From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: Are You in New Jersey

01 February 2006

Grace RN – at 15:58

The same titled Michigan thread seems to moving along so well, I wanted to start one for us. I live in Winslow Township, Southern NJ- southern part of camden County, right outside Hammonton.

Jersey in the house?

Lily – at 16:01

Jersey girl here too. Somerset County, but I’m all over the map in my travels. Hunterdon, Union, Morris, Mercer. Came up from AC this afternoon, running down to Princeton tonight.

EOD – at 16:02

Perhaps the administrators of this site could set up an easy way to get to individual forums for each state?

Grace RN – at 16:06

Lily-you were in my neck of the woods. What line of work are you in? have you looked into your local/county pandemic plans- if so, what results?

EOD- good idea…

Lily – at 16:06

I don’t think the time is quite ripe just now. Already talked to two mayors. Will ask some pointed Questions at a financial seminar next week. See how that flies. People are not ready and when their not ready, you are a pain in the neck to them, no matter how lightly you tread.I wonder how Mom of Five, fared in her church presentation, since others in her church where making fun of her. I haven’t gotten that response yet, and I tailor my talking about this to the individual and their response.

Peej – at 18:38

Hi Neighbors, I’m in New Brunswick!

Lily – at 18:51

Spending less time in AC thanks to fluwiki. Find I’m bored with it now, except for the food and the accomadations which are fully comped. I ignore most of the offers of comps, but will spend a nite or two at the Borgata. Used to have relatives in that area, no more.

Lisa B – at 19:11

Used to live in Mt Laurel and Haineport before moving to Florida. But I’m still a Philly Girl at heart! And a Wildwood girl during the summers.

Grace RN – at 21:49

Ah, Wildwood…the crest? Are you a prepper now due to the hurricane risks?

Thom – at 22:09

North Wildwood here - have a house just a couple of blocks off the beach and still make monthly trips back up ‘home’ from northern VA.

Grace RN – at 22:11

I used to rent a place in North Wildwood in the summer- now you need a train to get to the water…:)

Thom-are you a flu prepper-where do you plan to make your stand- Va? NJ?

Thom – at 22:16

Yes - but new to the prepping although I have about 30–40 days worth of food stuffs, etc. Growing wp on the coast it was always a good idea to have little something put away - just in case. I live in PW county but am building a place down in Spotsy (lake anna) where I hope to make my stand - very few year round folks down there - just hope the house is build before it hits the fan.

Lisa B – at 22:40

Close to the Crest Grace, we are on Leaming Avenue. We used to have a giant Turn of the Century Victorian in the Crest and the Bank bought it from us to use for their administration offices. We came back after the winter and it was gone. Very heartbreaking. We had beautiful 18 inch old fashioned crown moulding made by hand with the original finish and stained glass windows. So we bought the house on Leaming. It used to be owned by my aunt and I actually spent every summer there with all my cousins until we bought the house on Buttercup. Love Wildwood! I definitely have sand in my shoes. That’s why I live so close to the ocean here but no place has a beach like Wildwood. I know, I know, you need a camel to get to the ocean it’s so far, but it is beautiful. I just wish more people would think about bringing their homes back to the glory they were originally instead of knocking them down and building the same old duplex over and over again. But that’s a story for another time.

I guess I’ve always been a prepper. I went through a few hurricanes in Jersey so the hurricane planning is really no different. It just happens to be our time right now. Hurricanes aren’t bad while you are going through them as long as you are in a good home (I’ve never been through more than a category 3) but the aftermath really stinks and that’s what you prepare for. See you down the shore!

02 February 2006

Grace RN – at 10:08

Lisa B…we’d better wear the blue virus wiki symbol so we can find each other..I’m glad you kept the older home; the destruction of so many old homes down the jersey shore breaks my heart…keep on preppin’…….

Grace RN – at 10:12

Thom-re: new house, hope so too….

flourbug – at 16:26

I was born in Elizabeth and lived in Berkeley Heights for many years. Always a trip or two or three to Wildwood in the summer, and we had to eat at Uries and Mac’s pizza.

Grace RN – at 16:41

Where are you now?

flourbug – at 17:00

In Florida. Just above Tampa.

NJ Preppie – at 17:11

I’m in an old Sea Captain’s house. I’m stocking a concrete bunker type root cellar. It never was a part of our life before, because it has a heavy door from the basement and sticks out underground, exterior of the basement foundation walls. Made to stay chilly and bug proof.

I e-mailed out a report on Bird Flu Facts, with a concluding link to the Fluwikie Community page, to Mayor, committee members, newspaper,neighbors and relatives, etc.

