From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: Finding Other Preppers Alabama IV

23 October 2006

Bronco Bill – at 12:56

Continued from here

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:03

Wooooo WHOOoooo! We’re up to 4 — we’re a little behind Austrailia who is up to 20 or more I think, but I’ll take 4! We’re staying in touch!

Canning pinto beans right now!

frankiew – at 14:28

Hey, blam=Welcome, it is so nice to know that there are so many preppers here in the Mobile county area. Now if we could just get the Mobile Register or someone from the local news to pay attention and talk about prepping, it would be awesome. We did not have very many winter clothes per say, since it never really gets that cold here, but I went to my local Goodwill and American Thrift store and purchased flannel shirts, jogging pants and some jackets for the three of us. The most I pd for anyone thing was a bomber jacket for $7.00, in perfect condition and my 11 yr. loves it. I went ahead and purchased some pants and shirts in 2 sizes larger and washed and put them up in the laundry room shelves for future use as he grows like a weed. I am making an effort to try and never let my laundry go more than two days, that way when TSHIF I won’t have to spend that last 24 hrs. prior to SIP in the laundry room catching up. Believe me, this is a BIG adjustment for me, not very organized but am trying so hard to be better. Oh I noticed at my local WD that they were having a major sale on chicken. 40% off on all chicken, I got some good buys and put in my freezer, hope to this weekend to can some more chicken in broth, but for right now frozen solid. Each day I try to do at least one thing that is towards prepping, I don’t go and just shop for preps anymore, just look for sales and try to buy at least 2 of anything that I purchase. That sale at WD, it was so nice, I just went in and purchased sale items only (had everything else I needed in my pantry from prepping). So everyone enjoy this beautiful weather we are having here in the deep south, and God bless ya’ll.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:49

blam – at 12:11 Man!! You’re PREPPED if you can go for 1–2 years! Awesome! Do you have neighbors that are well prepped too?

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 23:42

Folks, Vjay and Blam posted here on the 3rd part of this thread…welcome them to the group!

24 October 2006

NoFluingAroundat 10:13

frankiew – at 14:28 Now if we could just get the Mobile Register or someone from the local news to pay attention and talk about prepping, it would be awesome.

Frankiew, I have been emailing Penelope McCleeny (Press Register), she seems to have brushed me off, however, last Thursady, was having lunch with a friend and ran into Eric Reynolds ( NBC 10)and his wife. Spoke with him briefly, he gave me his card, I followed up with a phone call the following morning and several emails. He emailed me back, seemed interested in doing a story, we just have to play the wait and see game.

frankiew – at 15:48

Awsome, NoFluingAround, now that is what I call pro-active. VJay, also welcome aboard, sorry for the oversight, I just went back and read your post on the other thread, you are going to love it here. How is everyone doing on the clothes subject. Todays local paper stated it was going to be a wet and colder winter this winter due to Elnino, is that correct, its the one that is the little one, anyway, we need to be prepped for cold weather which is not a very common occurance here in the deep south. In upper Bama, ya’ll do get some cold weather up there, one of my sons lives in Prattville and he states that it is really different than down here in Mobile. I’mWorkingOnIt, how did your canning pinto beans turn out? I have put canning on hold for a couple of weeks, but plan on starting back this weekend,all of that chicken that I purchased. Hey everyone else in Bama country, stop by and say hi and let us know how ya’ll are doing. God Bless ya’ll.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 17:38

Well, I’ve switched my summer clothes in my closet for my winter clothes & I’ve gained weight (taking a research drug & it ‘s one of the side effects) and probably can’t wear most of the stuff. I had gotten down to 159 before Mother died (and 3 of my cats within a year)……now I’m pushing 180 and so disappointed, but I understand how I got this way, but I’ve not gotten inspired to lose again. I need to just get all my pants with elastic in the waist!

I’m finishing up my last load of pintos — 20 quarts I think it turned out to be. I got so frustrated with my canner and the sealing ring there, that I bought online 2 more — one to replace the one I’m using & a spare….now the one I’m using seems to be working just great! $50 later. Oh well, I’ve got spare parts now. :-)

I’m having freezer trouble again so I’ve called someone to come check my seal. We had cleaned it out Sunday, but it’s icing up again. It had gotten ice inside the seal…We had it balanced & running perfectly. I had started stacking some things on top of it and noticed this problem…don’t know if putting stuff on top caused the problem or not, but we didn’t stack stuff on top on Sunday after we reloaded it, and it’s still leaking air. So someone’s coming tomorrow to look at it.

I got the house mostly cleaned up (what you can see, not what you can’t) so the bug spray guy came and sprayed. I still need to put a lot of stuff away….I just can’t seem to get motivated.

I need to get DH some sweats so I’ll probably head to WalMart later this week for some Christmas packages for him.

