It is working alive down in SE Houston area. It is just awful.
BlueBonnet: Did you notice the dairy across from Froeberg’s? Ever been there?
Sorry, I’ve never posted here before..I just lurk very frequently. I’m also a Texas nurse here in the Houston Medical Center. (I think that I may work in the same hospital that Bluebonnet works in judging from the things that she has said). I’ve been prepping for about 3 or 4 months. Not really very impressed with our hospital’s bird flu plan…Nice to know that there are other Texans and Houstonians here.
RNbmom – at 00:41
welcome! Glad you are posting! Honestly, I haven’t talked to one person working in a hospital or clinical situation that has much of a BF plan. Have you? Sort of unnerving.
RNbmom - welcome!
Yes, I sent a questions TWICE to Inside Line and absolutely NO response to date. I am told by my administration they are “working on it.” BAH!!!
EnoughAlready - yes, I have noticed the dairy and no I haven’t been but want to. I also am frustrated about the lack of a true farmers market nearby. I sometimes go to a very tiny one in High Island. BUT the ferry wait times determine whether I go or not.
I can tell you that 2 institutions have now placed all their folks on the essential list. This includes purely administrative folks as well as medical staff. Interesting, no?
Poppy - told ya! When the wind is from the East some mornings the smell of refineries on my way to work is just overpowering! Can’t be good for anyone.
HistoryLover - I posted the Galveston Storm reminder in the hopes that all of us would take heart and know that there were survivors. I am truly hoping that if/when this terrible disease comes here, we can emulate those courageous folks.
I lived in Galveston during the 100th anniversary. The orphanage was located where the Walmart is today. The story of the nuns has always sent chills down my back. How terrible it must have been for them to know they were totally alone, no hope of rescue. That’s why in a desperate attempt to save those poor children they tied the children to themselves. Of course, they had no way of knowing that, ultimately, this would doom them all.
Poppy - As to prepping on limited finances, I found this on another site that I read.
$45 Emergency Menu for 4 to 6
She has a good menu plan and a complete list of prep ingredients including amounts. She also includes “daily work” so you can get organized and have some of these foods pre-prepared for the next day. Hope this helps!
Keep prepping!
Bluebonnet: hmmmmmm, that is interesting… about the 2 institutions “essential list.”
Poppy: Where are you in prepping? If I was just starting, here is what I would do. Bleach, soap, water (containers- do it myself), OTC meds (benadryl, expectorant, advil & tylenol type stuff, rubbing al & hydrogen peroxide, triple antibiotic creme, multi vitamins), and toliet paper. Food: ramen noodles, rice, beans, canned fruit and vegetables, powder milk. Most of all these items can be purchased from dollar tree, dollar general, family dollar, BigLots, etc, relatively cheap. Even if it is one bottle of bleach this pay check, and a big bag of pintos next paycheck… eventually it starts accumulating. You may also check with food banks and churches… often you can get stuff that way because most every city has some small program… even if it is a one-time deal.
I will also mention this: You build meals around some simple ideas. I can build a lot of soups, stews, chowders and cassaroles just by changing ingredients and consistency around. For example, from nearly the same ingredients I can make a nutritious and caloric sufficient set of meals. Let’s take a can of tomatoes, & some dry red beans. I can make minestrone soup, or red beans and rice, or red chili stew, or burritos, or chili, or red beans with spaghetti (for complete protein.) The thing is to try to thing of how many ways you can create around a specific item, and make it tasty plus nutritious. Because beans are inexpensive and easy to store and easy to help build a complete protein, I start there. We could do the same thing using white beans - how many different kinds of meals can I make from those. Not just beans… but thinking soup, etc. How many ways can I create different soups that are economical, and nutritious. If I have 50 pounds of pintos and some basic other stuff… I can create a whole lot of different nutritious meals. If you think about it, people from every country and culture have always done this. That’s why we have so many versions of stews. Another example would be cajun cooking. I can tell you it is different from other cooking… but only in the ingredients used. It still comes down to soup, stew, and casseroles made by what was on hand. Gumbo— may have some traditional basic ingredients, but anybody growing up in Louisiana will tell you--- Gumbo is made from whatever mama had on hand. (Of course the most basic ingredient was the making of the roux. But even that… variance in the color of the roux, or degree it is browned, determines if you’ve got jambalya, ettoufe, gumbo, etc.) I hope this helps. You can build a whole lot of meals with very similar ingredients simply by changing some ingredients around and by the way you cook it! Good Luck, Poppy!