04 February 2006

Grace RN – at 15:54

NJPrepper- did you get any response to your email? Your home sounds wonderful, down at the shore, I assume…

NJ. Preppie – at 16:15

Many have checked into the Fluwikie link at the bottom, and forwarded the e-mail on to others. I hoped it might get used on the editorial page of the newspaer, “Your Viewpoint”. A week after I sent it to the newspaper, there was a cover feature on the business section of the Asbury Park Press, on businesses and communities preparing for the Pandemic. I was startled to see the big headline and scary photo of doctor in scrubs, gloved hands held towards camera lens. It took up the front page with more on the second page. It sounded like it drew from some of the research on the Fluwikie site. The article posted about the lack of food reserves in US, is terrible. What can we do about that? Many here are content to be individually prepared, but no man’s an island. Being a survivor doesn’t mean there won’t be a big impact on everyone’s life.

Grace RN – at 16:26

“What can we do about that? “

Good question; I don’t have a clue. Our “fearless leader” is GW seems to be so removed from reality at this point….

Barbara – at 16:38

I’m in Mt. Laurel, Burlington County and have been preping for almost a year. I think I have about a one year supply of food put aside but need to inventory again. Also have a 10 kilowatt solar electric system & Generac generator. NJ is giving tremendous rebates for renewable energy systems! I also am armed and will be dangerous if threatened. I am a mother of a teenage son who thinks I’ve gone off the deep end as far as BF is concerned.

My husband & I belong to a gun club deep in the NJ Pinelands and hone our shooting skills almost weekly - the weather here has been extremely mild this winter which has made more time at the shooting range available.

I am very familar with Wildwood as my husband & I never miss the annual NJ HOG Rally held every September in Wildwood. My husband & I each have Harley Davidson Low-Riders.

I’ve been lurking here for awhile and have learned an enormous amount from all of the people who contribute here. Thanks to all of you

Grace RN – at 16:40

barbara- welcome!

My family also think I’m crazy, but that’s OK because if food ran out in the stores they’d be the first to say I should have seen this coming and prepared..

where is your gunclub?

Barbara – at 16:48

Grace - gun club is off Rt. 206 near Atsion. I can’t give the name or exact location because other members are “on the same page” as we are concerning BF, Peak Oil or whatever other horror is waiting to rear it’s ugly head.

Yes,if TSHTF, my family will have to eat some crow! pun on words

Grace RN – at 17:04

Barb- I live very near that area, are any of the gunning club members from Winslow Township?

NJ Preppie – at 17:06

Hi Barbara,

You are doing a great job to have solar energy generator. So much solar and wind energy is going to waste right on our own roofs. If every house had a small personal windmill and solar collectors, drawing and adding to the energy grid like hybrid car-type houses, we would solve 40% of our nations energy needs.

I’m in a small town of 6,000 people along the coast. I face the bay, but have every creature in the backyard, foxes, wild turkeys, deer, etc.. Tom Brown has the “Tracker Camp” about 8 miles away. We’ve seen him at work. Lots of primitive survivalists come here. We know native hunters and both our neighbors are in that category. We are getting gun and license right now, although BF is not the reason. It’s more the culture, that my son and his friends are into.

Lisa B – at 17:10

Hey Flourbug, Love Mack’s Pizza! Urie’s too especially the outside bar. We also like Lighthouse point and The Wharf. Don’t forget about Curley’s Fries. I miss the Shoprite the most. It’s ashame we don’t have any down in Florida. It should be around Can Can time right about now.

NJ Preppie – at 17:13

Can Can happened through last few weeks. However, they are moving the cans with expiration dates of June 2006 or so, I have to look hard for 2007.

Grace RN – at 17:14

Lisa- you missed Can Can time..my fav place to eat at the Jersey shore is the Chatterbox on 9th Street in OC

Lisa B – at 17:21

Hi Barb! We used to live in Mt Laurel too. Many friends and neighbors still in the area have also jumped on the solar rebates. Don’t forget the Federal Government is also giving credits if you installed it in 2006. My friend actually built his new home in Sea Isle completely with solar. Good going!

Lisa B – at 17:23

Another thing I miss is Wawa……

NJ Preppie – at 17:32

Lisa-

Tom Brown’s Tracker school is always loading up at the Wawa, with take-out subs for the campers. If they had to subsist on wildlife every week, they would suck up all the deer population for miles around.

holysmoke – at 17:36

All of our family is in Jersey…we have two daughters there, one in Galloway and one in Morristown. I miss the Italian cheeses, they’re pretty expensive to have shipped, but we do. Ocean City people…Mack & Manko pizza on the boardwalk is the very best, don’t you think? Hey, is this a closed group, or are new people welcome?

