Is anyone here from Indiana? Do you know anyone else prepping in your area?
I’m from Indiana. The only other person I know who is prepping is my sister.
Published: May 16, 2006 12:05 pm
Dead birds in Odon area worry veterinarian
By Patricia Morrison, News Editor
ODON — An Odon veterinarian wasn’t sure what to make of all the dead birds on his land, but when more were found Monday on other area farms he began to worry.
“At first I thought it was West Nile Virus or bird flu,” Edward Borter, DVM, said. He was especially concerned as the county recently received confirmation of its first human case of West Nile.
The birds in question are Purple Martins, which are dying in “massive numbers,” according to Borter.
On his farm alone he found dead birds around all of his seven boxes, each of which contain 12 houses for the birds.
On opening one of the boxes from which a dead bird was protruding, Borter found 11 dead Martins in the box. He also found the eggs had been pushed out of the nests.
Borter was able to catch a live sick bird and plans on sending it to Purdue University or the state Board of Health to try and determine the problem.
Purple Martins are normally not overly affected by West Nile, according to Borter. After studying the dead birds, he has concluded they are young birds that have migrated to the area and he thinks they may have starved to death.
“The rain and cold have left us with no insects,” he said. “Martins can eat up to 2,000 insects a day.”
Their main meal is mosquitoes, according to Borter, and their deaths may make this year’s West Nile Virus problem even greater.
He is reminding residents to wear gloves when dealing with dead birds and to place them in a container if they are bringing them to there veterinarian or the local health department for examination.
http://www.washtimesherald.com/local/local_story_136120558.html
Michiana prepper. One foot in Indiana, the other in Michigan. I know of no other local preppers.
Leslie I don’t know anyone that is prepping either. I have tried to talk with freinds, family, and neighbors but I get THAT LOOK when ever I bring it up. I will just keep on prepping, watching, and waiting.
The look that really gets to me is the one that says “Bird Flu???”
I know that look very well.
I have friends that have NO idea what I am talking about.
Hi!
My #1 daughter and her 5 year old, live in Ft. Wayne. We lived there before ending up here. I think Ft. Wayne is starting to really prepare. #1 said that there are plans to house 30,000 patients at the Memorial Coliseum. The school districts are looking at TV school and there is talk the different districts would somehow start a school co-op, to pay.
My daughter and grandaughter go to a lung specialist and he is putting away medications for his patients. He has apparently ordered it, little by little, himself. He does deal with the sickest “lung” patients.
This is far more, than I’m seeing here, in KY. They plan to send the nursing home residents “home” for several days, to free up hospital beds. Several days? This flu could be around for 18 months! I don’t see any plan here! You can’t send nursing home residents “home.” That is their home and they may already be infected or sick. If family memebers would take them “home,” they also, could be infected. Who would take care of them? These patients already need nursing care.
We were told they didn’t expect the wild birds to spread bf to the domestic flocks here. At our summit, no one gave any info. on what signs to look for if your birds were becoming sick, nor what to do if they were. I have contacted our State Agriculture Dept. and they don’t seem to believe all this. They have offered to send the State Vet for a visit. Back to the Amish!
We were told the virus could live “hours.” Well I guess that is accurate…six days computes into 144 hours. However, I believe that the average person leaving that summit would feel that several hours after an infected person touched something, it would be free and clear of the virus.
We were told to put away several days worth of food and maybe a bottle of antibacterial handwash.
My daughter did say she would love “preps” for Christmas. I’m not sure what my little grandaughter will think of the powdered sour cream and cans of gatorade, wrapped in Christmas paper. TeeHee! Once my daughter starts doing some prepping, I’m sure her close friends will also. You know how that works…”the pack mentality!”
I really miss Indiana!!
About a million years ago I was an ICU nurse at Methodist, and later at Wishard. The units were always full. To make room for a new patient, we would transfer someone out. That was back in the good ol days. IMHO there is no way any Indiana hospital that I know of could handle a surge of ten ICU patients, over and above the normal ICU load. We run too thin as it is. I don’t think Indiana is any different than most other states. It keeps me up at night.