Bluebonnet – Yes, the site of the air in Houston makes me appreciate living up here in the woods. These trees may be too skinny to be much good for shade but the air sure is cleaner.
Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out. I’ve also been saving some of the recipes from the canned and dry foods thread here on FluWiki. Brookshire Brothers is also good about regular sales on canned goods so I have learned to really watch their ads. I just wish I had not let my Costco membership lapse and had not bothered with Sam’s Club. Costco has better buys than Sam’s. I wish we had them here in Lufkin instead.
A Draft of the Texas Department of State Health Services Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan, dated October 24, 2005, can be seen by going to the following link.
News Reports for Sept 9 (here at fluwiki) lists news sources for Pandemic preparation by city of Lufkin, which includes 35 counties in Regions 4 & 5. Angelina County, headed by Lufkin Health District Director, Sharon Shaw and her staff. spearheaded this program to prepare the region for the thread of a pandemic.
WAHOO!! I am so going to call my health department about this… and Sharon Shaw to commend her for stepping up to the plate and taking the lead!
Just thought y’all would wanna know this…
TXNurse - My e-mail is jerebishopfranco@aol.com. Please put Flu Wiki in the Subject Line or I might not get it. Thanks so much.
Bluebonnet - I’m going to add that story about the nuns to my lecture segment on the Galveston Flood. It’s not very long, and the personal touch always gets students’ attention. And they should know the sacrifices that people make in times of crisis. Hopefully I will get to teach again in the future.
Enough Already - I ditto that feeling of frustration. The medical profession should be taking the lead, and most of them aren’t. I did get into the El Paso City-County Health Preparedness website, and they did hold a Pandemic Awareness Seminar in March (that was before I had become aware of the seriousness of the situation), but I haven’t heard anything since then. They did have a lot of participation (even including agencies from Albuquerque), but they said nothing about personal preparedness. There was a number I can call, and I will do that on Monday to see what they are doing now.
Sharon Shaw should be commended for steping up to the plate and taking a proactive role in this fight. I wonder do we have something like a Citizen of the year award here in Lufkin? If so she deserves it. Sure she is just doing her job but that is beside the issue. Lots of people in the medical profession see the data and fail to see the threat to the public health. She sees it thank goodness.
When I went to the Texas Pandemic Conference last spring there were several very intellignet people from Lufkin there - from public health, retired physican, and private sector. I remember because two of them were in my workshop group. One man mentioned that they had just gone through Katrina and Rita and a lot of people evidently traveled north - spoke about communication problems - no cell phone service for several days - displaced persons not accounted for, and told of how old fashioned HAM RADIO was their only way of communication for over one day. I’m glad they took this very seriously.
so… what are they planning to do, centex? I read somewhere that a similar type meeting is planned in Austin in September. Do you know anything about that?
Lufkin was overwhelmed by an influx of people during Rita. They were totally unprepared for the barrage of evacuation traffic that swarmed in on them.
Centex - now if we could just get them to ‘rub off’ on McLennan, Bell, Hill, Coryell, Bosque, etc..!
Petticoat Junction - I remember reading on the Flu Prep thread that money for preps was fairly tight for your family and I thought I would pass along some information. Walgreens has some canned goods on sale for 39 cents, with a coupon. There is a limit of 3 cans. I don’t remember everything - but the ones that I got are pork and beans, sliced pineapple, mushrooms and mandarin oranges. I don’t know if there is a Walgreens close to you, but maybe there is another store that runs the same kind of ads - CVS for example. Hope the info helps!
WIT, thanks so much for thinking of us. I really appreciate it. :o) There is a Walgreens very near me (right across the street from the CVS, lol) and I was looking at the coupons last night and adding them up…but couldn’t come up with $10 to go over. I was planning on reassessing this morning and seeing if I could squeak out $5; I think I can pull that one off. (sigh) Pineapple, mushrooms, and oranges would all be welcome little luxuries for the kiddos (and their parents!). The 39 cent spices, Jiffy mixes (another ‘treat’ for us) and latex house-cleaning gloves were on my short list, too.
