Anyone in Colorado?
Hey there. I’m in Denver. Just moved here from Southern California… I have a basement full of supplies, but when we moved, we had to ditch my some 50lbs of water. We havn’t had the money to re-stock. I’m hoping I can tend to that sooner than later.
I’m in Aurora and Leadville. I’ve been following Fluwiki since around mid Feb. I was one of the “non reported” West Nile sufferers (too sick to get out of bed to go to the doc). Rarely sick and active as a runner, biker, skier I was shocked when I got WN. When I started reading about BF it touched a nerve. I’ve done some prepping. I think my hubby is slowly coming onboard. Still lots of works to do.
I live in Colorado Springs. I’ve done some initial preparations but currently have no support from my wife. She thinks it’s a waste of time. Hopefully I’ll change her mind but in the meantime I’m trying to do some stealth stocking of food, water and medicine. It’s a kinda hard to stock up months of food and water and not have anyone notice. :)
I’m in Loveland and have been prepping since October 2005. Am taking a bit of a break to catch up financially. Luckily, although it’s basically been my job re: food prep, everyone in the family is supportive.
BTW, it’s so good to have the wikie up and running again. I sure missed it while ya’ll were moving servers! To all involved: thanks for your amazing dedication.
Durango here! Just topping off with some long term food storage items and the mobile ham radio is still on my wish list.
I’m out of state (in TX) for now, but have managed to get my parents prepping in Ft Collins and am working on my sister there, too.
(JanieJ ~ I had West Nile, too, and that and Rita coming through here last year were two of my top reasons to start prepping to a higher degree than I’d been doing in the past.)
Here in Fort Collins. I know it may be foolish, but I am waiting until this thing is more likely than now before rushing to purchase supplies.
Hi Everyone! I’m in that place fondly known as the Republic of Boulder, that little patch of blue in the red state. I went to the state prep conference where Leavitt spoke. Discouraging at the time as not much had been done in the way of preparations in the real world as opposed to on paper. I hope that is changing now. I did sit next to a public health nurse from eastern Colorado who was incredibly well-informed, though. We got hit really hard the year before last with West Nile. A guy I know nearly died. Of course we have bubonic plague in the prairie dogs, and a domestic cat got it, also person infected. And then there’s hantavirus. Mountain lions in the open space around town. A child recently attacked here. A few years ago a mama lion and two cubs on the hospital patio. We have bears and coyotes, too. Just livin’ in the Wild West. And now, if we have a pandemic, all of that will seem like no big deal.
My aunt lives in Boulder and I’m working on getting her prepping. Like alot of people in Boulder she is a major pet lover so I’m convincing her she needs to think of her pets and stock up on food and water for them. And they will need her to feed them so she should stock up for herself. Just might work! :)
doug - so what is your point where you will be convinced a pandemic is likey and you should start preparing?
nopower at 12:05: Brilliant! I saw a stat that Boulder has 25,000 dogs for 90,0000 people.
Doug, we’re already seeing prices heading up and waits for bulk orders hitting three, four weeks or longer. If everyone preps close to the same time, supplies won’t go around. Even the head MD of the Larmier County Department of Health and Environment was quoted in one of the weekend papers suggesting folks should prep for two months. She’s worried folks aren’t doing anything.
Down the road from Doug, in Loveland
Greetings from the south Denver metro area!
Just beginning to ramp up my preps. Following Alpha Geek’s steps
I’m trying to be organized and methodical to make the best use of limited funds and space, but sometimes after reading the wikie, I just want to go out and buy everything I can get my hands on. Nice to hear others are working on the situation …. Thanks.
I’m from rural CO, getting organized & prepping!
Hmmm… Don’t we have about 4.5 million population in the state? I wish we had more preppers ….
Here’s my question: What are these geo-groupings all about? If the SHTF, will we try to network? Do we just seek the comfort of community?
