From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: Chicago Area Preparedness

02 March 2006

Cache Cow – at 10:47

Hello fellow Fluwikites. I noticed an increase in postings from people in the Chicago area and thought we should have our own forum as opposed to one for Illinois in general. I live downtown and have several issues I’d like to discuss including civil unrest. I hope this forum prooves helpful for all of us.

Sonny – at 13:22

Northwest---near O’hare

Quartzman – at 13:28

Is Elgin considered part of Chicago? ;)

As a former Chicagoan.. I’d say no, but my wife works in that beast and my Ma and both sisters live up on the North-side.

Felicia – at 16:35

I’m Evanston and so is Jane

03 March 2006

Cache Cow – at 08:52

If schedules would permit, I’d love for us to get together for coffee maybe one Sat. morning to kick around ideas and get to know each other better. All would be welcome - including folks from Elgin!

Just an idea at this point, but if anyone else is interested, please let me know.

24 April 2006

Ricewiki – at 18:59

When I was in Chicago recently I noticed there are plenty of “warning advertisements” on the El — from the mayor, about “being ready” for emergencies — although which emergencies exactly aren’t specified.

But there is a list on there too I think of what sorts of things you should be preparing. Thought it was interesting. Anyone else seen these or similar ones?

26 April 2006

ricewiki – at 15:23

It looks like I might be living in Chicago during the time of the possible pandemic…

Sure would like to discuss with anyone in the city how to survive living in an apartment complex there! (are there any safe parks one could hide away in? what would be the fastest escape route out of the city?)

ricewiki – at 15:24

Cache Cow, did you guys ever get together for that coffee?

ricewiki – at 15:25

If any Chicago preppers want to discuss, feel free to email me at ricewiki at hot mail dot com…

Jane – at 15:35

ricewiki - How long will you be here? Do you want to choose your apartment according ease of escape rather than proximity to work? Or maybe ease of escape AND secure to SIP. Have you considered an apartment in a suburb?

Sorry, I’m not all that familiar with the city to answer your questions. No coffee meeting yet.

anonymous – at 15:36

My mother, brother, and extended family all live in Chicago. The only thing I can think of (living in Alabama) is how the heck I am going to get them out of there and down here once this becomes a pandemic. My mother is a physician and keenly aware of what this might become. My brother is not prepping and she is afraid of leaving him even if it means her/their death. I don’t see how anyone could make it in Chicago during a pandemic (flu spread, food shortage, public unrest, no power, no water, etc.) I would think a place in Wisconsin would be the best for a short trip. Staying in the city is not a good choice.

ricewiki – at 15:41

Jane, I could be there a while… definitely long enough for three waves of a pandemic (well, unless I escape elsewhere) and will probably be right in the city, too. I may be heading down later in the summer, so maybe a coffee meeting then would work.

Are you staying in Evanston? or planning to evacuate elsewhere?

Cache Cow – at 15:42

ricewiki - I am downtown Chicago. We all need to do coffee one Saturday.

Jane – at 15:42

Staying here, for lack of a better place to go.

ricewiki – at 15:51

Cache Cow — yes, for sure.

Everyone — where are some good prep stores in inner/ downtown Chicago? Good dollar stores, army surplus type stores, walmart-type stores, discount grocery stores?

What stores have you used for your preps?

Cache Cow – at 16:03

Costco is always good.

K man – at 16:05

Costco good. Buy a big bag of beans 25lbs for $25. Should make enough for about 50 meals and doesn’t take up that much space. Good source of carbs and protein. Beans and rice is nice.

Felicia – at 23:07

I’m nervous. Evanston is definitely a town with “drive by diversity” and while we pride ourselves on the diversity in our population, we really are a town of “haves” and “have nots”. Ironically though, all the money in the world probably won’t buy you much if you’re not prepared so people with bank accounts will be as much “have nots” if they don’t prepare.

ricewiki – at 23:32

I didn’t like Evanston too much when I was there… no payphones anywhere — like they assume everyone has a cell and that’s it!

