If anyone’s prepping in Idaho, this thread’s for you!
Yes.. There are a few. But some are prepared up north for other events. So if someone tells them to stay home, they would be fine. Most people seem to store more than other places. However drugs and those needing electricity would have more problems. Boise may be a mess if this does happen. But for Sandpoint on up we would survive. It is the older people in the two small towns I would worry about. We take care a the small few up in the mountains by us. ATV’s use little gas and we could move up and down our area. As long as everyone stayed inside a certain point, I think we would be infection free.
Here in the NW, a lot of folks tend to prep automatically. If it’s not icestorms or forest fires or volcanos or floods or weirdass things that normal people shouldn’t have to deal with, it’s the politicians.
Although most voters would probably include politicians in the ‘weirdass things’ category…
:(
Does anyone here from Idaho have any opinion as to how our State government is treating this?
Idaho Department of health and welfare
Are you prepared for a pandemic? Helpful information for you and your family. 3/21/2006
During a pandemic, you might be advised to stay home for a period of days or even weeks to reduce the spread of the disease. The information below can be helpful for any emergency; prepare yourself and your family now.
Food and Water: Have a supply of canned and dried fruit and drinking water on hand. Although basic utilities like electricity and water should remain on, there may be disruptions in some services. Grocery stores may not have enough staff to remain open, or there could be delays in food distribution. Good foods to store include ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables, and soups; protein or fruit bars; dry cereal or granola; peanut butter or nuts; dried fruit and vegetables, such as dried beans; crackers; canned juices; bottled water, and canned or jarred baby food and formula. Don’t forget a manual can opener.
Medications and Equipment: If you take medications on a regular basis, be certain to have enough of a supply to last several days or weeks. You also may have to take care of a family member or friend who becomes sick. Some helpful home health care supplies to have on hand include:
Soap and water, or alcohol-based hand wash; Medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen; A thermometer; Anti-diarrheal medication; Vitamins; and Fluids with electrolytes. Cash: Be sure to have some cash on hand to purchase food or other goods. Banking availability may be limited during a pandemic.
Pets: Make certain you have enough food and water for your pets, and other necessities like extra litter.
Large Trash Bags: Garbage service may be disrupted or postponed for a number of days. Have bags on hand to store garbage safely.
Misc. Items: A portable radio to listen to latest news updates and a flashlight will be helpful if there are interruptions in electrical power; be sure to have extra batteries for each.
Items for Personal Comfort: You may want to have extra items on hand to make your time at home more comfortable. Things like shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, disposable diapers and activities for children.
Personal Hygiene: Start now to teach and practice good hygiene. This includes washing your hands frequently, especially after being out in public and before eating. Show your children how to ‘cover your cough’ by coughing or sneezing into your sleeve instead of your hand. Teach them to avoid rubbing their eyes. Stay home when you are sick and keep sick children home from school.
Family Emergency Plan: Talk with your family about emergency plans. Make certain you have a plan to check in with elderly parents and friends; that children know who to contact with an emergency; and that you know your family’s medical histories, social security numbers and other basic information. A Family Emergency Health Information Sheet is available by clicking here.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a complete 18- page guide for individuals and families to use to prepare and plan. You can access the plan by clicking on: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/guide.pdf
I have just finished my new chicken house. I have the layers inside and they seem to be happy for now. I have contacted my local vet and he informed me that Idaho has no plans for vaccine at this time. Once I am confident we have one that will work, they will be allowed to free range again. Here is a list of specific things I have done or am doing as we speak.
1. Food preps (not really needed since we live like that year around 1 year would be no problem) we follow Mormon recommendations.
2. New chicken house to be able keep the chickens fully enclosed but with plenty of fresh air.
3. Grain storage facility for the chickens
4. Minor changes to one of the smaller barns to be used as isolation for incoming family.
5. Extra Fuel for generators to run well pump (manual back up if needed)
6. Medical supplies in case someone get hurt.
7. Extra lighting equipment
8. Extra amount of Wood cut and stacked in case I get sick or die. It can be hard on women to do this. Some do fine other don’t.
9. I have a designated spot where cars are not allowed to come up.
10. All visitors will where boots from our farm only. Street shoes will be left down on the bottom of the mountain.
Now this assumes one has a serious household storage of Food, water, heat and other needed supplies. I sure I am leaving off a lot of information and will add to my farm prep list soon.
Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security http://www.bhs.idaho.gov/
AVIAN (BIRD) FLU INFORMATION & PANDEMIC PLANNING On March 27th, 2006, The State of Idaho held an Idaho Pandemic Flu Summit. Speakers and special guests included Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Lt. Governor Jim Risch, Secretary of US Dept. of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt, Centers for Disease Control Dr. Anne Schuchat, US Dept. of Homeland Security Director of Infrastructure Partnerships Division Jim Caverly, US Dept. of Agriculture DVM, MS Cynthia M. Gaborick, and Director of Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security William H. Bishop. The following links will provide you with information for your business and family. These links will be updated as more information is gathered internationally. Bird Flu: Fears, Facts & Fiction Pandemic Flu.gov Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
I encourage everyone to do their own research. I keep informed on all areas but will only post items related to Pan Bird Flu. Always check the wiki news site as well. Sometimes they get some items in I may have missed on the net.
World Health updates www.who.int
Very good site for bird flu news. http://www.newsnow.co.uk/newsfeed/?name=Bird+Flu
One of the interesting tracking sites via a map layout. http://visz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert.php?lang=eng
Here are some news items from Idaho only
PREPARING FOR PANDEMIC http://tinyurl.com/rkc5z
HHS chief stops off at Gowen Field, asks Idaho to prepare bird flu plans About 200 business, community leaders attend conference http://tinyurl.com/s98ar
Not Just for the Birds Is Idaho’s bird flu plan pandemic preparedness or fowl play? http://tinyurl.com/pe3hn
Idaho only runs a backlog of about three days of food in any store. One good snow storm and that would be gone. So stock up folks. Along time ago I worked in a grocery store and we had to stock all day and all night. One day we had a very small infux of people on certain items. Just a normal day. By 3pm we where almost out of egg, milk and bread. That was just a normal day. Imagine if people really wanted to stock up. Can goods would go quick. Bread at least comes from Spokane, but can goods do not.
Idaho Pandemic Influenza Response Plan - Draft
All of the plans for the Sate of Idaho are here
I have contacted the Red Cross and the Citizen Corps Chapters of Idaho. I will see what information and training they can provide.
Here in the rural south-east part of the panhandle, we are probably alittle more prepared than other places. Electricty is something that is often out, so most people have back up plans( at least for a week or two.) Since we have no grocery store of any kind closer than 9 miles, most people have gardens and can and dry foods. Many people have long term storage of staples. Since I am new to the area, I am not as ready as I should be yet but am working on it. I have already started plants for the garden inside and will do a garden as soon as the ground is warmer. I also plan to do alot of canning, drying, and some freezing of food. We only have around 300 people here and we are quite rural, so many people work out of their homes and homeschool already. Personally, I have about a three months supply of staples and some cleaning supplies on hand.
Is anyone prepping in Idaho, If so it would be great to hear what others are doing. In this area the people are poor, but the poorest of the poor will become the rich and blest if they have set aside even alittle. Are those of us in Idaho just quiet, shy, or uninterested or are we sleeping? Come on neighbors, it would be great to hear what others living in these beautiful mountains are doing to ensure they are prepared.
Idaho is a beautiful place. I have visited there many times. Mountains, lots of farms, so im sure that your State will do well cause you already store food for winter etc. It takes sometimes and hour or two just to go to A big store like bj’s or costco’s. From what I have noticed folks there stock up once a month to save on gas trips to bjs or costco. the local stores that are not so local are miles away . You can’t just walk to the corner store. Much of the food trucked in takes days to get through the mountains.But the folks of Idaho are hardy people, strong willed, hard workers.
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Is there anymore Idaho Families prepping. If so what action have they taken?
I WISH I was prepping in Idaho! Preferably the Sandpoint area. :)
Hi NIdaho … thanks for starting this thread. Unfortunately I believe it’s just you, SPIdaho and me! Seriously though, I have been prepping since December and have yet to run into anyone that is taking the H5N1 threat seriously.
At one point I had posted a note on a local bulletin board warning people that they should educate themselves about the potential that existed for a devastating pandemic. The only response were a couple of derisive posts bringing up Y2K and Swine Flu debacles of the past. After a few months of trying get people onboard I have given up.
As for preparations, at this point I am feeling pretty good about our situation … 10 months of food for six; backup systems for all essential utilities etc. etc..
We are pretty isolated on 8 acres. I feel very lucky when I think about the challenge this will present to urban dwellers should a pandemic break loose.
Again thanks for the thread.
What area are you located, you can be general. I am of course way up there close to Canada. Seems like it is just my family for the most point in my area. I am looking for Idaho specific info. I have posted what I have found, but it is very little. Idaho is a somewhat isolated region the requires allot of transportation, so I am concerned for bird flu and any other disruption we might have.