Lisa B – at 17:37

Welcome Holysmoke!

Lisa B – at 17:39

Are you still in Jersey or a transplant?

Barbara – at 17:52

Grace - club members are mostly from Glouster County - we joined through a friend. The club is a small membership but at the same time has every type of range and covers abut 40 acres. It’s impossible to find unless you know it’s there.

NJ Preppie & Lisa B. - We have solar electric consisting of 50 panels on our roof & two invertors. During daylight hours, our electric meter runs backwards which means we are sending electric back to the grid. For this PSE&G credits us back towards our natural gas bill. Of course they credit us less than what they charge per kilowatt becsuse of their outrageous surcharges & transpotation fees. However, for every 1,000 kilowatt hours we generate we can sell them as Green Tags at apprx, $200 - $300 per 1000 also known as SRECS. We received a 70% rebate from the state for this system. The requirement is that it must face south & have no obstructions which meant we had to remove a large tree. We will not receive a tax credit from the IRS because we went on line in Sept. 2005, however, the rebate from the state has gone down so we are still well ahead of the game. We have generated almost 7,000 kilowatt hours (SRECS)as of this date and that amount will increase as the days grow longer. All in all, I will say that “going solar” was one of the smarter moves we have made. Also. NJ is giving the highest rebates in the country but I don’t know for how much longer.

holysmoke – at 18:13

We’re in West Virginia now. But may be going back there….that’s where all of our kids want to be…we’ve got “Jersey Girls”. One daughter is finishing college in May and will be moving there next. We’ve got a daughter in Eastern Europe in the Peace Corps also, I’m a nurse and my husband a physician, so we’ve kept a pretty close eye on developments there. Oh, thanks for the welcome!

holysmoke – at 18:32

Speaking of Avian Flu, have you heard Bulgaria confirms their first case of confirmed H5Ni in a dead swan. 26 dead wild birds were found today. These were found near the Black Sea Coast. Testing is being done but results will not be back for a WEEK??! Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania….the ‘Black’ Sea takes on a whole new meaning!

Grace RN – at 20:42

holysmoke- what is the feeling you get from your peers on the topic? We almost re-located to W.Va. years ago. I would imagine you’re a little nervous re: your daughter in Eastern Europe and this thing creeping around.

Barb-are your friends at the gunning club active in Glo Co re: bird flu/pandemic prep? Is this the gunning club off the dirt road and across from the little cemetary? I’d like to extend current small group of people who are knowledgeable about potnetial for pandemic in Camden County.

05 February 2006

Barbara – at 00:10

Grace - I know which gun club you’re refering to - that’s not the one. I would rather not say much about it on an open forum. The club I’m in is deep, deep into the woods and barely passable with 4WD and not near the one you asked about. As far as the members go, I am the first & only woman to ever become a member so the rest are obviously men and aren’t prepping with food themselves but maybe their wives are. Some think BF is a joke and are more concerned about a nuclear attack or peak oil. Some are very old and don’t care. Some are very concerned about BF and plan on hightailing it out of NJ at first warning. It’s a mixed bag of people concerned about various events taking place in the world.

My family & I are prepared to quarantine in place if necessary. I think I’m almost there, I sure hope so. My adult daughter & a friend of hers are prepping. I have a friend who is doing her best to prepare also. Most people I know don’t take BF seriously or think Uncle Sam will take care of them - Get Real!

I keep checking to see if the township or county has a plan in place, but none so far. The UPS man & mailman are the two people I worry about as I have purchased quite a lot of long term storage food. Other than them, I’m not worried as I don’t talk to anyone about it anymore.

holysmoke – at 08:31

Unfortunately I see professionals responding purely to the chain of command. I see no talk of avian flu from the top down, particularly in the Federal health care sector. These people are so controlled and whipped into this comand mindset, that concerns can only be heard in a whisper (if at all). Those in charge, and certainly healthcare workers who are in contact with our patients here are not in a preparation mindset. We need solid leadership here, and there is not much of it, I’m afraid. Look at New Orleans. It’ll be grassroots efforts all the way.