I can tell you, if ricewiki or Melanie or Dem or pogge or anon-22 or ‘most anyone with the password “FluWiki” shows up on my doorstep, I’ll do my best to help out — whether they’re from CO or Alberta or Zimbabwe.
BTW, my preps consist of 4000 lbs of MRE brussel sprouts salvaged from a derailed freight train. I might be willing to trade some for a little salt and some of that canned butter you folks talk about…
;-)
TD
I live in the Vail area - for 30 years now! Been prepping since the Oprah show last fall. I only have about 3 months worth of supplies, water and food for 2 of us but hope to get 5 months worth. We have a river that runs near us and I have water filters and tablets. I feel for the people in the cities with no water source.
Last night I was reading an official meeting transcript from a Colorado State Emergency Management meeting that was held recently. In the transcripts one of the participants said that they would not be posting the State Pandemic Plan online because “people would see the holes in it”. ha ha!!! that about sums it up for our state gov!
here is the ling to that Colorado pandemic planning meeting-March 24/06
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/bt/SummitSummary.pdf
bottom of pg 13
Q Are there executive orders for a pandemic and are they public?
Ned Calonge – the issue is that they are currently “DRAFT” orders; and we are concerned the public would be able to see vulnerabilities and gaps in plans; so no, they are not broadly available to the public at this time, but you can go on the state website and see what the orders generally cover.
hope they are gitten er done!
Petticoat Junction~ Happy to see you made it thru the West Nile epidemic. Something I would not wish on my worst enemy.
Nightowl~ At least you are living on the “island” in that little patch of blue in the red state. Try living in Arapaho County. Even with all our interesting wild life we wouldn’t really want to “not” be “livin in the Wild West” would we?
Hi JanieJ: I do agree! How are things going in Arapaho County?
Hi Nightowl, Things are good in Arapaho County/Aurora. Although for the last few days I thought I was living in Phoenix. Enjoyed breakfast on the back deck watching the Canadian geese in the reservior and behind our house (my neighbor feeds them grain every day, thus they are waiting for their breakfast fix). On my run I saw a family of 4 chicks. The coyotes have pretty much eliminated most of the other hatchlings. My husband grew up in the Republic of Boulder. We both graduated from CU as did our 3 children. We know Boulder well! Two of our kids and their families live in Superior and Lafayette. Neither family seems remotely interested in discussing Avain Flu or prepping. By the way you may be able to add wolves to your list of animals we enjoy while livin’ in the Wild West. Did you read about a possible sighting of two wolves near Aspen?
Hi JanieJ (cool name), You’re kidding, wolves? Wow, I hadn’t heard. Thanks for letting me know. It’s still a struggle getting my extended family to prep, too. I’m especially worried about the ones up at nearly 9,000 feet and the electricity going out. Nine to 10 months of snow. <sigh> My favorite was when one of my relatives said, “I’ll just go to a hotel if the electricity goes off.”
I would so happily be back up in the Poudre at 8500 ft if I could ~ I really miss living up there, especially now! Ah well, I guess it is nice to have a grocery store 4–5 min away instead of an hour…as long as they’re open! ;o)
Janie ~ ditto to you on the West Nile. I have never been anywhere *near* that sick in my entire life. My poor husband was completely freaked out. And it just went on and on and on. I think of it often as I prep now, especially putting meds into place that the kids could use on their own if they have to…….
By By MARIJA B. VADER The Daily Sentinel
Thursday, June 08, 2006
State wildlife officers this week trapped hundreds of Canada geese throughout Colorado as part of its annual research on the birds, but this year contained an added component to the routine research: to detect and track avian bird flu.
Hotline for reporting sick or dead birds
“State health and agriculture officials established a telephone hotline Thursday so the public can report sick or dead birds that might be carrying avian flu. The highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus has not been detected anywhere in North America, so you’re probably more likely to win the next Powerball than to find a wild bird killed by the virus in Colorado.