27 April 2006

Felicia – at 00:23

Ricewiki, Evanston is awesome - best features of the city and best features of the burbs and only 20 minutes to downtown Chicago. Plus we have the lake which is beautiful and because you have to pay to get on it, there is funding to keep the beaches pristine - we even have a dog beach! But yeah, no payphones. When you’re here, look me up. See my profile.

08 June 2006

ricewiki – at 14:26

Hey everyone in chicago area, how’s the weather down there?

Felicia maybe I’ll take you up on your offer…. I may be heading over late July/early august. email me and we can talk … rice wiki at hot mail dot com.

Anyone else in Chicago? Any newbies or lurkers here from Chicago?

ricewiki – at 14:29

We should start focusing on any plans to divide chicago up into “districts” etc. in the event THSTF… I will have to get to know the major thoroughfares and exit routes…. I don’t suppose there’s any good way to bike to safety somewhere? Any good park to bug-out in if I have to?:) I’m serious…. like I said, I’ll be in an apartment building and that may not be where I choose to SIP.

We should talk about civil unrest in Chicago too. I don’t know which are the worst areas already for crime, etc., but these will get even worse if TSHTF.

tjclaw1 – at 15:50

I’m about 90 miles west of Chicago and I don’t think there’s any way I’d try to take I-88 to flee the city. If you were going that direction, you’d be better off taking the Metro. If I were stuck in the city, I’d probably try to travel north into Wisconsin (perhaps by bicycle?) and then travel west to the more remote areas of SW Wisconsin, NW Illinois.

Here’s a link to Illinois’ bike trails. Looks like you could take the bike path along the lake front, connect with others, all the way to the Wisconsin border. I don’t see any other clear way out of the city. If I were stuck in the city during a disaster, that’s probably what I would do, just to get out of the city, then travel west in WI, and then re-enter IL near Monroe WI, and go south to get home. Just my thoughts.

ricewiki – at 16:06

TJ, Do you have that link? It didn’t post. Thanks. Biking to Wisconsn…. wow, that’s a ways, but somethign I’d consider, but could be dangerous. maybe less dangerous if I did it a bit before TS-officially-HTF.

tjclaw1 – at 16:08

Woops:

http://www.bikelib.org/trails/trailslist.htm

ricewiki – at 16:08

I suppose it could be possible to take the train or the El north a bit before TSHTF, to bug-out. Any possibility there would be borders between states, eg., state-quarantines?

Are there any nice outdoorsy parts in Illinois? I’ve only been to the chicago area. Any campgrounds or other places?

tjclaw1 – at 16:38

I suppose there could be state quaranteens, but I kinda doubt it, and there are so many little roads going between states, it would be almost impossible to enforce.

IMO Northwest IL is the prettiest. Toward the NW corner, lots of state parks, camping, beautiful trees and hills. In Carroll County there is only 1 stoplight in the entire county. Lots of people from Chicago take day trips to Galena to enjoy the scenery and visit small shops.

Here’s a link to state parks: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/

There’s more wilderness to the west, and developed campgrounds. As a former Girl Scout (long time ago), I know a lot of the parks well, as well as some of the private camps. Got a few ideas of where we’ll “bug-out” to if we had to, and my picks are not public parks. I also know ways to get around my area descreetely on foot (although with a 2yo and a 5yo, I don’t know how descreet we’d be!) Your biggest problem would be if you’re there during the winter. Too cold to sleep outdoors, but I do know of some state parks that have cabins with heat/fireplaces.

I e-mailed you a little while ago. Let me know what kind of information you want and I can probably find it.

09 June 2006

ricewiki – at 10:20

Cache Cow,

Are you concerned about living in central chicago WTSHTF? I would think NYC is quite a bit more dangerous, and I’ve heard camden NJ is just as bad. If you’re not out wandering out and about, things should be fine shouldn’t they?

gharris – at 10:54

RW - I would think an open air park in dwntwn Chicago would be the very WORST place to SIP!!! If it seems imminent you should get on a train and come straight back to Ontario!!! Shelter in the country near Tom DVM or me!!!!

Quartzman – at 11:29

Chicago can be dangerous as any large metro area… My ma lives in Rogers Park and in the last 2 years 2 neighbors (1 across and 1 above her) have been murdered!