I am married to this virus event especially because of our daughter there. When she first arrived there she would speak of all the ‘Ninja Chickens’ she was watching in the front yard. Chickens, pigs (with picture frames around their necks to keep them from going through the poorly made fence), cows…all just wandering through the neighborhood. These people DO depend upon their livestock though. The roads are pretty bad, and cars crazy, if you hit a person on the road…nothing happens (they should have avoided the car), but if you hit a cow you must pay the owner for the cow. That’s why it will be hard to contain in these areas. As we have read, to villagers these animals are their way to survive.

Grace RN – at 09:30

Barbara- got it…I am planning to have my daughter and grandson quarantine in place. Those folks who plan to get out of Jersey- I hope they have a weel stocked destination in place before they leave. Congrats on breaking the sex barrier at the club.

holysmoke-good description of the mentality and lack of realistic leadership-what role will you be playing then TSHTF?

If it wasn’t such a serious subject the thought of chickens running around wearing picture frames would be funny. Will pray that your daughter fares well..you must be proud of here though…

Ladybug – at 13:08

Grace and Barbara et al.. Nice to think back on NJ - it’s been 20 years since we left but we still think of ourselves as “pineys” - we hailed from Sweetwater and 4-wheeled the back roads in the pines all the time. The idea of being self- reliant was there even back then, and we have carried it to our home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Have been watching this site for several months and feel like I know many of you already. It is so important to plan for events unforseen. The last ice storm before Christmas left us without power for 6 days - it can happen anytime. We are trying to keep watchful and prudent about things to come…..

Lisa B – at 14:05

Welcome Barbara! Good to see you peeking in. Once a Jersey girl, you can never forget. Well I’m guessing from the name you’re female. I keep forgetting ladybugs are also male. How politically uncorrect of me.

Laura in PA – at 14:09

We live in Bucks county, PA, a few minutes from NJ. My husband works in Princeton. I have tried to contact his company to find out what their emergency preparations are. He won’t do it because he’s too embarrassed. I chickened out (sorry for the pun!) in trying to go too far finding the info. He did have a good idea though: I might get farther with Human Relations or Operations if I told them I was a reporter. Since I am NOT willing to lie about that, I thought, all we have to do is write an article for a local paper, or, freelance the idea, and we would actually be doing just that!

Petergunn – at 14:11

Im in Bergen :-)

Lisa B – at 14:20

Holysmoke: I feel for you with having a daughter so far away. My daughter is under contract until August with her job in Hawaii. She loves it but it really makes me nervous being so far away and also so isolated. Two days ago I found out that there is a huge population of wild chickens there. Couple that with being a stopover ground for birds and a big population from Asia living there as well as tourism from affected countries and you have a recipe for infection. Not feeling real confident about her safety right now. One bright spot is that the state was one of the first to have a pandemic plan and it’s pretty good. I am alittle worried that if something does happen she will not be able to come home if they shut the airports. I made her get a flu shot and pneumonia shot. Hope that helps. I will be praying for safety for both our daughters.

holysmoke – at 15:24

The most reassurance I feel is when someone tells me they are praying! Thank you, I am too. I just spoke to my daughter this morning and their living conditions have improved as of today! (Speaking of prayers answered) Interesting though, she said the gov has put posters up all over the country putting a $500 fine for EACH wild bird shot and killed (for food). They normally allow families to hunt 2–3 wild birds (ducks mostly) for food, and it has been banned. Also the Gov. is preparing the money payout to farmers to cull their farm poultry when H5N1 is detected. She said some people have done this already on their own not waiting for the $ because they have many other food sources. It sounds like the people are trying despite their poor resources. They are in a direct migratory path however. My husband has a cousin who has had a nut farm in Hawaii for many years….speaking of nuts. My impression was they had a rather well organized healthcare network. As for us, my husband is orthopaedics…if they fall down with the flu he’ll fix them…but of course, we’ve been in medicine for so long, and we live right next door to the hospital, so we’re sure to be lending a hand. We’ve got a pretty good team of medical students also…talk about a baptism of fire that may be!

holysmoke – at 15:27

Lisa B: Have you looked at the migration season/pattern over Hawaii?

Lisa B – at 21:49

No I haven’t. Do you know where to find it? I guess I’ll google it.

01 May 2006

birdwatcher – at 21:58

What is going on with the article about bird flu in New Jersey?? They say its not transmitable to humans and the birds did not die from it. Yet they culled the birds. Maybe they caught it before it could kill the birds. What do you all think about this discovery.?

02 May 2006

NJ Jeeper – at 08:31

lAURA IN PA I also live in Bucks County and work in Trenton. My wife thinks I am Wacko, but going along with my preps. Make regualar trips to Sams on Rte 1 both in Nj and Pa. Can not find the old style gas cans for $5. The new ones enviro friednly are $15 each.