I get cold if it’s below 70 degrees….I’m wondering if I can talk DH into starting our first little family fire this evening. I make a big deal out of the first fire of the season, and the last. LOVE a fire — as long as it stays in the fireplace!!

anonymous – at 19:44

Hi Frankiew and I’m-Working-On-It, Yup, I’m prepped to the gills. I could probably feed all my neighbors for a couple months and even longer with just beans & rice. I don’t think they’re prepared at all. I mentioned it (BF) to each once and didn’t get a positive reaction so, I didn’t mention it again. We are all on multi-acre property and lots of open space. All of them have guns and I’ve spied (hee, hee) some useful assets that they have…tractors, bulldozers, backhoes, an industrial size generator and so forth. One guy has a large landscaping company on his ‘back 20′ and he has his own 500 gallon tanks for gasoline and diesel…I’m getting real close to him. I’ve bought walkie-talkies (4) because I expect we’ll set-up a roadblock on our road when the SHTF and we’ll (they don’t know all this yet, lol) man it 24/7 and we’ll have armed roving patrols with the walkie-talkies, etc. I also have a store of antibiotics and N-95 masks, my own water well and so on… I’m fairly new in this neighborhood, my house on the bay (wood-frame) was destroyed during Ivan and I sold the lot and moved over here. My preps are all stored to withstand a cat-5 hurricane. I have seeds, fertlizer, pesticides and tillers for growing food if necessary…I intend to survive, lol.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:24

Hey, Vjay or Blam, Blam I assume, if I remember correctly you live south of here! ….you must have cleaned your computer cookies :-)

That sounds like a great plan as a way to guard your street. And I’m glad you’re keeping your eyes open for ways to utilize all the resources you all have. It must be nice to have all that space…..sometimes I wish I had that much space, but there’s just the 2 of us to guard it and my neighbors can’t be trusted to even BE here, much less be of any help — they’ll need taking care of instead of being any help, if they’re even here.

VJayat 22:01

Live on a 1.1 acre cul-de-sac with woods to rear going 150 ft down to the Warrior River… Quiet neighborhood but not too close to the neighbors. They are more interested in football, I am afraid. (Not an Ala or Aub fan-“Go Blue” for me).

DH just purchased two more rifles, we have tiller, good garden space if I ever get the time to put one in. Lots of heirloom seed vacumn packed, fertilizer, pesticides. DH just retired last week while I have 4 more years to go. I have been getting my veggies from Findley farmer’s mkt. Canned 7 qts potatoes last night after work. Working on ‘the stash’ and will probably can the chickens from the freezer this weekend.

We could block our street if needed but would have to get all neighbors on board. DH is retired Marine so I am thinking we have a start.

Frankiew, I am working on the clothes too. Went to Goodwill and Salvation Thrift store last weekend and found some flannel shirts and sweaters. Our weather is closer to Cullman’s weather (ice on the windows this am). Born and raised in Mich so I know how to keep warm and keep the thermostat down!

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:25

Vjay, does Finley’s have some good produce still? I was out there a few weeks ago, but haven’t been back since. I was thinking of heading back down there…. maybe do that this weekend, if I get caught up with other stuff.

My DH is ex-Air Force so he’s capable of survival too, but sure doesn’t want to have to. We also need to head to the gun shop……and I nee to go to the thrift store…….I’m just being lazy I guess.

Our home is in an area that’s sort of hidden and we’re in a cul-de-sac as well.

He’s an Ala fan and I’m an Auburn fan — mixed marriage.

25 October 2006

blam – at 00:36

Yup. ‘I’m-working-on-it’, that was me ‘blam’ at anonymous at 19:44. Some of that space has a lot of cows (some horses) on it. At first I thought, food! Then I realized that everyone in the area will be headed here with the same thing in mind, food! LOL.

EnoughAlreadyat 01:03

Blam:

“My preps are all stored to withstand a cat-5 hurricane.”

How did you do that? Thanks, in advance. (Sorry to hear about Ivan wiping you out, BTW.)

I’m-workin’-on-it — man, we gotta get busy over on the LoneStar thread… can’t have Alabama whooppin’ us! ;)

JustAnotherPrepperat 01:15

I’m another Alabama prepper who has never posted before. Actually, it didn’t take Y2K, 9–11 or BF to get me prepping. I’m a natural hoarder. I did realize after I started reading this forum that I was not prepared in areas other than food and water and I’ve since been correcting that.

I live in the greater Birmingham area. I discussed prepping with one neighbor who pooh poohed the idea. I didn’t mention it again. I have a fear of letting others know the extent of my preparations as I live alone. It’s sad to feel that way and I am actually somewhat ashamed of it but I am also realistic about it and I know I can’t be forthcoming to others about this. It is nice to have a place where it is safe to talk about it.

And my thanks for pointing out the areas that I needed to improve. I now have at least a one year supply of toilet paper that I add to as it is used. Fortunately, I have a large home with lots of closets! LOL

ssal – at 02:23

Just Another Prepper:

So far, are you the only prepper in the B’ham area that you know of? How many are there?

I live in B’ham and am in the process of “announcing” a website: “Beat the Pandemic” ( beatthepandemic.com ). I’ve tried to make the first section of the site, “A Problem,” a helpful tool for putting a little doubt in the mind of someone who don’t think the pandamic is something to be very concerned about, e.g.folks like your neighbor. (I think just about all of us preppers have run into them).

If nothing else, I’m hoping that anyone who goes to the site will at least see the Webster quote on the home page and remember it.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:05

I’m in Bham!!! Near Target on 280 —

Blam, I’d still think of those cows as food if I were you (so long as you don’t have a radioactive event to worry about) since most people heading out your way, might not have the knowledge or guts to kill meat while it’s still on the hoof! They’d probably move on to someone’s freezer instead. :-)

JustAnotherPrepper – at 01:15 welcome to the group — always glad to know there’s more of us out there. You must be my sister or brother. I hoard stuff too; I chalk it up to my ADHD habits of getting ‘obsessed’ with whatever my interest is at the time. I have collections of collections.

And I know exactly what you mean about how differently this feels from Y2k. I spoke out — was even instrumental in getting one of the largest churches in the area busy on Y2k outreach, and worked with a national organization as well, giving talks in churches, etc. I HAD to tell EVERYone.