For perspective, we lived in a CHA project from 82 till 97 and never had a neighbor killed… (though that is where I saw that gruesome van… anyway)

Point being, folks aren’t necessarily safe in their homes NOW… but my Ma has good relationships with her neighbors and refuses to move. (Dang Irish pride!)


Depending on how you live, how prepared you are, and how desperate others are - Chicago will be a mixed bag. If I were there now, I’d be planning on bugging out, (and I have a prepper frioend who will be - but he has parents in farming, so it’ll be easier for him than others.)

Quartzman – at 11:30

But in any case - uprooting is always easy said than done.

:(

tjclaw1 – at 12:21

Agree with other comments that you CAN’T bug-out in a park in central Chicago. There are a lot of homeless and transient people in Chicago and it is a dangerous city. Cabrini Green is right downtown in Chicago, where some of the worst of the worst crimes take place: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrini_Green

Not to scare you, but Chicago is known as the murder capitol of the nation and its crime level is worse than the national average. Here are some crime statistics: http://chicago.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm

How long are you scheduled to be in Chicago?

Ed – at 12:28

I thought that all being prepared in Chicago meant was having a REALLY GOOD ATTORNEY!

Glad I moved to GA, now if my house in Lemont would sell!.

Sorry couldn’t resist. :)

Quartzman – at 12:37

ricewiki – at 16:06

When I lived at Ashland & Lawrence - I was able to bike from there North to the Braeside Metra stop in about 2hours? I doubt there will be any form of mass “bugout” of Chicago.

You have to imagine folks will dribble out as they can but there won’t be any mayor of Chicago that would try slamming down the doors to contain 4 million people overnight. (Though he may take bulldozers to the highways…)


To be fair to my hometown, Cabini is just about gone and that whole area is churning over.

Not that anywhere in a high density city will be safe from “forager/gatherers”, the historically bad areas (where even home-grown folk think twice about driving) is the half-ring around the the mid-south and far west sides of the city.

In there, public transportation is spotty (or ill-run), grocery stores are barely making a comeback, and the average income is near, at, or below poverty.

A horrible combination for what could come.

ricewiki – at 12:47

OK. If TSHTF, I can’t let myself stay in Chicago. But but but…why does this have to be so complicated?!! A train back to Ontario would take 9 hours… if Amtrak even runs. I wish VIA went to the U.S. Besides, who wants to be on a train with other shedding people? Besides, I’d have to get out at the Detroit train station (the worst one I’ve ever been to) and cab it up to the border tunnel. More chances for virus-catching.

I think I’d be safer if 1) I buy myself a car; or 2) try to bug-out in rural Illinois/Wisconsin somewhere or 3) maybe stay with people I meet there.

Re: the murder capital, I thought that was D.C.?

Any other “no-go” areas of Chicago I need to know about? Thanks - I’ll check out this cabini green place…(to stay away from)

tjclaw1 – at 12:55

Ed - I resent the lawyer comment - lol. D.C. has a higher lawyer per capita than Chicago!

Quartzman - you’re probably more familiar with the bad areas than I am as I have never lived in Chicago, just visit frequently. Like the bulldozer comment - likely would use them at O’Hare or Midway in the middle of the night to keep flights out? I’m sure the bulldozers are already at O’Hare with the expansion project. I’m guessing law enforcement will not be good in Chicago during a pandemic and the thugs will take over the streets.

I was in Chicago once for the Independence Day fireworks which, by the way, were spectacular, but the mob of people afterwards on the closed streets, shoulder to shoulder, was truly frightening. I’m just a country girl and the city makes me nervous anyway. Of course, that’s why I opted to go to law school at Valpo rather than any of the Chicago schools.

tjclaw1 – at 13:06

ricewiki,

There are several transportation services that take people in and out of the city. My parents use one to take them to the airport in Chicago all the time. Rates are really not too bad and definitely much cheaper than buying a car.

Another thought, possible the U.S./Canadian border could be closed when TSHTF. You should sit down and come up with 3 or 4 alternatives, maybe more and what events will trigger each plan. i.e. #1 A phase 5 is declared - attempt to go home? How, and where will you go when you get there. #2 Leave City and go to rural area - alternatives for getting out of city and alternatives for where you will stay. #3 SIP if you absolutely can’t get out of the city.