“We don’t want to cause undue concern, but we would like people to know who to call if they see sick or dying birds,” said acting state veterinarian Keith Roehr.
The number is 877–462–2911.
The line is staffed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.”
(CBS4) DENVER Wildlife experts have been taking samples from geese at local parks in the Denver area to test them for bird flu. Researchers had no reason to believe the geese had bird flu.
The plan was to examine about 3,000 geese on the Front Range this month along with another 8,000 on the Western slope.
Thursday, the scientists were drawing the samples and banding geese at 3 parks around Denver, including City Park.
Hi All-
I’ve never posted but I’ve been reading and prepping for a while now. I am also in Loveland- I thought I was the only crazy one in this town! ;) My friends and family are not supportive to say the least and I’ve quit talking about it. It’s nice to know that someone else around here is taking this seriously!
Hi ColoradoKel: Welcome! I think we have all felt the same way you have.
ColoradoKel -
Are you who I think you are?
Yes- This is your sister-
Anymore thoughts on how to convince my darling husband and stubborn friends that this is not just another hobby of mine? Nevermind, don’t bring it up anymore- it’ll only cause me trouble….
By the way, your jokes are SO stupid! (but kinda funny too…)
I knew it!
I was wondering when you would make your appearance. About the jokes - That is why they are called dumb jokes of the day! :-)
We shouldn’t take up the thread with our chit chat. I will call you. You’ll like it here on Fluwiki and don’t worry - Hubby will come around.
There was a lot of activity in Quincey Reservior (southeast Aurora) this morning as rangers and volunteers literally conducted a “wild goose chase”. This must have been part of the banding and tested going on in the state as noted by Nightowl at 17:28.
From the Fort Collins Coloradoan
2 months of food: $1,200; Emergency-ready pantry: Priceless http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060609/NEWS01/606090306/1002
Few businesses have a plan in place in case of pandemic http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060609/NEWS01/606090305/1002
For those in the Boulder, Colorado area…
This is not bird flu related, but you may be hearing about a fatal accident that occured this morning near an intersection on the Diagonal Highway involving a bicyclist and a semi-truck. The bicyclist was the wife of a dear family friend of ours. Her mom was there visiting and riding on a bike behind her and witnessed the whole thing. She was my age (mid 30′s) and they have 2 young girls.
I am in total shock and feel so sad for all of them. Go give your family big hugs tonight…
Heather: Yes, it is in the news here; I was on the diagonal today and knew something had happened. I am so sorry for the family and also for you and your’s. Sending you warm, caring thoughts, Heather.
Thanks, Nightowl. I meant to say they have 2 young kids, not 2 girls… They have a 3 year old boy and a 7 year old girl…
This is every mom’s worst nightmare. Leaving behind 2 young kids without any notice or warning. Her poor husband is a total wreck and her mother… well, I can’t even imagine.
I’ll be picking up his sister and his parents at the airport tomorrow. Did this really just happen? Definitely go give your babies hugs and kisses tonight….you never know what will happen. Heather, I’ll call you tomorrow night sometime.
For those in the Fort Collins/Loveland area, you might be interested in the recently launched (June 29) web site/wiki for local pandemic flu planning for Larimer County, Colorado.
http://fluplan.larimerhealth.org
For non-local folks, the resources in the “Sectors” section and the suggested content for the “Plan Chapters” may be of most use.
Thanks for the link
As I write, my sweet wife is playing, “Be Still My Soul” on our piano.
The composer is Finnish. He knew His inspiration.
Mighty purty.
If the SHTF, let’s work together.
May you see His sweet dreams —
TD
Actually I think Colorado is more proactive regarding H5N1 than many states… though not many in Ouray are willing to look into H5N1. My parents are in Grand Junction and they have West Nile. I will be passing on the Hotline for reporting sick or dead birds ph # to both my parent and my brother in Montrose… they both live near water/ducks/geese.