Leslie in the southern part of the State (Vandanberg County). They are just now starting to have meetings. No one in the meetings is really taking it seriously kind of going through the motions. I am the only one prepared that I know of and you are right you can not talk about as every one thinks you are nuts. I will protect my family as that is all I can do.
Hi 1Mother, after our late evening connection the other night about our children, I think it’s interesting to find out that your #1 daughter lives only four hours from me! I feel kind of uncomfortable getting too detailed, I don’t want to name my small town, sorry. However, next week I am meeting with the local optomists (sp?) club and they have invited myself and the state Board of Health reps for our town to this luncheon to discuss questions about BF. They were very happy to come, I understand. I guess my job, according to my friend that invited me, is to ask the pertinent questions and not let them blow off the situation and pat the club on the head and say everything will be fine.
It’s good to see Indiana on the fluwikie list! The LDS church has a storehouse/cannery in Indianapolis where you can go to drypack and purchase supplies in bulk. If you choose to try it, you gotta try the “Mormon potatoes” my friends call them. They are dried potato pearls and taste heavenly. I have never liked instant potatoes, but these are terrific.
Oops, my bad—I must be more tired than I realized. Mom11, I am sorry for mistaking your post to be from 1Mother. Just ignore me tonight :)
I was beginning to think I was the only person in this state who was paying attention! Having been on the receiving end of blank stares and rolling eyes when the subject is brought up, I have given up on Flu Evangelism. In this area people seem to eat for entertainment …there are some really big citizens ‘round here. Now, it would seem that with the number one recreational activity about to undergo a bit of realignment if this thing goes H2H, there would be mad prepping. Not so. Grocery carts are still full of Cokes, Ding-Dongs, Suzie Qs and HOHOs. Frozen pizza and hot dogs appear to be the mainstay of dinner items. There may be two or three days worth of food in most carts I have seen. Very little in the way of dried or canned foods are being purchased, most of it needing freezing or refrigeration. In my opinion there are two ways this could go. First, there could be mass starvation if we are without food delivery for a while. Conversely, when it is all over we may find that those who emerge from the ashes are bigger than before and survived on a stash of Little Debbie’s and Pepsi.
cinnamongirl- I agree. There may be a lot of farm land in Indiana, but frozen pizza rules the common grocery cart. I have started picking up some small exercise toys (a mat, hand weights, bosu ball, etc.) as a part of my prep supplies; I feel they are as important as granola bars.
Purdue had a state meeting a few months ago, not that I could have attended, it was by invitation only, but, if anyone in Indiana hears of something, please post it here, if I can go, I will.
Leslie- Good thinking! If we are all at home for 18 months, we had better be exercising something more than our mouth muscles. At the end of the tunnel, if we survive, we will need to be as fit as possible in order to get on with life and do what needs to be done. As for the Indiana specific news, I haven’t heard of any more private or public meetings however I keep tabs on what is happening by signing up for Google news alerts “Indiana Pandemic Flu”, I usually get about three or so emails a day. Hope this helps!
Oops, I forgot to add this url for Indiana’s flu website. http://tinyurl.com/lukwv
“Hoosier business executives will gather Thursday morning in Carmel to hear from experts and discuss how Indiana companies can prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic.” Not a lot of info yet, the little voice over states that businesses are aware and “nobody is laughing anymore” when the subject is brought up. This is a step in the right direction, hopefully we will hear the results of the meeting as well.
“Hoosier business executives will gather Thursday morning in Carmel to hear from experts and discuss how Indiana companies can prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic.” Not a lot of info yet, the little voice over states that businesses are aware and “nobody is laughing anymore” when the subject is brought up. This is a step in the right direction, hopefully we will hear the results of the meeting as well. http://tinyurl.com/lxkr2
Oh boy, sorry about the double post! Thought I caught it before I sent it sans URL. Can one of the Mods delete this?
I took my daughter to school this morning and we stopped by the gas station to pick up coffee. On my way out, the South Bend Tribune caught my eye. At the top of the page in big bold letters read, Officials: Deadly flu pandemic inevitable. I bought a copy.
I didn’t read the story because I gave the newspaper to my daughter to take for Current Events today. I figured I would check out the story online but the newspaper hasn’t been updated online yet.