Now in 2006, I was slow in even mentioning to my family, not because I was scared, but because I was tired of that old feeling like I was fighting the whole world and realizing how hopeless it was. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll have a problem this Winter, I think it will be Spring, but I don’t have anything to base that on, I just think since everyone thinks it will be Winter, that should we get past that, then family & neighbors will cross it off their lists, look at me and shake their heads, and then it will hit in Spring when no one (but me) is watching. And I totally understand your feeling ashamed, but having thought through it a lot, I don’t think it’s shame as much as it is sadness that circumstances couldn’t be changed.

You and I have done more for our neighbors and family than probably anyone else and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. But it does make you sad to know that nothing you’ve done has worked to inspire our loved ones to prep, and that even if you stayed vocal right to the last it probably wouldn’t make a difference. That’s nothing to feel ashamed about because it’s totally out of your control. It’s sad, overwhelmingly sad, but shouldn’t bring shame onto you.

You do what you can; you approach this differently because you KNOW that Y2k wasn’t going to cause death in and of itself, it was just going to ‘disrupt’ or ‘inconvenience’ on the light side, and create ‘violence’ and ‘destruction’ on the dark side, but there would be an END in sight even from the beginning. And we’d all be healthy.

Not so with this or dengue or MSRA or TB or whatever comes down the path now. We’d just always assumed we’d be healthy during Y2k, and like you said, now we’re having to add to our preps to prepare for being VERY sick. Who knew that Tylonol would ever e a bargaining chip?

I hope you will proudly fill those closets up with whatever you feel you need to keep you and yours safe from disease and safe from those who would endanger your lives in other ways.

ssal, we’ve got people on the thread from south of Bham, Vandiver area if I recall correctly, we’ve got people from Pell City, and up near Sand Mountain, and maybe some lurkers will speak up who haven’t posted in awhile & renew some friendships here!

Your website is a GOOD thing — I haven’t visited but I will. It’s good that you’re using your knowledge that way to let others know what’s coming. Any news that you can get out will be helpful to all of us.

Yes, we all have people who are brushing this off, either neighbors or family, and all we can do is reach out — most of us can’t afford to prep for them and we shouldn’t try to do too much. Everyone has to take responsibility for themselves to some extent.

I’m putting in foods that I can share, but my expectation is that who I share with can have enough to eat to get somewhere else where they can be safe, not sponging off me. That plan may not work, but I’m preparing for that too.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:17

Hey, Ssal (Stanley?) the link under Lone Survivor doesn’t work — guess they moved the page — thought you’d want to look into it when you can! GREAT site — I only got through half of it and I’ve got to run to an appointment, but I’ll check out the rest when I get back — THANKS for all your hard work on it!!!

AlabamaPrepperat 17:04

Hey everybody..Just dashing in to look around a bit. Don’t have a cat in my lap at the moment, so I can pull the keyboard out and type. Hope everyone is doing well, and will continue to stay healthy, alert, and informed.

Continuing to prep and build the stockpile here. Back room looks like a warehouse, 8^P

Candy will be marked down after Halloween, get yourselves some varieties of hard candy and put it back in the ‘fridge. It’ll keep for years. A little sweet pick me up is nice sometimes.

C’mon out of the weeds, lurkers, and join in.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 18:42

I went to Big Lots today and bought Dearfoam house slippers to put in our bug out bags for $5 and some cordorary ones for my husband that retailed for $25 and I got ‘em for $6. Also, flannel pj’s for $10 (seemed a little high, but I was there & they were cute) and some thermals (tops and bottoms for hubby) and bottoms for me for $5 each piece. Yea me for working on clothing!

NoFluingAroundat 19:19

Boys & Girls, today I reached my preppers high:o)

When I picked up my 5 year old from school Monday, he was running a temp of 102.8. I rushed him to the pediatritions office, she checked him out, asked if his chest hurt, to which he replied, my knees and ankles hurt (Keep in mind, he has had growing pains for the last couple of months), to which the doc replied, he has the Flu. She pulled out the RX pad and wallah…”TAMIFLU”, Predinisolone and cough medicine. I took the Rx’s to the pharmacy, and yes, they had to order the Tamiflu, which came in today. The good news, she prematurely thought the joint pains were Flu Symptoms, my son showed symptoms of a 24 hr. virus, yesterday he was just fine, no fever, congestion or cough, and today I picked up Rx’s……YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH doing da butta churn….lol

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:41

Way to go! Now how much did ya pay the kid to fake a fever???? Seriously, I’m glad he’s better and you have a dose of the good stuff!!

NoFluingAroundat 20:27

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:41

LMAOOOOOOO…..The older ones will be faking it this weekend, now that I know she will prescribe Tamiflu….hehhe

Repomadman – at 20:32

Welcome to the new folks. Just outside Birmingham to the East for me.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:02

Hey, Repomadman, what was the name of that catfish restaurant in Riverside? Wasn’t it you that was talking about how good it is??

ssal – at 21:34

I’m-workin-on-it:

Thanks for the “heads up” on the broken link! Will try to get it fixed in the next day or so. Please let me know about anything else you see that’s wrong or unclear or otherwise needs of improvement.

ssal – at 21:37

I’m-workin-on-it:

Thanks for the “heads up” on the broken link! Will try to get it fixed in the next day or so. Please let me know about anything else you see that’s wrong or unclear or otherwise needs improvement.