Barbara what is Peak oil?

Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst (maybe not the worst, worst.)

Janet – at 14:14

Hi there. Summit, NJ, checking in!

Wrote to our town council yesterday and got back a typical response….we are following the lead of the state! What the heck does that mean! I would have much rather heard that they are accessing their: police force, emergency squad, town utilities, care facilities for the sick and elderly, schools and auditoriums for possible care centers, etc. Not one word on any of this. Just, we are following what the State of NJ tells us to do. I will keep trying.

Summit is a residential, family town with lots of young kids. I look around at these young families and wonder how they will pull through this if they have not planned at all. My two grown sons also live in Summit, so I have some peace of mind knowing that they are close by.

I have the type of job where I can telecommute if necessary as does my husband, so that is good news.

I think with over 3 months of preps stashed away in my house and all of the meds that I can think that one could need, I am in about as good as shape as I can be. I hope that I am emotionally and physically up to the challenge is TSHTF. Being 52, I am at that point where I want to travel and enjoy my life and watch my kids florish. The thought of going through this for several years really unrattles me. I guess I have gotten very used to our nice lives here in the US over the past 52 years and have never known of a disaster outside of 9/11 and the day President Kennedy was shot.

03 May 2006

Lily – at 20:46

Article in todays Star Ledger. A chicken and two ducks at a Camden County live poultry market that appear to have been infected with a mild versiion of bird flu. The strain is not the deadly H%N1 virus. They did a routine testing. The inspectors swab the throats of chickens, and the rectums of ducks for samples. The virus is the nonlethal strain that has been found in about 100 birds in the state since tests began nearly a decade ago. The birds were not sick. The reportor for the Star Ledger areKitta MacPherson, and Angela Stewart.Final results showing precisely what strain of the virus has infected the Camden birds are imminent.Birdwatcher on May 1.They are cleaning up the market. The market will be inspected again before the owners are allowed to reopen.

04 May 2006

NJ DAWN – at 08:02

NJ HCW here. slowly prepping. No one takes me seriously. Don’t know of anyone else prepping around here. Did see an MD at the local BJ’s with a large amount of gatorade and water Hmmmm.

NJ. Preppie – at 09:14

NJ. residents- Here’s a link to voice your opinion about pandemic preparedness in our state. Let’s make good use of it. We need more pressure to educate businesses, utilities, hospitals, and HOUSEHOLDS(!) how to get ready. The State could run a media campaign, through internal jurisdictions and external means. That could acomplish a lot with out being a “we need Fed. funding” solution.

From an article entitled “Pandemic scenario tests N.J. cabinet” http://tinyurl.com/nhofr

“What else, if anything, do you think government - federal, state or local - should be doing to prepare for a pandemic? How much confidence do you have in government planning and response? Are you making any type of preparedness plan for you and your family? If so, what?

Send your thoughts in 200 words or fewer to Readers Editor, The Inquirer, Box 41705, Philadelphia 19101. Fax: 215–854–4483.

E-mail metroletters@phillynews.com.

Please put “flu” in the subject line.

Janet – at 15:30

Great info. Thanks, NJ Preppie. I am going to sit and write my thoughts tonight. 200 words is not alot and I really want to get in everything that I can.

Want to go over other’s thoughts on the President’s Plan. Alot of people commented on things that were missing that are critical

29 May 2006

anonymous – at 11:30

Thought you guys would like to know…

(AP) NEWARK, NJ - “An outbreak of bird flu could overwhelm New Jersey’s hospitals and severely disrupt businesses and everyday life, with many people becoming sick and dying, state officials say.

So top Garden State and federal officials plan to gather this week to discuss how well New Jersey is prepared for an outbreak of the virus that has killed more than 120 people worldwide since it began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003.

“We’re better prepared than we were, but we still need to do more,” said New Jersey’s health commissioner, Dr. Fred Jacobs. “If a pandemic flu comes, we don’t have a vaccine, and vaccine is the bulwark against it.”

Jacobs is to be joined at the Rutgers University summit by officials including U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt; Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Richard Canas, New Jersey’s homeland security director.

“We believe it is vital that everyone—private citizens, community leaders, businesses and government officials—prepare and understand the implications of a pandemic,” said Gov. Jon Corzine. “Bringing these groups together to discuss the challenges of a pandemic is a vital step in our state’s preparedness….”

http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_149105257.html

MaMaat 11:30

darn cookies:-)

TRay75at 11:38

Reporting in from Collingswood. I’m planning to bug out back home to North Carolina before TSHTF for many reasons (biggest being lower population density, family with better areas and homes to make preps, and better knowledge of the infrastructure and a good record of recovery fom hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes, etc.) that give me a better hope to get things going after each wave.