SPIdaho is down closer to Lewiston somewhat. We are related so I have encouraged their preparedness, but they already think that way, so it was easy.
I have some other family members south of me that are prepping for this and anything else. We just need time.
Down in Boise area things seem very quiet. I know of know one. I do not speak about the bird flu as I encourage a general preparedness mental mindset.
We are outside of Moscow …
RBA - Have you heard anything from your local government? I have family prepping close to you then. We do allot of commodity trading when available. Allows us to unload extra vegetables and acquire needed items.
I am looking for a good grain mill for corn, flour, ect.. Right now I buying from Oregon.
Can’t help you much … the only thing that comes to mind is the cooperative Rural Roots. (I think their website is at … ruralroots.org. Maybe someone in that group might be able to help you.
As for the local government, I sent a note to our new mayor back in January. She assured me that their was a city and county group who where meeting to go lay out a plan for a possible pandemic. She is a nurse and a very good person. I have not had a chance to check in with them. What I do know is that there is very little concrete information coming out in the local press. I think they are like politicians everywhere … they don’t want to stick their necks out too far. Unfortunately as we both know … when it looks politically safe for them to be proactive, it will be way way too late.
On the other had Whitman County in Washington (Pullman) seem to be working to get the word out. Through their health department they are promoting preparations and encouraging people to visit their comprehensive pandemic website for more information.
As I write this it dawns on me that I should do more to check in with local authorities to see what they are doing. I must say now that I feel comfortable with our level of preparation I have more mental space to look at the community picture.
RBA - I have tried contacting my local government with no response. I may consider just showing up at the next county commissioners meeting. Questions from the public could get interesting.
RBA, it is nice to know someone else in our area is prepping. I do know of several other families that stay prepped for whatever could come, and that seems to be the mind set of those I talk to. Most think the bird flu talk is another y2k but are just ready for the unexpected.
I am currently prepared for about 6 months for a group of 5. The only thing currently not up to the six months standard is bathroom tissue. As soon as we get this, we will be working on our next three months supply.
I am currently making over an old building which is already divided into three sections. One section will be for our rabbit hutches and another for the chickens. We are currently harvesting hay for the animals. We should have enough hay for all our needs for the year. There is also an abandened chicken shed on the property with lots of perches and boxes for the layers.
As for the government, I am seeing nothing in the Moscow or Lewiston area. Pullman is putting out alot of useful information, as RBA noted.
I lived in Idaho for ten years…Just a thought, why don’t you send a letter with questions to Jerry Brady..I believe he is making a run for Governor again. I would be very interested to hear what he has to say. :) http://www.bradyforidaho.org/index.asp Hope this isn’t considered “talking about politics.” ;)
Anyone here prepping in Idaho now
Yes, Here west of Boise, we are pepping. We have about 6 months for 8 people. The few people we have spoken to think we are crazy. So we aren’t saying to much about it anymore. I keep checking are town meeting notes, and know one here has said anything about it. Pretty sure we are on our own.
I think you are right. Very few seem to be prepared for any serious situation. I contacted several local government agencies up north and recieved blank stares.
Although all the birds around Micron Semiconducter where killed and the water removed.
Although all the birds around Micron Semiconducter where killed and the water removed.
Idaho counties seem very quiet on this matter. There have been some business plans that include back up facilities to continue operations. I do think Idaho is doing something at the state level but it has not trickled down to the counties as of yet. I am sure the word is getting out and others are prepping for something to happen.
Last night I attended the Pandemic Community Meeting put on by the State of Idaho, North Central District Health Department in Moscow Idaho. I have to say, I was excited that finally there seemed to be some official recognition of the monster lurking around the corner. There were big ads in the local paper and PSA’s on the radio. The text of the ads were clear:
>’‘’It’s Everyone’s Business to Plan for a Pandemic
Individuals, Businesses, Schools, Faith Based Communities and YOU need to understand the health and economic impacts associated with the occurrence of pandemic influenza. There are things you can do now to prepare.
Presentations will be given by North Central District Health Department and Regional County Emergency Management. Useful information, guides and resources will be provided.’‘’
The moment I drove up I knew this was not going to be what I hoped. There were perhaps eight cars in the lot. In a community with two major universities, a dozen individuals had decided that the possibility of a pandemic warranted their spending an hour to learn about the threat. The folks putting it on did a good job. Like others on FluWiki have experienced, I ended up answering many of the questions from audience members. But the folks from the Health District are really making a great effort to get people to prepare …. But no one is listening. Not even the local paper sent anyone to cover the story.