(corrected from above)

blam – at 23:41

‘Nofluinaround’ There is a place on the internet to get prescription medicines (Tamiflu too) without a prescription. Here is the url: http://www.prescription.me.uk/… I (and others) have used their amoxicillin and Zithromax and they are good drugs. Others I know ordered Tamiflu but I didn’t because I don’t think it is effective against H5N1. I also have an easy and trustable place to get Potassium Iodide (for radiation poisoning) that is cheap ($9.49 per pkg, a two week supply for one person) and quick if anyone is interested. I have no affiliation with either of these places, It just looks like I went down this road before others. Potassium Iodide = link

blam – at 23:44

It doesn’t look like the link to the prescriptions worked, here it is again, hopefully it’ll work this time: http://www.prescription.me.uk/

blam – at 23:54

EnoughAlready’…Cat-5. Each item is individually poacked in a zip-lock bag, then I put heavy duty trash bags in a cardboard box 1.5×1.5×1.5 ft. and placed each item into the box, sealed it tight, then put the box into two more trash bags and covered it with duct and packing tape…then, I placed each box into a very big plywood box I have outside in my shed. Even if the shed and plywood box blows down, the packed cardboard boxes will survive somewhere in the derbis. All that packing is good for keeping out humidity and tempers the temperature extremes and the plywood box will keep out bugs and mice, etc.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 23:57

I’ve purchased from nitro-pak and love their quick service & if you spend $100, they send you a $10 discount coupon for your next order — easy to rack up a bill that fast with them because they have good prices and they have a wide variety of stuff to offer.

Thanks blam for the prescripts link…I’ll look at that tomorrow — heading to bed now!

26 October 2006

blam – at 00:36

BTW, all…Non-functioning deep freezers make good bulk storage containers and they’re also already insulated, air-tight, etc. I have stored bulk corn meal, flour, dry dog food and so forth in them. If you have the room you may consider using them.

AlabamaPrepperat 10:54

I’m-Workin’-On-It, the catfish place is The Ark, right before the old Highway 78 bridge across the river.

Turn off I-20 East at the Riverside exit, and follow it around.

Mr. Cornett and family have operated it since I was a kid. I went to school with both of his kids.

Prep wise, not much going on. I notice Winn Dixie has Campbell’s soup for a ridiculously low price. Three cans for a dollar, the classic tomato and the chicken noodle. Combine this with coupons, which they will double, and you’ll get free soup. With a little imagination, a can of tomato or chicken noodle can become more than just a can of soup.

Being so low cost, too, they would make good trade items for “after”.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:53

That’s a great price — the weekly flyers came out yesterday but I haven’t ahd time to look at them yet. I’ll sit down this afternoon and write out my list for the week! Campbells will be on it!!

Hide in the Hills and wait – at 18:48

On another forum they are talking about cities that are survivable or viable during/after a pandemic. What do you think Bham will look like after a few weeks with no trash pickup, no food coming in, no gas deliveries, curfew after dark, etc.??

Also read that they believe (WHO, I think) is going to raise AF to level 4. I can’t remember which forum that I was on.

There are a lot of things going on out there now. I am up to a pf of about 8.5

Hide in the Hills and wait – at 18:51

VJay and blam - glad to have you aboard for the ride. I think it is about to get interesting!

Also, we have a great bunch here…

NoFluingAroundat 21:38

anon_22 – at 19:25 but now that I’ve ‘come out’ people know who I am, they meet me in real life, they can verify the things that I say

I’m-workin’-on-it, I cut and pasted this comment from the rumor thread. Please tell me who anon_22 is. I have only belonged to this family for a few months, naturally, I don’t get the comment.

blam – at 23:41 Thank you friend, I checked out the website, unfortunately, they are out of stock. I was really shocked RiteAid had Tamiflu, to fill my son’s RX.

Frankiew, going to try my hand at canning this weekend, wish me luck…lol

To all the other Alabamians, “WAR EAGLE”. BTW….any other Mobilians, apart from Frankiew?

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:59

NoFluingAround – at 21:38…Please tell me who anon_22 is

Listen, I just read that too, and I don’t know but I’m heading over there right now to find out!

Waaaa Eagle!!

27 October 2006

EnoughAlreadyat 08:07

Thanks, blam! We have an empty, non-working refrigerator out in the shed that we use to store dog food in… keeps critters out of it. That would make a good place to store stuff during hurricane. Do you leave the stuff in the shed all the time, or just during hurricane evac type situation? I am wondering because of the “temperature” control issue. Seems like it would shorten the life of the food products if left out in the heat longterm. Although, I can’t think of a better plan if a hurricane is headed straight for you! I have been worrying about just that and this certainly is a GOOD PLAN! Again, thanks for your input! Also, it isn’t just the wind I am worried about… it’s the flooding/water. I wonder if those food grade buckets are water tight? Couldn’t get many in the refrigerator, so having water-tight packaging in the refrig is certainly something I will be mulling over. If those buckets aren’t water tight, I wonder if there is a way to seal the place where the lid and bucket connect to make them water tight. I could put heavy stuff on them (in the shed) to hopefully anchor them. The stuff in the refrig would probably have a decent chance of surviving if I could water-resist the packaging.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 08:33

EnoughAlready – at 08:07 I think that most food grade buckets, if not all, have a rubber seal, inside that lid that makes it water tight initially, when it’s sealed at the factory with food in it. Mine were used at a bakery and I hve to have a bucket opener to get them open to get my stuff out each time I use one.

Galt – at 14:05

I’m workin’ on it—anon_22 is female (per your comments on the rumors thread).

EnoughAlready—you might check out the gamma seal lids. I think that they are both air and water tight.

Hello to all the new folks posting!

I am over in Calhoun Co.