Grace RN – at 11:55

Tray75 at 1138: i’m in Winslow township- Camden County- same as you. Has your town started pandemic training yet? If not, contact the county Board of health at 856–374–6000 and ask for Trish. She can help get education sessions started, if they haven’t already.

Anon at 1130- the 2004 cenuse shows a population of approx 8,700,000 people in NJ-so if one third became ill=2,900,00 sick people and of these-using the modest 2–3% CFR for the 1918 panflu as Jacobs claims to use-creates a minimum of 58,000 dead in NJ (now my math’s never great, so check my calculations and let me know if I’m wrong).

This is Jacobs’ stats, per anon’s link:

“Using a computer model from the CDC, the state estimates that a flu pandemic could kill 8,141 people in New Jersey and send nearly 41,000 to hospitals, nearly 10,000 of whom will require treatment in intensive care units.”

Talk about whitewashing the issue!!! When I went to the NJ Hospital Associations’panflu seminar in Feb this year-they used 1% as the cfr for the 1918 panflu- no one accepts such as low cfr for 1918 as that!!!!!!

30 May 2006

Worried in NJ – at 11:56

I’m from Middletown in Monmouth County.

NJ. Preppie – at 12:50

Thank you Mama for the summit info. I wanted to go but it was closed already. There was another news item I wanted to share: From May 19 newspaper- New Jersey’s homeland security chief will be using “red teams” of undercover agents to test security at hoispitals and chemical plants. They will attempt to breach security and get to hazardous materials. The New Jersey Hospital Assoc Vice President said, “If you are struggling with whether you buy more ventilators for a possible pandemic, or whether you buy more security cameras, it’s a very difficult choice.” (just the kind of additional distraction our hospitals need.)

Lily – at 13:21

I haven’t met a single person in my neck of the woods who takes this seriously, at least not that I notice. Never see any prepping activity, but I would never appear to be prepping to anyone. Have lived in Summit and Westfield before moving out here to Somerset County. Liked it there, like it here.They all have a sense of community, and there is a sense of that here too, so I think it will all come together in time. I don’t think it will happen for some time.

TRay75at 20:42

Grace and Lily, just checking back in. I had intended to check in with the Mayor her in Collingswood, but the whole town was caught up in “Mayfair” over the holiday so no one is available. Now I have a week full of medical appointments, so email may be my best bet. Of course, I am stuck with the dread of having him write me off as some alarmist crackpot, so I will be very careful about what I say and how I say it. The town just made $4 million off the pay-off of Parkview Apartments (where I “live” at this time) so they have some discretionary budget, but I’d bet it is earmarked to fix the ceiling that fell in the middle school auditorium just before my kids’ elementary school talent show or to pay for all the false fire alarms at Parkview.

The last few weeks I have done a lot of calculations and concluded that there is no way to SIP here - partly for room, partly for safety, largely for building construction. These buildings are 50 years old, and I think they could survive a hurricane, but they are pandemic deathtraps. Central building make-up air comes in the apartments through the gap under the entry door to the hallway, and with something like 28 apartments per floor for 9 or 10 floors it would be like living in a hospital.

I plan on bugging out back to my sister’s place in North Carolina with my wife and kids as soon as I get the indication TSHTF. 2 Story single family home with 2 bulldogs, a fair collection of weapons, plenty of storage for preps, and 3 world-class research hospitals within 40 miles – as well as being close to 4 different power plants, but furthest from a nuke unit I was trained for in the 80’s that may need some help if the grid goes down. Otherwise, if I get stuck here I have a feeling I’m collateral damage.

01 June 2006

Jeff – at 10:03

I live in Middlesex county. I have prepped a little. Probably has enough food and water for a month. Have masks, first aid kits, etc. I don’t know anyone who has prepped amongst co-workers and friends. My wife thinks I am crazy. I have been largely unmotivated to do any more prepping because of lack of support at home. Have to get back to it. I thought of getting Solar power but the cost, despite the rebate has scared me off. A home like mine will probably cost at least $20K after rebates. While my home faces South, I don’t particularly like the idea of solar panels on top of the roof in front. I wouldn’t care much if they were on sides or back.

DennisCat 10:24

I am in NM not NJ but found this is in the news-

Officials say N.J. pandemic would overwhelm facilities “If a pandemic struck worldwide, 30 percent of New Jersey’s 8.5 million population could be infected — 40,000 of them hospitalized in intensive care and 20,000 on ventilators, they said.