After clicking on the image I see that the story is available, but only to those with an online subscription. I’ll have to read it when my daughter gets home.
To all the Preppers in Indiana, you can go to WWW.gfs.com to see if you have a GFS store in your area. This store carries canned meat, (Hamburger, Pot Roast, Chicken etc) and lots of good stuff for the pantry. We have one in the south of the State and I visit it weekly then I go to Sam’s to fill it out.
This coming Tuesday, I am attending a luncheon of the Optimists club. They have invited members from the local Board of Health to ask pertinent question re BF. I have been invited to attend to be the one to ask the “pertinent” questions. I am hoping to gain some info. about our community preps at this luncheon.
We are from a small town located in south central Indiana,North Vernon to be exact. My family has been preparing for a few months now,and have a few friends and family doing the same. Most people here seem to think all will be well and won’t be that serious.I hope they are right,BUT I would rather be ready and self sufficient than be sorry.The only way to assure you have what you need is to rely on noone but yourself!As with most families these days we live check to check and money is always tight,you have to ask yourself what is more important…that new cd you’ve been wanting or perhaps necessaties such as food and water.Ways of saving…use coupons if you can,watch for what is on sale at your local grocery stores,alot of towns have dollar chain stores you can get spices,vitamins and alot of your everyday needs there.I hope there are more people in our area out there, it is a hard subject to adress.P.S.Remember to rinse out you milk jugs and store them. Good luck to all.
On Tuesday the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health organized a pandemic flu drill. This is one volunteers experience: http://tinyurl.com/k2wcf Any comments?
“Health commissioner says drill was a success”
The beautiful thing about drills is the ability to find weaknesses in areas that may never have been thought of and to identify problems not previously considered. As stated in the article, “Some questions or issues still needing attention include:
♦How many doctors in the community would be available to work at a mass-treatment center at Memorial Coliseum and for how long?
♦Does the coliseum have the capability for patients who can’t breathe on their own to use ventilators?
♦A communications system to connect patients with their families outside the treatment center should be developed.(A very good point in my opinion, the stress of pandemic along with people being reported missing when they are actually at a facility could quickly overwhelm the systems in place.)
♦What are the costs that state or federal government entities will cover? For example, if Citilink is used to transport patients, who will pay?
♦What protective gear, particularly type of masks, should health workers use?
♦On any given day, what is the average number of open beds available in Fort Wayne hospitals?
♦How will media receive regular updates, and what will be the availability of key health and safety officials to media?”
The newsnow headline site had a story today (from WISH Tv yesterday) about a pandemic conference in Marion County. Health department official Virginia Cain said the county is required to supply prophylactic medication to all residents within 48 hours. There are 800,000 residents, and the Health Dept. is planning to involve all kinds of local ngo’s in the plan. BUT she called the medication a vaccine! There was no mention of the county having a supply of any med nor the fact that there can’t be a supply of actual VACCINE for ANY residents (let alone ALL) for 9–12 months after pandemic starts. If we’re lucky.
Maybe if a few people called the reporter, Anthony Ponce, he would do a follow-up story?
Jane- Thanks for keeping an eye on Indiana. My daughter had surgery last week and I noticed your post on the news thread. Health-science reporters really need a better understanding of “prophylactic medication” and “vaccine”. I live in the northern part of the state and several months ago when we had our summit, the local write-up just seemed to miss the point. There was a quote from one community leader, then a quote from another, but never any “real” information regarding pandemic influenza and not one word on individual preparedness.
Covering Greene County Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Local News
Behind-the-scenes preparedness work already under way By Nick Schneider, ASSIGNMENTS EDITOR
Behind-the-scene preparedness was stressed by panelists and presenters who participated in Greene County’s second of four scheduled pandemic avian or bird flu informational meetings staged Tuesday night at the First Baptist Church in Bloomfield.
A sparse crowd was on hand to hear a group of representatives from a host of local health care and emergency preparedness organizations tell what they are doing to prepare for an anticipated pandemic outbreak in the United States - and more importantly, here in the county.