Interesting note: state dept. of health (www.adph.org) is now proudly listing on the front page of its website “Pandemic Flu Plan now available online”--then it takes you to the same old lame plan that they’ve been peddling around since summer 2005. Interestingly, right under the link to the panflu plan on the front page is a big advertisement for a summit to find and train professionals and paraprofessionals (pharmacists, social workers, mental health folks, other support role folks) to be state volunteers to help in “the event of a disaster.” Right. Wonder if that turns out to be the list of people the truck is coming to pick up is it all goes down. Summit is being held in Mobile area.

I know that this issue with the ADPH has been an ongoing mini rant of mine. But guys, if you looked at the other state plans (esp. Texas and some of the western states, but even Arkansas) and county plans (like Ft. Wayne and others), our state and county plans are terrible. They’re not just shoddy and underdone; they are awful. I am really bothered by the fact that there seems to be no accountability. Anyone have any thoughts on why that is?

On a brighter note, I got quite a few of the Campbells soups from the WD that everyone was talking about $0.33 each, exp. date in fall 2008.

Hope all are staying dry in this weather. Happy football weekend!

Debbie in Ala – at 16:32

Hi everybody. This is the first time for me to post, but I’ve been a huge fan of this website for over a year. I live south of B’ham in Indian Springs with my husband, two teenagers (actually, one’s a freshman at Auburn), two dogs and six cats. Thankfully, my husband is very supportive of our prepping. In fact, it was his recurring dreams of impending disaster that made us get serious about preparing for bird flu. He works at UAB in OH&S and is very active in their pandemic planning (UAB is actually taking this thing very seriously). We still have a long way to go with our preps, but we’re getting it all together. At first, it seemed so overwhelming, that it didn’t even seem possible to be fully prepped. But thanks to this site and all of you, I’ve learned so much and feel much more confident now.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 18:19

Debbie in Ala I’m off Valleydale too. Glad to hear from you! I stopped at the Shelby Fire Station & left info & the girl at the desk was interested & said she’d pass the info on but the Hoover station guy just sort of shrugged. I’ll have to try again on that. Are there still ducks and geese in the lake over near your entrance?

AlabamaPrepperat 18:37

Get this, y’all; I called the County Health Dept. for my mom this morning. She needs to know when they will be giving flu shots so she can get hers. (She’s 89)

Young thing who answers the phone said “We don’t know. Call us toward the end of November.”

Real efficient operation there.

Debbie in Ala – at 18:43

I’m-workin’-on-it, I’m off of Hwy 119 between Cald. Mill & 65. The closest lake to us would be the one at Indian Springs School. I haven’t noticed any ducks or geese in a couple of weeks. For a couple of weeks, I noticed a lot of geese flying by and they all seemed to be headed north west, which seemed strange.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 18:49

Oh heck, yeah, of course…I get Indian Springs on 119 mixed up with a sub-d over here on Valleydale. So sorry!!

Anyway you are my closest fkuwikie neighbor!

South Alabama – at 18:53

AlabamaPrepper - 18:37

The WD in our area (Baldwin Co) had a flu clinic a week ago. My husband and I got both flu and pneum shots. I had to pay $63 for mine but because my husband is old enough for Medicare, his was free. I also noticed that the WalMart in our area had a poster as you come in that they will be holding a flu clinic. Walgreens also is giving out the flu shots. You may want to call around the different stores in your area and check with them.

Debbie in Ala – at 19:03

I’m-workin’-on-it - we are very close - cool! Regarding flu shots - The church I work for had a fall festival last weekend and there was a company there giving flu ($20) and pnuemonia shots ($40). No line, no waiting. I’ll try to find out the name of the company and what to look under in the yellow pages for similar companies. Then you could call them to find out their schedule and go to one of those places.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:24

AlabamaPrepper – at 18:37 that’s so rude of them to tell you to call back….they couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag lying on its side. I hope you can find a place to give the shots this weekend….there’s an online site that shows locations where they’re settng up flu stations for shots. I think it’s on the older part of the thread….we should look it up and post it here on the newer part of the thread. I’ve gotten my shot already — got it at Bruno’s 3 weeks or so ago.

Debbie, my husband works at Protective…..they’re beginning to have meetings, but nothing has filtered down to his level of mgt yet. I’m glad to hear UAB is making serious plans!

Have any of you seen anything in the news paper lately about any companies doing anything? I’ve seen no news coverage, printed or otherwise, but I watch FoxNews more than local stuff so I may have missed something.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 20:09

Here it is—Galt had given it out:

www.findaflushot.com

NoFluingAroundat 22:39

I’m-workin’-on-it Please email me at sabby34@aol.com, I would like to share something with you :o)

JustAnotherPrepperat 23:21

I’m-working-on-it and Debbie, I actually live in Pelham so the three of us are quite close to one another. Even though I live in a garden home and don’t have a lot of yard area, I turned my entire backyard into a cottage garden and I grow vegetables that I can and freeze. I have a dehydrater also but I haven’t used it in a while.

Water is my concern. I have enough food to last me a very long time. My parents in Tennessee had a problem with their water one day this past week. My parents and one sister all stockpile food and water. My mother told me that it amazed her how much water they actually used from their stash. Now she is increasing the amount she thought they would actually need in an emergency.

The Campbell’s tomato soup deal at Winn Dixie was sweet. Too bad they closed all the WD’s in Pelham and Alabaster. I drive over to Caldwell Mills. I look through the sales flyers every Wednesday for things to stockpile and as long as it will keep, I buy a years supply, if not more, of at least one thing weekly.

I really need to work on the water situation because I am not feeling comfortable with it right now.