Was born in Boulder in student housing… did not see much wild life… just wild students. Did see a bear on the Steamboat golf course, wild horses just outside Grand Junction, a wolverine on the grand mesa (reported it to a park ranger who told me that they had release several) and quite a few cats in Ouray. Coyotes are everywhere…
Prepped for 1 year… working on 18m
My wife and I live in Clifton, a “suburb” of Grand Junction. My octogenarian parents live nearby, as do our son and our daughter & 7 y/o grandson.
Strawberry Days, the Corn Festival and the Peast Festival are over; just the Wine Festival and the Apple Fest left to go…
Glad to see others here from Colorado, even if most of you are on the front range. We few here on the western slope will try to hold our half of the state together as best we can (and, no, you can’t have more of our water…).
Hi Dennis in Colorado - LOL on the water comment!
I am really dismayed that our state decided not to purchase its full allotment of Tamiflu. Is there any news to the contrary?
Nightowl, I haven’t heard any recent news about the state government’s Tamiflu purchase. I do know that Mesa County (where I live) has purchased its own stockpile but I do not know how many doses were purchased or how many more might be planned.
This will only depress you, Dennis. Sorry. :-(
I’m searching for updates.
That’s OK, Nightowl. I presume that any preparations by the state government will be focused on Ft. Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. Just as I don’t expect to see any FEMA trucks over here, I don’t expect to see any state public-health officials, either.
Dennis in Colorado, given the other statements by Ned Calonge, medical director for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in the Denver Post article above, I think we are all in big trouble as far as help from the state goes. :-(
USA Today article. August 17, 2006. Still bad news for Colorado.
For those folks in the Denver Metro area, Parker Adventist Hospital is having a Bird Flu seminar tomorrow, August 29.
Colorado Free Seminar Pandemic Influenza Bird Flu and You
Details are here (first attempt at a tiny URL …)
Colorado isn’t buying Tamiflu through the federal purchase program in part because of the restrictions that Roche put on the federal contract: It can’t be rotated out and used for seasonal flu; it can only be used in case a pandemic occurs before the expiration date. (Basically meaning that all the medicine [and money]is wasted if a pandemic doesn’t occur within a few years.)
They are also concerned about the lack of clear effectivness when given to people with H5N1 flu. At this point, there’s more evidence [in animals] to support using Tamiflu preventively than as treatment, though that would require even more medicine at even greater cost in case of a pandemic.
If evidence is found that Tamiflu significantly impacts H5N1 illness in humans, Colorado officials are considering buying it outside the federal contract, even if it costs more, because it could be used to help people prevent/treat seasonal flu too, providing at least some benefit even if a pandemic doesn’t occur.
Given the paltry sum of money that the state legislature puts into public health in Colorado, this is not an unreasonable position to take, since buying Tamiflu would likely mean doing it at the expense of children’s immunizations, prenatal services, etc. with very clear benefit and cost effectiveness.
big critter – at 02:10
Thanks. I was not aware of the restrictions within the federal purchase program. Not buying through that program may turn out to be the better move.
Hey everyone.
boy it’s been a few months since popping up in the wiki.
the last few months have been a struggle for me, so much so that I’ve completly forgotten about H5N1. At times, when money was tight, we even ate our storage food (not good).
I guess out of sight really is out of mind, but that’s just not a healthy state of mind considering that we’re not out of the woods yet, from what I’m reading.
I also moved into an apartment complex which scares the hell out of me. Nothing like having the neighbors flu blown right into my apartment.
I think it’s time I continue my preps. A pandemic is inevidable at some point, so I guess it’s better to be ready than not!
Time to do emergency supply kit inventory.
Oh…One nice thing about my apartment complex…we have storage units in our underground parking =] I can store up all the water and goods that I want, and they’ll be safe and accessable!
Kristy - I’ve lost your email - please drop me a line when you get a chance - Thom
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