I wish I had the energy of Goju to stir up concern and action. At this point I am sick and tired of trying to convince people of the looming threat. Crestfallen is definitely how I’m feeling at this point.
I understand your frustration. I have been trying to get people to take any kind of action. There seems to be very little going on. I am happy that Moscow had even one meeting. At least there is someone inside the Idaho government that understands whats this threat could become.
RBA - I am still trying to contact and help setup a very good CERT team. It is hard going but one day they will I will succeeds. If I can help only one person to prepare for an emergency, I consider it a success.
How are personal and community level preparations going?
Anyone see the Dept of Ed webcast for parents of school children last night? Good luck, and keep trying.
Other than the standard level of preparation. Things have gone very slow.
NIdaho – at 21:29
Sorry for the delay in seeing your post … good luck on your efforts. I am at a low ebb in my efforts to get people to take this seriously. Frankly like many in Idaho, I am trying to get a bunch of projects done before winter really hits. Doesn’t leave much room for twisting peoples arms to save their life.
One note for central Idaho lurkers out there … the North Central Health District have three more pandemic seminars coming up. One each for Idaho, Clearwater and Nez Perce counties. If you are in those counties I encourage you to let your frienda and neighbors know about them.
RBA - I Hear you, we are doing the same as well. Getting thw wood, food and other supplies ready. May be a hard winter so we are stocking extra.
Is anyone else hear from Idaho other than RBA?
RBA - I recently was contacted by the local Chief of Police who is on an emergency committee for my county. I was asked if I would be willing to attend their next meeting. One of my pet projects is developing strong emergency planning through local community support. CERT is one of those programs I support and encourage. So now that I have their attention, it will be interesting to see where I can go with this. Since I work to overall emergency planning, I will see where Pandemic preparedness fits into this new organization. I think public awareness would be the best tool, and to ensure the county is prepared from an infrastructure standpoint. I have reviewed the public plans, and found them lacking to some extent.
How have you been doing on your end?
Nidaho - I commend your commitment. For my part I sent our local mayor (a nurse) a copy of the Texas Medical Center’s Pandemic action plan. She responded with a thoughtful note indicating that she is slowly but surely getting the bureaucracy revved up. Most heartening was her indication that she was working to get information out to the public in the form of handouts and radio spots. So there seems to be some movement in the right direction.
I just hope it is not too late ….
RBA - It is never too late. Any idea as to what the handouts say? I hope they mention to store extra food and water. The trick is to influence locally and cause others to raise the level of concern. As local leaders hear about the public wanting to know about their emergency plans, they are dusted off and re-worked. But this take allot of time, and as you mention time could be running out.
RBA & Others -
I attended my county emergency preparedness meeting today. I was invited from the Chief of police, after I made an inquiry to my county commissioners. I have to say I have good and bad news.
Good news - Is the head of almost every head in my county attends including the Department of Homeland Security. I purposed expanding our CERT teams and bolster weak areas in our local county emergency responders. To my surprise it went well. I was approached by the head of our county Fire Department and asked if I would start and head up a new Volunteer Fire crew. He then offered any training we wanted for CERT, Medical and Fire. Next month my informational requests are going to be on the agenda. I will be able to now train and use this position to talk about pandemic planning.
Bad News - We are not prepared for much, and pandemic planning is not on any agenda as of yet. I only hope I have some more time to influence things in a good way. Local politics take time I’m afraid.
Nidaho - that’s a big foot in the door! Good luck and good job!
RBA - This committee is also in your county and you can start there as well.
Nidaho - I’m afraid you have far more civic commitment at this point than I can muster. I hate meetings ….
RBA - I would say that an email to the chairman of the committee could start them thinking about it. From what I can see, if the committee is not even talking about it, then the county is not addressing it at all. They are in a bubble to some extent and asking the simple question as to what the county has done to prepare for this would be a start.
Here is the state training programs. Anyone can sign up and take these, some are online and cover pandemic Influenza.
RBA, I am glad you made the Moscow meeting. I wanted to go but no one else was interested and since I do not drive at night into Moscow, that took care of that. I only know of one Troy man that is really prepped and prepared for whatever may come. Most of the people in the countryside here, where I am, have some put up for storms and other needs. Nidaho, thanks for the the training site. Will go look at it. I am a little slow on responce, as I do not go on line too often.
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