Debbie in Ala – at 23:53

I love to garden too! Haven’t done much canning, but I need to. It just heats up the kitchen so much and in the summer, that’s the last thing you want to do. I have a dehydrater, too, (the cheap Ronco kind) but haven’t used it much either.

Water is a huge concern for me too, and we haven’t decided on what type of containers to buy. I’m leaning toward the 450 gal. hard platic type. They are 60″ in diameter, I think, and fit into a pickup truck bed. It seems like that would take up less space than 8, 55 gal. barrels. They’re all so expensive, though. The 55 gal. containers can be bought in Irondale at B’ham Container Corp., but I think the larger types have to be shipped, and shipping is so much for something that size. The closest place to buy them is Nashville, or near Atlanta from what I’ve seen, and it may be worth driving to pick one up (esp. now that gas prices have dropped). Every time I turn on the faucet, or take a shower, I think about how I would do it with no running water.

28 October 2006

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:12

That’s great that we ARE close together! We all need to pile in the car one day and go to the Ark in Riverside & eat catfish with AlabamaPrepper and anyone else that want to come up, over, down, etc., then go to Lucky’s gun shop in Pell City!

I remember gettting 55 gal white barrels from Buffalo Rock off of Oxmore back before Y2k — seems like we only had to maybe pay $2 or $5 for them — anyone checked with them recently?? They’re still here, right??

JustAnotherPrepper, I’m in a condo - so technically we have NO garden space — but, I got my husband to construct me 3 raised beds (which he still hasn’t filled with dirt because he says we need to get a truck to haul dirt in) and I want him to finally outline the beds beside our handrails with good stone block from Home Depot & backfill that with some dirt and plant some goodies there too! We feed raccoons at night (I know but Dancer brings her young ‘uns each year and she’s so precious - not so much that I wouldn’t shoot her though if she appeared rabid), so I’m afraid even after I get stuff planted that it’ll get damaged. Can’t get ‘nuthin’ done though during football season. sigh.

So, JAP, you’re the one who gets to all the Planter’s Peanuts BOGO sales at the WD on Caldwell Mill before I do! THAT explains it! We should work out a system where you shop at Food World for me and I shop at WD for you and we meet at the America’s Thrift store & divvy up the goods each week! :-)

Oh…if I just had a million dollars — heck if I just had a spare $50! We spent so much in unexpected vet bills the last 2 months, it’s really screwed up our budget. Gotta do something though, to stay on track.

I know what you all mean about the water — we have a lake near us in Inverness but there are thousands of people who live near enough that lake to try to get water from it, I could actually see the levels going down considerably in no time.

I canned my first pork rib meat last night — I’d cooked it in the slow BBQ cooker the day before and last night filled 4 jars 1/2 way, covered with water and canned it for 90 minutes. It looks like it worked.

I want to go to WalMart today and to Costco, but doubt I’ll make it to both places. Wonder if Costco has the MRE’s that someone mentioned they’d found at their Costco?

Debbie in Ala – at 20:13

Yes, Costco does have MREs. A case of 12 for $56.99 ($4.75 ea.). They are identical to the ones I ordered from MRE Depot - same name (A Pack), company, and same variety (almost - the MRE Depot had Chili instead of Pasta w/ garden vegs.).

The ones at Costco have:

29 October 2006

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 00:13

Ok, a question earlier about how we think our city would fair using City Triage. I’ll say first that I’m probably soooooo out of touch with how bad things could get here and how fast, but somehow I honestly think that we could manage ok. They last riots we were famous for was the 60′s, but we’ve got a lot more gang activity now, so I just don’t know. I can see the neighboring subdivisions going somewhere else to look for food, etc., but I can’t see them coming here to my neighborhood. I think those around me would be more likely to go to their lake homes and try fishing and stuff like that for food — I don’t know, could be wrong as rain, but I don’t think we’d be crossed off the list as impossible to ‘save’.

Now having said that, I DO think that downtown area and north of there will be hard hit — the hospitals downtown especially. And any area where there are restaurants one after another, or WalMarts, Sam’s, Costco’s or hunting/camping stores like Academy Sports or Dicks.

I don’t think grocery stores will be too damaged because they’ll be emptied early on, but places where food was served, with freezer compartments, etc., could be vandalized for the reserve foods, especially if people end their eating out habits out of fear as things get bad, leaving frozen foods on site. But any place that serves food or has camp type supplies or guns should see a need to reinforce their security, or fail.

I’d hate to see any of this, but we don’t have the really BIG worries that places like Chicago or New York or Atlanta do…..at least I’m hoping that’s true. Assuming a pandemic hits during the cold weather months, I think the places that you’re just not going to be able to protect are going to be the warm weather areas like Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, etc, and not so much the cold climate areas.

What do the rest of you think?

30 October 2006

ssal – at 00:53

Y’all —

The idea of getting together (see I’m workin on it’s post above: Oct 28, 12:12) to meet eachother and chat a is something I think ought to happen. One group apparently did it in the northern Virginia area on Oct 21. I suggest a couple of hours, say begining around 2 o’clock on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon Soon, and posting a notice on this thread (or a totally separate thread) inviting anyone to come who is interested in the matter.

See the thread “Oct 21 Northern VAMDDC Preppers Meet in Person”

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 09:14

Would you like to meet as two groups simultaneously, the “North” and the “South” approach? Us “northerern Ala’s” (Huntsville, Cullman, Sand Mtn, Bham, Montgomery, etc) could meet at the Ark in Riverside as I’d mentioned for those close by, or over by the Galleria in Bham on I-459 to eat, meet, and make a run to Costco and Sam’s Club for anyone interested - one member could buy then the stuff be divvied up & the member reimbursed, if needed. I’m a member of Costco & that offer stands for anyone from here in my area anytime.