Representatives from the Greene County Health Department, Greene County General Hospital, Greene County Home Health Care, Purdue Extension Service, Greene County Emergency Management Agency, Greene County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Partnership and the Indiana State Department of Health-Office of Preparedness and Emergency Response are working together to put a “common sense” plan in place to ensure the safety of local residents, according to Andrea Alltop, who serves as Greene County Public Health Preparedness Coordinator.
“We hope through this that it will help prepare individuals, families, workplaces,” she said.
Other informal informational town hall meetings are slated for July 18 at Eastern Greene High School cafeteria and on Aug.17 at the Jasonville Senior Citizen Center. Both meetings will start at 7 p.m.
A slide presentation compiled by Greene County Health Officer Dr. Fred Ridge M.D. was moderated by Greene County Public Health Nurse Marilyn Crays.
Dr. Ridge was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
Crays noted that an estimated 150 million people died worldwide during Spanish flu outbreak of 1918–1919 - more people than any other illness in the history of the world during a similar time period. The disease took about six months to spread all the way around the world and had death rate 25 times higher than the previous epidemics.
The majority of people who died during that pandemic were in the 18- to 40- year-old range.
Other similar influenza epidemics have occurred in the 20th century on a small scale - the Asian flu in 1957–1958 and the Hong Kong flu in 1968–1969. There was also the Swine flu scare in 1976 and 1977.
In a typical flu-season about 36,000 die in the United States alone, she said.
Crays said currently world health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 type virus now going across eastern Asia and other countries represents a significant threat to human health. That’s the reason there is a global alert and a pandemic outbreak is expected.
“It’s going to occur. We just don’t know when,” Crays stated.
The H5N1 virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic because:
€ It is especially virulent and causes a severe infection.
€ It is generally spread by migratory birds like geese and ducks.
€ It can be transmitted from birds to mammals and in some limited circumstances to humans.
€ Like other influenza viruses, it continues to evolve.
Since 2003, a growing number of human H5N1 cases have been reported in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. More than half of the people infected with the H5N1 virus have died. Most of these cases are all believed to have been caused by exposure to infected poultry. There has been no sustained human-to-human transmission of the disease, she said.
The county health nurse said that pandemics are classed in six phases and she believes the United States is in the third phase or the “alert” period at the present time.
Public health experts predict that a pandemic-type avian or bird flu outbreak could claim 100 million lives in a worst case scenario. The disease was first reported in 2003 and there have been 115 confirmed human cases and 55 deaths to date.
Crays stressed there have been no substantiated human to human transmission of the virus.
Greene County General Hospital’s director of infection control Cheryl Corbin may have had the best advice of the night when she said “Don’t panic, use common sense.”
She stressed the importance of proper hand washing techniques and sanitizing with a product that is 98 percent alcohol based.
Corbin added, “We need to teach people to wash their hands when they are not visibly soiled.”
The rinsing of fruits and vegetables purchased at the store before consumption is also very important, she said.
Corbin also noted that the bird flu or avian flu is not an air-borne virus, but rather a droplet virus that falls to the ground in about three feet. Thus, it is spread by droplet contact so covering your mouth when coughing or nose when sneezing is essential to stop its spread.
Greene County General Hospital assistant administrator Randy Padgett said behind the scenes planning and purchasing of supplies is already underway at his facility.
Padgett admitted that staffing will be a problem if the pandemic hits as expected, but the hospital has contingency plans to be able to function and provide essential health care services.
He pointed out that a large scale outbreak could require the hospital to establish and off-site medical facility and also to re-configure the current 25-bed hospital to accommodate many more patients. The facility formerly was certified for 76-beds and Padgett said plans are in place to expand the present capacity if the outbreak strikes.
The hospital spokesman also noted that the virus hits the patient’s respiratory system hard and many times ventilators are required to be used in treatment. GCGH does not use ventilators on a frequent basis and probably only has two or three of the units in the hospital.
As a precaution, he said the hospital has begun to stockpile a quantity of disposable respirators that can aid patients, if they are stricken with pneumonia-like symptoms associated with the pandemic flu.
“There’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes to prepare,” Padgett said. “If this event does break out, its’ going to create some great challenges for us.”
Greene County Emergency Management Director Roger Axe offered a host of common sense tips in warding off the disease including:
€ Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Exercise and get proper amounts of rest to keep your immune system functioning.
€ Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to also enhance your immune system.
€ Start to stockpile over-the-counter medications and toilet paper - accumulating a 30-day supply if possible.
€ Observe good sanitation practices like hand washing and sanitizing when coming in contact with items that are touched by the hands like door knobs and shopping carts. Axe said he will soon be encouraging Greene County offices to have hand sanitizers available for employees.
Most importantly, Axe noted, “If you are sick, stay at home. Don’t go out and infect other people.”
One of the presenters was Ed Borter, who operates the Odon Veterinary Clinic. Borter serves as a volunteer on an Indiana Board of Animal Heath Surveillance Emergency Response Team (ASERT).
The ASERT teams are called upon in the event of an animal health emergency in the state. The ASERT teams consist of veterinarians from across the state, equipped with technology and knowledge to respond in any type of animal health emergency, be it a natural or a bio-terrorism disaster. Sixty veterinarians have volunteered to become a part of the ASERT program. These veterinarians are divided into 11 teams, grouped by their geographic locations throughout the state. Teams are trained in all the aspects of emergency response including incident command and agriculture bio-terrorism.
The group is active in tracking all types of livestock diseases.
“As a Board of Animal Health, we are well organized,” Borter stated.
Borter said poultry, horses and swine are especially susceptible to flu-like diseases and mutation of the viruses makes it difficult to treat with vaccines.
He said if the pandemic flu strikes as experts predict, then local flocks of turkeys and other poultry would likely be exterminated in a very short period of time to assist in stopping the spread of the virus.
Borter said testing for H5N1 virus is already underway at area processing plants like Perdue Farms in Washington.
“We’re making plans to identify every farm so if a cow or something comes up with a problem, then within 48 hours we’ll know exactly where it’s at or where it’s gone,” he said. “That’s one of the things the veterinary profession is doing to have this under control.”
Borter in ‘tongue and cheek’ fashion drew plenty of laughs when he looked at the other panelists and noted, “You guys have all scared me to death. I’m going to use some common sense. I’m not going to panic, but I going to Jim Ray Cave (if the pandemic flu hits) and I hope none of you know where it’s at. I don’t want you to come to Jim Ray Cave (near Ridgeport) - stay away from there.”
Oops, forgot to post the url for the above post: Here you go: http://tinyurl.com/ztges They acutally offered some practical advice at this meeting, stockpiling meds and all. It’s a good sign that this is being taken seriously.
Wow, there are other northern hoosiers that are prepping! North central IN here….like Leslie said “one foot in MI and one in Indiana.
I was beginning to wonder if there were other Hoosiers prepping. Have felt a bit like the only prepping “nut case” in the state. I’m in Howard County. Here most folks thing “It’s just the flu”, no biggie. Any other Hoosiers around? Where are you located?
I’m from Grant County, right next to mj. Only 2 friends have any real concern about BF, and even they are not prepping very seriously yet. Other family and friends think I’m overreacting, but as an old Boy Scout, “Be Prepared”!
Hi Jim, are the Amish in your area yet? They seem to be spreading to the south and east of my area. They are great source for preps. Lots of bulk food stores and old school hardware items and methods in use around here (north central IN).
bump
bk Not yet, but I go to Shipshewana each spring for the trout season opener and visit Yoder’s and a bulk food store (can’t remember the name) on the East side of 5 in Shipshewana. I’m about 1.5 hours south of Shipshewana. They have a unique way of life, and I’m sure will be well prepared no matter what happens. Whereabouts are you located? Jim
I’m in Hamilton County, northeast of Indianapolis. I’ve convinced a couple of people to prep; unfortunately, not my extended family. They think I’ve gone “over the top.” Any preppers in my area?
Hi all! My air-conditioning went out during the worst of the heat this week. My house was roasting. As part of my preps I had purchased three inflatable beds for overflow guests. I inflated them and slept on the floor of the basement with my kids. I have to say that it really wasn’t that bad. I am guessing that the air space of the mattress conducted the cool from the concrete floor, or maybe it was just the cooler temps in the basement, but it seemed like the bed itself was cooler than a traditional bed. Whatever the reason, it is good to remember if we lose electricity when TSHTF. My beds are designed for camping and inflate via a rechargeable battery device. One of the beds has been inflated for several months now and is still firm enough to sleep on.
bump
Jim, I’m west of Shipshewana about 40 minutes. I know the exact store you’re talking about, I can’t remember the name either but have done plenty of buying there.