But New Jersey has only 25,000 licensed hospital beds, 1,750 intensive-care beds and 3,000 ventilators, state Health Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs said.”

http://tinyurl.com/qybv9

NJ. Preppie – at 10:30

Welcome Jeff- I am bewildered by the difference between how worried the experts and top officials are about H5N1, and how unaware the mass public is. It’s unfair that many intelligent people are not receiving enough warning. You have to be one of the exceptions that do a lot of research on their own, to realize how bad the danger is. It would be great if we all were more green and had solar and wind mills on our roof, just for the sake of the planet’s environment. However, for the pandemic causing loss of electricity, you can find temporary cheaper solutions. Survival doesn’t depend on refridgerators and computers, heating and water -yes.

I really think it is looking bad enough to prepare for this level. Feel completely justified in your efforts. Without these items, you won’t like being in the same boat with all the other unprepared people, if there is loss of power.

Lily – at 10:39

Jeff in Middlesex. While having breakfast at a local cafe I looked at the paper place mat. Visit our showcase for a free Solar Seminar. the Solar center.com 3138 Rout 10 West in Denville.It says N.J.rebates provide 60–70% Off the cost of installing a system. If this was 30 years ago when I first moved here I would have done it. Now its only a matter of years before I get up and move. Too lazy so far. It is the way to go. Electric and gas bills are astronomical, and I use as little as possible. A free seminar might give you a good idea of what to do, (if you have sales resistance.) I was thinking it might be interesting just to know whats there in case I win something sometime and decide to have the fun of building a new house. Found a few 4 leaf clovers this a.m. Should buy a lottery ticket for mega millions. Of course it never works. The only time my numbers came in, my dog rolled in deer manure and I exhausted myself washing him down, so didn’t go out to get my usual numbers. Wouldn’t you know it, they came in, so we called him the 2 million dollar dog after that.Good luck to all of us on the wiki.

Lily – at 10:39

We need it.

04 June 2006

worried in NJ – at 21:23

Has anyone seen this New Jersey considering who will get flu vaccine first

“The state’s commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services, Dr. Fred Jacobs, said there is a federal model that prioritizes caregivers and pharmaceutical workers to tend to the sick and to keep production of medicine at pace.

But Jacobs said New Jersey is not embracing the federal model while it studies the issue. He said that thought has been given to prioritizing the people most at risk, such as the elderly or the very young, if they appear to be most targeted by a flu.”

Lets see, lets not give it to the Docs and nurses who will care for us, lets not follow the federal model, we know better here in Jersey, well, give it to the lets see …. oh we can’t decide, … lets give it to the politicians so they will have the time to decide.

Why have I not moved…

TRay75at 21:32

And my wife still gives me hell when I say we need to get the heck out of here and back to NC where they “get it”. If we say here , we are going to die sooner rather than later. End of story.

TRay75at 21:33

… If we STAY …

Grace RN – at 21:35

worried in NJ – at 21:23

LOL. “why are we still here with the taxes, insane car insurance rates etc” my husband asks me all the time.

I’ve met Dr. Jacobs, and wasn’t over impressed with him. During a Feb 2006 New Jersey Hospital Association seminar on panflu preps for hospitals, he used 1% as the case fatality rate from the 1918 influenza pandemic, and uses those number to project statistics for a pandemic now. 8.5 million people in NJ and he predicts only 8,100 deaths? Can I have some of what he’s smoking?

There are only around 18,000 courses of treatment with tamiflu. Now, who will want to work in a NJ hosptial if you can’t get the vaccine and no hope of seeing Tamiflu?

worried in NJ – at 21:44

TRay75 – at 21:32

The idea with all this preping is not to “Get It”. ;~)

laura in pa – at 22:12

Hi, I live just over the Washington Crossing Bridge in PA, but my husband works in Princeton (not the University). He knows a lot of people in HR and I’m wondering if anyone thinks I should call them. I told him to ask one of them to talk to me as a personal favor to him (I gave him permission to say that his crazy wife is all wound up about bf and won’t get off his back till I talk to someone). My husband makes fun of me about bf, so he wouldn’t mention it himself. I would also think that the labor lawyers should also be thinking about this, but what would I say to make my point?

05 June 2006

NJ Jeeper – at 08:43

Honestly I think if you call HR, they will consider you a nut case. My experience after many years in the business world is that spouses who call the company can be counter productive. I would definitely not bring any talk of labor lawyers, because they will get defensive and at that point you are a potential law suit. I know this is not what you want to hear, but my opinion.