The “Southerners” in the state, (Montgomery, Dothan, Mobile, etc) could meet at the coast for factory outlet shopping and eating. Or maybe there’s a Costco there

OR would you rather meet as one group? We could ALL meet in Montgomery as a middle point — it;s been awhile since I’ve been there so I don’t off the bat know the main streets or the big stores or anything, but we can find out.

We could also extend the invite to our surrounding states in case someone there is in a traveling mood….

Anyone wanna state your preferences? We’ve got football to work around for some if it’s a Saturday….but I could swing that one way or another, with or without spouse.

ssal – at 15:38

I might not be able to make it to Montgomery, unless I can hitch a ride with someone (I would pay for some gas).

I recommend putting my preferences in second place, and everyone else’s first in the sense that the meeting should probably take place wherever the attendance would be best.

Repomadman – at 15:39

I’m game for meeting up. Schedule is sort of limited because of my work, but just about any Saturday afternoon or Sunday should work for me. What’s this about a Costco near the Galleria? I missed hearing about that - never thought we had one around Birmingham.

ssal – at 15:42

I should add that I care very little about football (am moderately amused by Auburn’s and Louisville’s rankings), so that is not a concern with me.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:04

I’m in a ‘mixed’ marriage — I’m for Auburn and DH is for Alabama…….but since I can’t seem to even remember my own team coach’s name without thinking about it first, so I can do without football. :-)

I’d be glad to give a ride to anyone who wants one to wherever we go — I’m a good driver — if you don’t mind riding around in a LaSabre that I use like a pick up truck!

Yep, we have a Costco over ‘behind’ the Galleria. There’s this whole new huge area that was built over there that’s on both sides of the road — the Costco is closest to the Galleria, back beside the Home Depot with a road running between HD and Costco. If you take that road away from the Galleria and cross the street at the stoplight, you are in the other complex which has a Rooms To Go, Academy Sports I think, dozens of restaurants, a Rave theatre, oh just oodles and scads of businesses over there.

blam – at 20:21

Enoughalready…I don’t have a flooding issue during hurricanes. However, I do seal the things I put into the (non-working) deep freezes into plastic trash bags. As you know, temperature and humidity are a big problem around here…I haul the items to be stored, rice, corn meal, flour etc into the AC’d house for a couple days (when I buy them) and let them ‘dry’ out, place them in two trash bags and them haul them out to the deep-freeze in the shed. The deep freeze keeps the items dry, away from bugs/rodents and protects from temperature extremes…those food items will last for years.

VJayat 20:45

I am in on a meeting wherever you decide is great. Most Saturdays and Sundays are good. _I’m working on it-we have two LeSabres we use the same way!! )

I am now in the pause mode for preps, have to take a break and catch my thoughts. Hubby is saying, don’t you think we have enough? No, but then I have plans for a Berkey even though we have a large swimming pool. I think we will be sharing the water with the neighbors and might end up with river water.

Listening to the debates tonight and haven’t heard any thoughts about preparing the state for anything. Go figure. The state site is ridiculous. Starting to get some interest from co-workers. Have appt with HR to discuss if they are planning anything for the firm. Until recently, they did not think it was an issue.

JustAnotherPrepperat 23:16

I have no preferences on when or where for a meeting and I would enjoy meeting other preppers.

I’m especially thankful about the Buffalo Rock hint on plastic barrels. I’m going to give them a call this week.

I read on another thread about buying boards and nails to board up the house. I hadn’t given that any thought to be honest. I do have firearms and I’m trained in using them but I also know that being by myself, I have to sleep sometime. Is anyone else planning on boarding up their house to stay in place?

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 23:52

Well, I’ve always considered the need for boarding up a door or window in an emergency…..we get golf balls that land in our yard from some people with realllllllyyyy bad swings considering we’re so far from the golf course, but they could break a window anytime. We have a subfloored attic floor & I always figured we could bring subflooring down to seal it up till we could get it fixed, but thinking more about it, I don’t think we can get a 4–8′ piece of wood down our attic stairs — we’d have to cut it in half with the table saw (which we have up in the attic, but we don’t have the clearance room to lay a board up there and saw through it) so I’m going to have to plan on some wood stored in an outside shed I guess. Just remember that you need to be able to exit your window or door easily in case of fire and if you have pets, that’ll slow you down even more, along with the smoke, etc. I keep a mask on top of our pet carriers so that I will have one handy at the first place I’d head to in case of fire, so I won’t have to hunt one down.

Let me know what you find out about the barrels too — I know I’m the one that mentioned it, but I got less than nothing done today other than brief notes here and there and 2 phone calls, and neither were to Buffalo Rock.

01 November 2006

JustAnotherPrepperat 02:36

I’m working on it, I think I must have gotten less done today than you. I did not call Buffalo Rock today and I doubt I will have the opportunity until Thursday.

I did order my garden seeds today. I have never purchased seeds this soon but my reasoning is that if bird flu strikes, I may have trouble getting them when I need them next year. Part of my personal survival plan includes the vegetables that I can grow in my backyard and sunroom. I don’t need them for survival per se but something fresh will sure taste good after all that dried and canned food. And tending the vegetables would be a welcome diversion I think.

