Ok. So I’ve got the house prep done for 6 months SIP. I’m ready to approach the neighbors. We live in a cul-de-sac. I’ve know these people for many years but not really well. How to bring up the topic of prep?
Do I start with the one neighbor I know fairly well? Or just approach all of them? What to say?
First, I’d consider the risk involved. Can you talk to these people without them knowing that you are prepped for six months? Would you feel comfortable with them knowing?
I don’t know our neighbors well either - we moved here just a couple of years ago.
Without mentioning that you’ve prepped as well as you have, could you put door-hanger type flyers on the neighbor’s doors? Tell them that you’re concerned for your neighbors and yourself, and ask them to contact you if they have any questions…that might get the ball rolling.
You wouldn’t have to say how you’ve prepped or how much…let them cross that bridge first, then chime in with something like “I’ve been giving it some serious thought, and I think we should all get together to hash this out.”
Be ready to answer questions about What, When, If, How, and Why…
Risk. I weigh them knowing about my preps and coming here for food. Or starving. These are nice people. They pay their taxes, send their kids to college. Eat dinner every night at 6 pm. Just your nice normal people. Some older folks in the bunch. I just know we would be stronger as a group.
I would not tell them I was prepped for that long. But to be able to communicate the risk that we are all facing. I guess that is the big one we all have trouble with. Where in the hell do I start? Mention bird flu and people just roll their eyes.
Actually door hangers is a good idea. That is one way we communicate as a neighborhood. Ok. What would it say? The great hive mind at work here.
lohrewok — I took the approach that was less pandemic oriented, more community watch oriented. I introduced myself to the 20 neighbors on our street (on Halloween while trick or treating) and offered to go to the town’s neighborhood watch meetings and take notes, email news etc. This got me many people’s email addresses. I started a “xyz- street” listserve just for us. Not everyone is on it, but a lot are. Now we can share news instantly. “Did you hear so and so’s car was broken into last night” as well as lost-dogs, etc. My husband is working with 2 of the moms and the police to document speeders and get speed bumps installed. We are talking about organizing a block party and tool-swap; big projects swaps, etc.
OK, I realize NONE of this has to do with pandemic preparation — YET. But understand — these people didn’t know me at all (recently moved here) and I think if I just go and approach them with pandemic information, I’ll mostly be brushed off. I don’t have the money or life circumstances to just move to an isolated farm with a pandemic survival group. But no one can argue with increased community spirit. It is good in and of itself.
And hopefully, I’m setting myself up as a community-spirit minded person; we will have a slightly more coherent group in place; and I can start emailing some emergency preparedness info to our listserv. “Hey, did you hear about this? My sister just sent me this information about pandemic prep…”
BTW — as I was canvassing my little street, I made note of the following occupations: 2 police officers, a mechanic, a respiration therapist, a labor-delivery nurse; and a guy who does gas company repairs.
Holy Moly ACM-you hit the jackpot with those occupations! I think we have a couple accountants, a psychologist, a carpenter, and one nurse (I think he works in out-patient). Don’t know about the others. Several are retired.
That is an excellent approach though. But a little more detailed than what I envisioned. I’ll do some thinking on that. Now I really need to go clean the kitchen. Been putting it off all morning. :)
lohrewok — yeah I know! (-: IN fact, I’d rather have a survival oriented group with my neighbors than my own extended family, based on these occupations! (My family is comprised of librarians, computer programers, lawyers and fundraisers. Nice people, but frankly pretty .. um.. useless!)
But seriously, I think a good way to get started is to get people’s emails some way — once you have people linked up via email for any reason it seems a community builds a lot easier from that. (The old-fashioned version would be a community newsletter I think.) A way for people to talk back and forth if they don’t meet much in person.
Perhaps its just the smallness of my town, but in my daily rounds I must chat with someone who spots me at least once a day. Having time, and a friendly appearance people seem to enjoy talking about things in general. I almost never do flu chat.They have lots of other things on their minds, and H514 isn’t one of them. I would do things anonymously if I were new to the neighborhood.
I would try to work it into conversation without blatently saying hey you better get prepping.
I did this reciently, you could start visiting about the holidays expenses local family worries whatever fits you.
“Are you all ready for Christmas? I guess I’m almost ready, now I just have to worry about paying off my credit card. Oh I worry about how we are going to pay for the holidays it seems every year it costs more. Oh I guess I shouldn’t worry about little things like this when there is real threats to worry about. It sure seems like the flu is bad this year. Ya know I’ve read about this bird flu thing. It’s serious, I blew it off in the beginning, but it’s real. Have you read much about it yet?
Just plant the seed let them investigate it themselves.
You get the idea, because of the adjustment reaction it is best ti initiate it in small doses. Most of us found this site because we were motivated to research it ourselves.
My thoughts on this are pretty straight forward. If a person does not know how to approach their neighbors about “prepping” then they are not close enough to be able to share knowledge that they are indeed prepped themselves. The approach I have taken, is to add some extra bags of beans, and if the situation allows (when the pandemic begins), and they notice I am not going out of the property for goods, and they call me on the telephone, as ask if I have something they could use, I will tell them all I have are a few bags of beans and will share a bag with them if needed. I will also tell them at the same time, that I am in need of supplies and if they find out where some can be found in stores to let me know. 1) I do not want them to know I have much 2)by telling them to let me know if they find a source of food to let me know, places the burden back on them. I can last on my property for at least 2 years without leaving, but will share with some that are in need, without tipping my hat so to speak. Being quiet on your own preps is important because just like the Twilight Zone story of the “The Fallout Shelter”, neighbors that know will be beating down your door. And that is not a good thing.
lohrewok – at 09:51
Make copies of Dr. Daves “Becoming Self-Sufficient for Six Months”. Place them in neighbors mailbox at 4AM. Casually mention that someone had put one in your mailbox, and proceed to discuss it.
Oremus @ 15:27
That is a good idea. I just might do that one.
Gary near Death Valley @ 15:01
I understand where you are coming from. However, who was it that said we have God-given time to prepare. My conscience says to at least try. I have to do what I can.
lohrewok – at 17:47 If my old memory chip is not failing me I believe it was Dr. Webster that stated “we have God-given time to prepare’.
Gary Near Death Valley – at 22:54 That was Dr Nabarro to GOJU when he attended the conference in New York. Just to keep it right.
I Believe that Dr Webster said that he was prepping for 3 months and I have read some where that he has expanded that to six months.
One of these years he may catch up to my hero prepper “Gary Near Death Valley” prepped for two years and counting. Way to go and lead the way.
We tried to explain the county road ended, our property began at a certain point. Our mail boxes were sledgehammmered the next day. Don’t expect “all” your neighbors to be receptive at any point! Country life is that. Country life. Mostly it’s people who don’t fit in with a bunch of others… (me). Judge your neighborhood. Sometimes it might be best to meld into the background… no approach might be best.