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I went to Tipton County’s prep meeting (one or two) on Tuesday night. They said prep for six weeks. Such an improvement on “3days”. Only about 50 people there. They were having another one tonite held further south, but I had to work. The main speaker was from the IN board of Health. She was good.
I have had a good week. Got some more prepping done. And got my mental attitude improved a lot. I was so concerned that no one in my area/life was prepping. I started talking more, one on one, with friends about a month ago. Two friends had the deer in the headlights/don’t tell me attitude and I dropped it with them, but talked and gave websites to others. This week each person I’d talked to spoke up and said they were prepping. And the two “leave me alone” friends, well I tried again with one, and she said she didn’t remember the previous talk (she’d had a bad couple of months.) She heard me this time and is prepping. The other one was taken in hand by another friend I spoke with and is prepping. The real chuckle came when one person went to spread the word to their family and was politely told “look here” and there were two closets full of preps already. There are more preppers out there than we knew. Each one teach one. Friends at work are listening more now too. Helps that TV has “ads” about being prepared. Even had friends go with me to a prep meeting - and one had son and dnl show up too. Dnl heard the message loud and clear and is onboard now too. Wheeee! Lots of negative news out there, but nice to have good news sometimes. Best news of all was my daughter appears to have heard me and is now prepping. I hope we all have time.
mj- I am glad things are better for you. This week I am getting two of my kids settled at IUB and bringing them many of my older preps (college kids eat anything). I don’t usually eat a lot of canned foods and it is hard to rotate in canned goods when we have fresh corn on the cob and tomatoes locally.
Sorry that was me, I forgot I am using a hotel computer.
I’m starting to see prime time commercials put out by the IN Dept. of Health recommending individual pandemic flu preps. Saw it for the first time last night on NBC.
Signing in from Vigo County, just east of the Illinois border, about the middle (North/South) of the state. I loved the posts about the hoho’s and twinkies, and the really large Hoosiers! Eating out does seem to be the number 1 form of entertainment! Probably because there isn’t much else to do! It’s too hot in the summer to be outside unless you’re in water (and there’s very few lakes) and then in the winter there’s not enough snow to have winter sports. We’ve only lived here for six years—originally hailing from MI—and my family has thrived. However, there are a few shortcomings that I am comfortable with because the benefits have outweighed the negative factors :) And, I know a few other preppers, but not many.
I wrote to Indiana’s senators, the governor and some others to ask them to demand the release of the sequences from CDC. Senator Lugar was the only one who responded with a personal letter as opposed to one of those form letters . . .”We received your mail” and that’s it. Senator Lugar contacted the CDC about the issue (as he said he would) and then wrote me back, including the correspondence he received from the CDC. Go Senator Lugar!
Just poking my head out to say - another Hoosier prepper here. Have some family on board & 2 friends so far. Have made comments//statement to provide opportunities for others to ask questions (especially last spring during tornado season), but no one took the bait. LOL! I’ve also been glad to see the PSA’s on pandemic prep! Prep On!!!! lol
bttt
Jim, I access this forum from Flu Wiki. I see a few posts bumping this forum (bttt). Is this forum visible from someplace other than Fluwiki?
bk-
bk not sure what you mean
Thought you guys would like to know…
Indiana News Centre- Channel 24- “With flu season nearing Allen County health officials have their guard up, but it’s not the typical flu that really concerns them.
During their board meeting Monday, health officials wanted to bring attention to the potential for a pandemic flu outbreak right here in Allen County…”
…”Even though no cases have been reported in the country, health officials say preparation is key.
“If we aren’t prepared as a public health department or as an individual or a family, we were warned. We’ve seen with Hurricane Katrina and the floods that resulted what happens when people don’t listen and heed those warnings to plan. We don’t want that in Allen County,” says Dr. Deborah McMahan, Allen County’s Health Commissioner.