Ed – at 16:40

tjclaw1: lol:

Valpo is a good school/area. I lived in Valpo for 10 years growing up.

Stay safe!..

:)

Felicia – at 22:57

I think this has become somewhat of a silly thread. I live north of Chicago in a “haves” and “haves-not” neighborhood/town - Evanston. I plan on staying put and while it may be dicey, it’s my only choice (no summer home to go to). You either have another option or you don’t. If you don’t you will be in more danger if you just take off for parts unknown and plan on living off the land for 6 months (totally unrealistic). So figure out where you plan on hunkering down and get ready, but please don’t talk about finding a spot in a city park like somehow that is going to be a better alternative! This kind of ill thought out thinking makes our sight look foolish!

Jane – at 23:07

Anyway, it might not happen for a while, and you could have time to make more connections while you’re in school.

I’d like to meet you when you get down here. Let me know when we can all get together.

10 June 2006

Jumping Jack Flash – at 00:02

A max exodus out of Chicago (or any big city) brings to mind the hurricane evacuations of late…I-95 with the south bound lane re routed north w/ stop and go bumper to bumper traffic. Just the Gulf coast or Florida residents end up going as far north as Nashville before they can find a room. That’s JUST the people in the hurricane areas. What if most everyone from every major urban center attempts to bug out??? Most of those people won’t find a place to stay, unless they have a pre arranged relative with preps made for them.

Can you imagine the nightmare NYC, LA, or any big city would be if the power and subsequently the water went out??? 12 million people with no water or sewer or power for weeks or months???!!! I would much rather an asteroid hit us and get it over with.

Paul – at 00:04

Don’t leave out those of us in North West Indiana!

ricewiki – at 00:53

Well that makes me feel glad for contributing my two cents - my planning is already “ill-thought-out thinking” and is making the site look bad? Holy c***. I feel pretty disgusted by this.

tjclaw1 – at 13:44

ricewiki. Your talking about potential plans is not making the site look bad. I think collective thinking is one purpose of the wiki, and if people who live in the region can point out potential problems in your plan and make suggestions, that’s what we’re here for.

Forgot, NW Indiana is also a very nice area. Only problem I see with heading that direction is having to go through Gary, Indiana, and if you don’t know where you’re going, you could get in trouble in some not-so-nice neighborhoods. If I wasn’t getting married and moving back home to Illinois after I graduated from school, I would have stayed in the Valparaiso area - loved it.

Mother of Five – at 14:09

Just a little note, kind of FYI, St. Louis was rated #1 for the highest crime rate per capita in the U.S in 2005, I believe Detroit was second (which usually takes first) and I can’t remember which city was third….

flyer here for johnnystop – at 15:12

Thanks tjclaw -

Mother of Five, that’s good to know! I’ve been through central Detroit and there’s not much to like. I can believe that for sure.

ricewiki – at 15:13

that was me, ricewiki

LMWatBullRunat 15:43

Ricewiki-

I am not a chicago native, but there are two bugout strategies that you should seriously consider.

If TSHTF, you need to “disengage” form the others fleeing the horror that Chicago will become. If heading to home in Ontario, you have three ways to get there, by land, by water or by air.

You have considered some options for land travel, but I seriously recommend that you think about going by boat. Goderich Ontario is about 5–7 days sail from Chicago; you could do it in a small boat with ease. You might also do it in a canoe.

Another thought; If you need to get out of the urban area, consider using the storm sewer system. Chicago has one of the largest storm sewer systems in the world, and as long as it isn’t raining they are excellent highways out of town.

If you are considering a car, get a diesel. They run on vegatable oil and waste frier grease with minor mods, and can run on kerosene or #2 heating oil with no modifications. You have a lot better chance of finding fuel with one of those. Assuming you are buying used, I’d look around for a VW or a Mercedes diesel. Stay away from the 80′s Volvo diesels unless you are a good mechanic. If you are willing to consider a larger vehicle, think about the Dodge pickups with the Cummins turbo diesel engine. These are “million-mile motors” built for heavy commercial use.