I’m hoping for birthday money next week so I can keep prepping, lol. Thankfully my parents are coming on board with all of this so if I ask for a crank radio they won’t think I’ve gone off the deep end. ;o)
Petticoat Junction - Hey, even $5 worth of canned goods helps! I forgot about the spices, that was a really good deal - and spices have gotten really expensive. I have been doing this for a while now and sometimes I am amazed at how much a can here and a box there has helped. The important thing is that you are doing something and you are doing that something now. Also, when you have a little more money - our Walgreens has packages of cookies (the little individually packaged sandwich cookies) for $1. My kids like them and I thought it might be a welcome treat. They also have the packages of wafer type cookies with creme filling for $1. I have gotten several good deals at Walgreens. Hang in there and just keep at it - slow and steady wins the race - or so I hope, since I still have a ways to go;-)
Poppy - I hope you folks do get to meet. I know that you’ll come up with some great ideas. Wish I could be there too.
I’m way north in the panhandle! No preparations here. What’s Bird Flu?????? I’m a public library director up here and I have added a number of books on pandemics and bird flu to the collection. I will have to see if anyone is checking them out. Any other preppers way up here?
Also, saw this this morning:
Hand gel kills bird flu virus and Indonesian update Disease/Infection News Published: Monday, 11-Sep-2006
A company in the UK has come up with a hand gel which has the ability to kill the H5N1 bird flu virus in under a minute. The gel which could be on the market by the end of the year, has been developed for the prevention of the disease among health workers, consumers and agricultural workers and kills the virus within 30 seconds.
The London based company DermaSalve Sciences, makes products for treating dry skin, and says the gel remains active for 30 minutes after it is applied.
DermaSalve’s chief executive Dr. Mark Randle, says the company will begin manufacturing the product next month and is already involved in commercial discussions with various companies regarding the sale of the gel.
Experts say other products already on the market such as soaps, sprays and other gels that claimed to kill all germs may also have the ability but have not been tested for this particular type of bacteria or virus.
As one expert says until it is known which specific strain of bird flu has the potential to cause a pandemic, the gel could well be useless.
The news of the gel comes as Indonesia has embarked on a campaign to educate people, especially in rural areas, on how to avoid their poultry becoming infected.
Almost all Indonesia’s small-scale farmers have seen their flocks decimated by the deadly virus and many now have only a small number of birds to supplement the family income.
Since bird flu first appeared in Indonesia in 2003, it has spread to 29 out of the country’s 33 provinces, and resulted in the deaths of millions of birds, and at least 48 humans.
It is thought there are as many as 30 million “backyard farmers” spread across Indonesia’s vast territory and it is these that present such a problem to health authorities in controlling outbreaks of the virus.
With the backing of international organisations, specialist teams of vets are being sent in to rural areas where there is little information about how bird flu spreads, to provide education and rapid response and surveillance.
This however has only been implemented in just nine of Indonesia’s 29 affected provinces and officials say more funding is needed to fight bird flu.
The government has also launched a campaign on radio and television to try and get the message across and has increased the amount of compensation it will pay to farmers who cull sick birds and has provided quicker access to the money paid.
Government plans to vaccinate bird stocks have also been hampered by finance and the Agriculture Ministry has only been able to buy 60 million doses of the vaccine, for the 300 million chickens in Indonesia.
Although International donors have pledged around $50m next year to help Indonesia fight bird flu, the government says it needs more than $350m to carry out its National Plan, but by cutting its own contribution, Indonesia has deterred international organisations from generating donations.
According to John Weaver, a senior technical advisor with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation in Jakarta, other major problems in Indonesia such as tsunamis, earthquakes and malaria, make bird flu a low priority event in some provinces.
All this serves to make bird flu experts nervous that if Indonesia’s problem is not addressed it could become a global one.
MLBIT (Medical Librarian Back In Texas) – at 13:58
What’s bird flu??????????? And you said all that! I’m guessing you were being sarcastic. ;)
Anyway, welcome! So, what are the books that you have placed in your library?
History Lover Thanks. I hope we can get some folks together. I think it would benefit all of us one way or another. So How about it East Texans? Should we try to set up an informal prep meeting group or a few? I’m willing to travel an hour.
I’m in east texas too.. just south of Lufkin. I havent posted alot but i’m a daily lurker. No one i know is even remotely interested in bird flu, mention it and you get the eye roll.so i dont mention it much anymore..
Poppy--- what’s 1 hr south of lufkin? (Tryin to figure how far that makes it I’d have to travel.)
Long thread closed for length and continued here