The Health Department will hold a meeting at 6:30 Tuesday evening at Walb Memorial Union at IPFW to educate residents about the steps they should take if this type of outbreak occurs. This will be the first of five community forums you can take part in to make sure you and your family are prepared.”
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/story.aspx?type=ln&NStoryID=3949
Jim, just curious what website you are posting from. I see that you are posting just to “bump” the topic to the top of a forum.
the web page I am posting from: http://www.fluwikie2.com/index.php?n=Forum.IndianaPreppers
bk, please email me @ jarmstrong4 at indy dot rr dot com
Hey, Indiana preppers. I just saw my first Pandemic Billboard. As I was leaving work in Kokomo, I drove north on S Lafountain by Wendy’s. And there was a big as life billboard with just one question on it. “If there were an emergency, does your family have a plan?” And then it had “Ready.gov” !! Finally. I can’t decide whether to be happy they are finally getting to the general public, or worried that they think it’s time to. Any billboards where you are driving? I’m wondering if there are other varieties.
I went to the Tipton County Candidates forum last night. Senator Jeff Drozda presented himself and answered questions. He actually mentioned Pandemic Flu in part of his presentation. I can’t remember what he actually said because I was FLOORED. But he said something to the fact that he was working with and wanted to continue to work to keep state and county officials working together to be prepared.
Hi mj, My sister lives in Kokomo and won’t prep untill I tell her that it is close to a pandemic. I’ve tried to tell her how foolish that would be but… she doesn’t like to rotate items…yada,yada,yada…I’m glad someone there is prepping and glad you have the billboard. What have you done for a water supply? I would think that, for your area, that would be a biggie. Thanks for letting me rant. I’ll get her to prep somehow.
PBQ, you’re right about water. It’s been my biggest worry. When I first started thinking about all of this, the water equation blew me away. I could not cope with the idea.. so many gallons, times so many days equals.. - so didn’t. Then gradually worked out that a little at a time would get me there. Got a Berkey (used one overseas before so love ‘em) which will help. Lots of Wallyworld containers. Still working on it. See my profile for contact info. I work at one of the local hospitals. Maybe I know your sis and can put a bug in her ear. Email me if you want me to try. Sometimes hearing it from someone else works. I’ve been having lots of luck getting people to “hear” that there is such a thing as BF and pandemicflu. Just hope it’s in time. One neighbor I spoke with on the sixth is prepping now. She’s all excited about getting “one more can” etc. But I think the state is not getting prepped except for Ft Wayne. No signs here, except the billboard. How is it down your way?
Just this past Wednesday I went to a “pandemic lecture” at the ISU campus. The guest speaker, that said anything of value, was the head of well, what did she say? “Emergencies R’ Us” for our county. Her most important title to me was the head of homeland security for our county. Among other things, her job is to prepare our county for a pandemic. I heard her speak about last April and this time she was much more emphatic in her comments and didn’t pull any punches. She told these college students they needed to have supplies in their places of residence that they could stay there for six to eight weeks, etc. She didn’t say anything that I haven’t heard before, but the fact that she covered everything and was so firm and up-front about it surprised me.
I also understand that she was late because she had just come from a state-wide meeting for homeland security, emergency people in charge kind of meeting! Perhaps that’s why she was so firm. I suspect after coming from a meeting like that, that she may have been pretty freaked about things. Here in Indiana we have become surrounded by states that have had H5N1 cases in birds, low-path of course, but definitely still noteworthy. I am glad they’re continuing to have some meetings that continue to inform a small percentage of the public, one meeting at a time :)
Hello! I live in the Salem area. I have been prepping for round a year now. I have spoken to some of my friends about the bird flu, but they think it is just all “blown- out”. They feel it isn’t going to happen. I tell them that it will happen sooner or later and that it is good to have some supplies on hand any way for emergencies.
I realise it is hard for most people around here to do any prepping since they are on fixed incomes. I sure hope they don’t look for the local churches to help, because I don’t think they are prepping them selves.
I live out in the country, so I can grow my garden and I have a pond if I had to resort to using the water in it. I know I will never be able to get all that I need, but I am sure trying my best until the bird flu gets here.