Let me know if you want to get into this some more. Email me at LMWatBullRun at yahoo

Jane – at 16:28

Ricewiki, study your student handbook for rules on withdrawing, medical leave, family emergencies, etc. Find out who makes decisions on such things. Maybe talk to some authority (what level, department??) about their pandemic plans, but to be cautious, maybe don’t discuss it with those who would rule on your status, in case you have to fake something.

Above all, the saying “git while the gitting’s good” is a good rule. If you wait until the last minute, you’re risking your life. You have to be alive to have a career.

ricewiki – at 16:29

thanks for the ideas, lmwat… got your email.

ricewiki – at 16:31

Jane,

Yes - I’m planning to. Ombudsmans or others are just for this. Definitely doing it ahead of time.

Felicia – at 16:43

Oh, my. Some of this advice is really bizarre. I agree that if you have a place out of the city you’d be better off going there. And because you have your ear to the ground, your flu radar will go off before the general populace giving you a head start. Please do not descend into the underground sewage system or try and sail across Lake Michigan in a canoe (ocean liner sized craft have gone down in Lake Michigan - it’s nothing to mess with). Find a place to store some gasoline, have a reliable car and get a Gazeteer which will give you incredible detail to find alternate routes between Chicago and our final destination (should there be a cordon sanitaire).

LMWatBullRunat 17:47

Felicia-

three things are clear- You don’t know anything about what big cities undergoing meltdown are like, you know very little about navigating the Great Lakes, and I may not have made the situation under which I’d suggest Ricewiki consider this clear, so I’ll do so now. (Oh, you also clearly do not know the difference between a storm sewer, which carries rain water, and a sanitary sewer, which does not. You can drive a semi-trailer truck in some of Chicago’s storm sewers, let alone walk in them, and they run for MILES, way out into the ‘burbs. New York has similar sewers but many of those are “mixed use” sewers. Not recommended)

I was not suggesting that Ricewiki adopt my suggestions when travelling under normal conditions. I assume that if she wants to visit her folks in Ontario under civilised conditions that she’ll hop a train or a plane or a bus.

I was speaking about what to do if there is massive civil unrest in Chicago- Murder, looting, rape, rioting, arson, all the lovely things we have seen happen before in large cities, and Ricewiki is caught there. Leaving is a good idea, since you almost certainly die if you stay. I hope for Ricewiki’s sake that most of the general populace does what you suggest.

That means that the intelligent folks like her will have a better chance. A woman alone in a car in those conditions is a target and will have no chance of making it to Canada, even if there weren’t border closures, curfew orders, triggerhappy locals shooting anyone they don’t know out of sheer panic, nervous Guard troops doing the same thing, and fuel shortages. Do you know how many people ran out of gas in traffic jams during Katrina? Tens of thousands! FYI New Orleans had less than a million residents. Do you know how big metro Chicago is???

You applied today’s risk calculations to a completely different situation. I am not suggesting that a young woman alone wanting to get home *today* sail across Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to get home; I am suggesting that if TSHTF without warning, and Ricewiki is stuck in and trying to get out of Chicago along with about 2 million other desperate people, that she may want to consider some travel options that MOST of those 2 million folks won’t be sharing.

She wants to go to ONTARIO CANADA from Chicago. How many ways are there to go from Chicago to Ontario without crossing large bodies of water? Unless she wants to detour WAY west and go around Lake Superior, there aren’t any. Given that, the water travel route is a hell of a lot less risky. It also helps with the border crossing problem; Under pandemic conditions I doubt the Canadians are going to let ANYONE close enough to explain why they want to get into Canada. Or do you think she’ll be better off trying to swim the St. Clair river? One way or another, her journey home will probably involve boats anyway, so why shouldn’t she make that work for her? As far as canoes go, the voyageurs were canoeing from Chicago to Montreal and back regularly, and if she plans ahead and gets some basic training she’d have no problem moving by water from Chicago to Goderich, or even as far as Montreal. Moreover, she won’t have to worry about getting sick from interaction with some fellow land traveller if she takes the water route.