If you can send them some of the official govt issued data, they might be more receptive, and think since the govt says it maybe it is true, probably not. Not right now anyway. They will need their spouses to hit the panic stage. I do see more exposure in MSM, but inertia and “it just could not happen here” is hard to overcome.

We had our company’s insurance agent in last week and he met with me and the CEO. The agent discussed bird flu as a side issue, and said he was doing minor prepping. Our CEO say “ I am not worried”, and that ended the discussion.

Later the CEO assigned me to come up with the task of emergency planning if we could not access our offices for a few days.

There will be a section on bird flu in there just to get the ball rolling, and expand it after the initial shock.

21 June 2006

Jeff – at 09:53

1% of 8.5 million is 85,000, not 8100….:)

I am fed up with the filthy property taxes and insurance rates too. Sometimes I think there is NOTHING in NJ except for jobs and proximity to NYC for more jobs. I am beginning to think there is more to life than a six-figure income, most of which goes to mortgage, property taxes and insurance.

22 June 2006

worried in NJ – at 14:46

Jeff,

That’s why you don’t work for the State of NJ. If he has 18,000 doses of tamiflu and his math shows that 8,100 are needed, then he is more than coverd. He will get one of those bonus State works recently received. Now if he said 85,000 doses are needed and he has 18,000 doses, the press may ask a question. Welcome to NJ Math.

glennk – at 15:02

NJ “The Corruption State” I live in the AC area and nobody is preparing around here. When this hits it will be like a tidal wave. Even if you see it coming there won’t be much high ground. I’m trying to find some relenza but the Gov’t and the Big Corps are hogging it all. Why the Feds. haven’t mandated a crash program to get enough of this for the pop. is a crime. The truth Bu$hCo could care less if the rest of us all die. They’ll take care of the only people they take care of now the RICH.

Grace RN – at 15:21

glennK- AC has its’ own board of health-check with the county’s board of health to see what their plans are- camden county is doing something with pandemic planning, I live in winslow township and our township board of health is actively working on a pandemic plan. Be persistant!

23 June 2006

Grace RN – at 19:49

Call all NJ’ians- does anyone live in a city/town that has a pandemic plan? That is working on a pandemic plan?

TRay75at 23:51

Heck Grace, I can’t even find out when my apartment building is going to have the elevator working to get down to the laundry room after it has been “temporarily out of order” for 2 weeks. Finding out about real planning in Collingswood usually means waiting until the the little “Town Crier” newspaper comes out each month. Maybe in July we’ll hear something.

24 June 2006

laura in pa – at 01:19

bumping for bill

12 August 2006

banshee – at 11:58

In case anybody in NJ is interested:

Burlco to host forums on pandemic flu at http://tinyurl.com/fh6fe

Burlington County officials are holding six community forums aimed at helping residents understand and prepare for a possible outbreak of a bird flu or other flu pandemic…

The Sept. 7 forum will be at 7 p.m. at the Burlington County College Institute of Technology auditorium on Hawkins Road in Medford.

Other dates and sites:

Sept. 12 - Burlington County College gymnasium, Pemberton Township, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 - Cinnaminson High School auditorium, 7 p.m..

Sept 14 - JFK Center auditorium, Willingboro, 10 a.m..

Sept. 19 - Burlington County College Enterprise Center, Mount Laurel, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21: Rutgers Eco-Complex auditorium, Mansfield, 2 p.m.

For directions or information, contact the county health department at (609) 265–5548 or BCHD@co.burlington.nj.us/.

13 August 2006

BUMP – at 00:21

Bump

16 August 2006

TRay75at 17:19

Please see the Forum Are hospitals Ready for information on reservations to an open UMDNJ forum on Avian Flu ~ Pandemic Preparedness on September 27, 2006 if you are in the South Jersey area.

05 October 2006

worried in NJ – at 16:40

Disaster drill tests response in avian flu outbreak

Maybe things are looking better in Monmouth County than I had thought:

Asbury Park Press Article

06 October 2006

naomi – at 10:47

Hi all, I’ve been wondering where all the Jersey folks were hiding here! I’m from Bergen County. Seem’s to be a lot going on in NJ in the last week or so. PSA’s in the local supermarkets (shoprite and pathmark) and I’m hoping to see a lot more of an aggressive effort in educatiing the public in the coming weeks. It’s about time! :>}

Closed - Bronco Bill05 December 2006, 21:14

Closed to maintain Forum speed.

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