Y’know, I tell you what. If you don’t think this would be something you’d want to try, why don’t you try it your way and let me know how it all works out for you, OK?

Medical Maven – at 18:14

Ricewiki: Makes some friends in downstate Illinois, farm country. Make arrangements with them for room and board. Rent a storage cubicle for your preps down there. Consider buying a motorcycle for getting around traffic jams. They get great gas mileage, too. Make sure a tankful will get you to your SIP.

ricewiki – at 21:26

Wowsers. This thread has had me scared, and I’m not usually one to get scared so easily. LMWat, you know, I am currently reading a book about people who have survived on water with nothing but their dingy. Feel free to email me to talk about it further: rice wiki at hot mail dot com. Nevertheless, I can’t see myself doing something like that unless the situation was really dire.

I will definitely be trying to make the right connections once I’m there. Thanks everyone for caring enough to bother suggesting all of this. I’ve lived in major cities before (Toronto/GTA, 5 million) but certainly not quite the size as chicago nor near its crime rate.

two rivers run through chicago — but I doubt these would be safe to canoe on, as I am sure people would be waiting along the canals with guns, eh? well, maybe not. We don’t know. Maybe I can meet someone else with a sailboat for crossing the lake. And, I don’t necessarily need to get back to Ontario. I’d be fine on a farm or in a field or on a campsite. Maybe I should just take out a mortgage and get my own darn place to solve all of this.

LMWatBullRunat 21:54

Medical Maven-

It all depends on what Ricewiki wants to do. If she wants to get home, then that’s her goal. If she just wants to have a place to hole up, that’s a whole different goal.

Downstate friends are a good idea if that’s an option for her. Although I ride, I am not sure whether I’d recommend that a neophyte try to ride a motorbike through a traffic jam…. but it’d mighty handy to ride along railroad tracks. Don’t know whether Ricewiki has any motorcycling experience. Does give you some more options; anywhere a bicycle can go a dirt bike can. You can ride them in storm drains, even. <grin>

Still, the thought of avoiding the whole land route altogether I think is worth some serious thought. No matter how obscure the route, when you have a couple million people in the neighborhood it can get crowded, not to mention the obstacles that the locals will create.

Don’t know where in Ontario she’s thinking about going, but if it is near the Huron shore or the Saint Claire I’d think hard about the water route. It may be farther than downstate, but there is something to be said for going home before this thing gets totally spun up. I’d rather be sailing the lakes than scrambling around the countryside with a couple million starving sick people.

Medical Maven – at 23:44

Ricewiki: Maybe I will be wrong, but I think that we here on this site could get at least a two to three day jump on the rest of the population as regards to the start of a pandemic. (But you will have to ACT). Wishful thinking? Maybe. But that will be a good thought to keep in your head while you work out the logistics of whatever plan you decide upon.

Ruth – at 23:56

I agree, I think if you stay tuned to this forum and the birdflu news websites, you will be able to get out before the rest of the city, or country is aware of what’s happening. Do not take chicago storm drains. Head north and then west. Or north. Chicago is a great city, but all bets are off for chicago or any other large city if a pandemic hits.

11 June 2006

ricewiki – at 08:13

Yes, I’ll have to figure something like that out. Northwest sounds good. South too - why not. Wonder if that 2–3 day lead could still allow me to get a last minute flight out. Not sure the train would be safe - too long of exposure to possible shedders.

Medical Maven – at 09:14

ricewiki: You can get away from seemingly contagious people on a train, but on a plane you are stuck. I know because I had a pleasure trip to Greece ruined a few years back because I was stuck next to a highly contagious shedder. Worst viral infection I ever had, took me six weeks to fully recover. On a train I could have gotten up and spent the trip standing in a cul-de-sac as far away as possible or maybe even in another compartment.

Ruth – at 09:24

Actually, if a pandemic begins, I would guess that at first people would be confused as to what that means, then they would run to the stores to begin stocking up on supplies. If you really want to leave town, that’s when you go. If we start to see large clusters overseas, people here won’t even know about it. Remember most are pretty clueless when it comes to this so it will take some time to react.

LMWatBullRunat 09:50

From experience, having a plan is good. (as soon as I see large clusters I’m outta here via….)

However, it is rare that a plan works the way you originally think it will. This pandemic may blossom from Africa or some other place we aren’t even aware of right now, and the first we’d know of it would be thousands of cases *right here.* Given Chicago’s size and economic activity, it is highly likely in such an event that it will be one of the first cities to get really hit hard, along with NYC, LA, San Francisco, DC, and Miami. So now, there you are in a city coming unwrapped. What to do?

Having multiple contingency/backup plans is much better than thinking on your feet; it saves thinking when you may be tired or really stressed. In a 30 year career doing oddball construction projects I have had to think on my feet far too often, which is why I really try to have multiple backup plans for every major activity I undertake. Failing to plan ahead means you are planning while you are running! I now try to anticipate all the major things that can go wrong. Anybody actually in a large metro area should strongly consider having multiple evac plans (if I have notice I do this, if not I do this, if this road is blocked then I do this… etc)

Also, have a handheld police scanner and make sure you know ALL the frequencies, including the fire, tac and swat channels as well as the patrol channel for both your area and all the adjacent ones. Knowing where the troubles and roadblocks are is a *good thing*

Ruth – at 11:34

Have a good map and to get off highways and on to smaller streets.

13 June 2006

LMWatBullRunat 00:45

Ruth-

Maps are great. I buy USGS maps (7.5 minute series) for 3 quads every direction from every place I have lived as an adult. (I have LOTS of USGS maps!) I also get highway maps for the area, as well as street maps. Each vehicle I own has a complete set of maps. I think everyone ought to buy maps (No, I’m not affiliated with a mapping company!)

But maps are not a plan. If you are in a big city, you need a plan, and several backup plans, for how you’ll get out. Maybe it’ll be just as easy as everyone thinks. Are you willing to bet your life on it? Plan the work, work the plan!

To quote a character from one of my all-time favorite movies “Running? That’s not a plan, Valentine, running’s what you do when a plan fails!” Back roads are great for avoiding (some) traffic jams, but they won’t avoid 2 million terrified ex-Chicagoans.

07 November 2006

anonymous – at 13:55

Illinois State Summit

Opening Remarks Prepared for Delivery By the Honorable Mike Leavitt Secretary of Health and Human Services March 17, 2006

That Great Pandemic also touched Illinois.

Chicago was then the nation’s second largest city and the country’s largest rail hub. As a consequence, the disease reached the city quickly. Before the disease reached this city, overconfident public health officers proclaimed, “We have the Spanish influenza situation well in hand now.”

Then the disease came.

Influenza was reported in Chicago on September 27th. Within two weeks, it was epidemic throughout the state. Cities like Kankakee and Rockford were as hard hit as rural sections and coal-mining districts.

But Chicago saw the most awful impacts. While the pandemic raged toward its dreadful peak, the city saw an average of 12,000 new cases each week. More than 2,100 Chicagoans died during the second week of October. More than 2,300 died during the third week.

The city ran out of hearses. Signs were posted banning public funerals, and limiting funeral attendees to no more than 10, in addition to the undertaker, the minister, and necessary drivers. No bodies were allowed in churches.

A U.S. Public Health Services Officer named Jo Cobb, who was working at the city’s Marine Hospital wrote to a friend, “Our beds were filled as fast as emptied.”

Navy nurse Josie Brown, who served at Naval Hospital in Great Lakes remembered:

“The morgues were packed almost to the ceiling with bodies stacked one on top of another. The morticians worked day and night. You could never turn around without seeing a big red truck loaded with caskets for the train station so bodies could be sent home. We didn’t have the time to treat them. We didn’t take temperatures; we didn’t even have time to take blood pressure. We would give them a little hot whisky toddy; that’s about all we had time to do. They would have terrific nosebleeds with it. Sometimes the blood would just shoot across the room. You had to get out of the way or someone’s nose would bleed all over you.”

When it comes to pandemics, there is no rational basis to believe that the early years of the 21st century will be different than the past. If a pandemic strikes, it will come to Illinois.

http://tinyurl.com/y5nsov

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