I don’t know if anyone has suggested it or not because I have not read nearly all the threads… A good supply of seeds for sprouting could be ordered online to use as a source for something fresh. The seeds keep a long time, they are very easy to “garden” and there is a larger variety than some people realize that are good when sprouted. They are also inexpensive when ordered in bulk. They are a good substitute for lettuce in salads and some of them are good stir fried. Just a thought.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:45

Well, I spent yesterday buying this 1/2 month’s groceries and now I’m canning beans & dehydrating broccoli (may be just making a mess there) and getting ready to do ground beef in the oven. I may end up with the biggest mess of stuff on my hands at the end of the day.

I’m off and running!!

blam – at 19:08

The American White Pelican has arrived from the north in the Mobile area, according to the Mobile Press Register. Caught my attention, lol.

02 November 2006

JustAnotherPrepperat 21:43

Has there been anymore mention of Alabama preppers meeting? I fear I am the only person in my neighborhood who has done any prepping and other than my family, who are out of state, and my best friend in Trussville, I don’t know of anyone else at all who has prepped. I feel like the lone ranger down here. LOL

I have almost all of my spring vegetable seed ordered and they will be here early next week. If I do get housebound because of BF, I can do container gardening in my sunroom even if I can’t get outside to do the real thing.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:55

JustAnotherPrepper – at 02:36 MREdepot is going to carry seeds — go read the butter and cheese thread!

Haven’t heard any more about a meet-up; let me check the calendar and we’ll just set one up with the input we’ve gotten so far!

04 November 2006

ssal – at 08:57

About the meeting —

There’s no rule that says we have to have an “either/or” on the meeting. We could have meetings for different areas on different weekends. Right now, it seems important to just establish more communication through face-to-face communication.

I live in Birmingham (Southside) and I feel like this metropolitan area will probably be hit harder by a pandemic than any other in the state. There are so few of us.

I came to the conclusion that my family is more likely to make it through the pandemic if our neighbors, this entire metropolitan area, and the nation also prepare, which is a major reason for starting the Web site (lots of work).

I nominate JustAnotherPrepper or I’m-woekin’-on-it to take the lead in setting up the meeting. If not, I’ll do it, but we need all the leadership we can get, and I’m working as much as I reasonably can on developing the site.

Question: I guess I could ask the moderators, but does anybody know if there’s a rule against posting a phone number on this site?

I use a secondary (distinctive ringing telephone number) for the Web site. It costs only a few dollars a month and can readily be changed or deleted if there should be annoying calls.

(On crofsblogs H5N1 site, there was a recent post indicating increased action (meetings) by regular citizens in other areas.)

ssal – at 09:00

P.S. —

Others might want to use secondary, distinctive-ringing numbers, too.

05 November 2006

ssal – at 05:21

JustAnotherPrepper

Do you know if your friend in Trussville is also interested in meeting other Preppers?

Repomadman – at 09:49

I second ssal’s nomination of JustAnotherPrepper or I’m-woekin’-on-it to take the lead in setting up the meeting. Hopefully the meeting will be set up Saturday afternoon or Sunday. Who knows, a meeting might actually bring the wife around a little if she sees that I’m really not the only person in the country doing it.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:49

Ok, I’m going to say let’s meet on Sunday, Oct. 19th (the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving) at a restaurant over near the Galleria and Costco — possibly Up The River or another less expensive type sit-down restaurant over near there — I’ll scope out who has to have reservations and who’s OK for walk-ins — there’s several there and I don’t want to spend a lot on lunch and I know the rest of you don’t either. We’ll decide that later.

Let’s meet at NOON-that should allow some drive time for anyone quite a distance from us that would like to come. I’ll at least bring nametags :-) …that’ll help….you’ll know me because I ALWAYS wear a hat — usually straw, but if it’s wicked cold it might be a furry cap, but it’ll have a cat pin on the front AND the back. That’s me. Always.

Now, what do you want to cover while we’re there?

Do you just want to network, chat and inspire the spouses?

Eat, visit then shop at Costco or Sam’s?

Have one of us answer questions about what things you still need to buy or maybe provide a handout type thing with steps to do something, or considerations on how to buy things (like how to buy the right generator or gun or whatever).

I don’t want to over-complicate things and I don’t want to set something up that would require a lot of work on someone’s part if they don’t have the time to prepare anything……

I’m open to anyone who wants to share something with us to mail it to me if you can’t attend our first gathering. You can write me at ImWorkinOnIt@gmail.com and I’ll get with you that way. Put FLUWKIKE in the subject so I’ll recognize it from any SPAM.

If you’d like me to I (or anyone who would like to) can print out originals of the Preparedness Ribbon/card or brochures, etc. that everyone can have if you want copy them and start leaving them in libraries or doctor’s offices or on the bulletin boards at your grocery store or hand out to your neighbors, etc.

Then after the Thanksgiving holiday, we can set up another gathering.

If this is OK as a start, we should post a notice on the surrounding states’ threads just in case anyone else wants to show up — they might have a reason to be in town around that time and might like to join us.

What do you think so far?

Repomadman – at 13:04

MOVEMBER 19th sounds good to me. I can do any time on a Sunday, but we might want to consider a bit latter such as 1pm or even 2pm in consideration of anyone who would be coming after church. Personally I think the first meeting should be light - just getting together to vist and get to know each other, because if we make things too heavy it might turn off the spouses who are not on board. Maybe a visit to Sams or Costco afterwards for those who either do not have easy access to one or do not have a membership to them. I belong to Sams and whold be happy to go with anyone who doesn’t have a membership and wants to look and buy anything.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:35

1 or 2pm sounds good to me! Let’s split the difference and say 1:30pm — and if we know someone will be later we can plan for that.

I’m on board for keeping it simple — if someone wants to do handouts fine, if I can help with that, let me know…..I’ll do as much as someone askes me to do that I’m able to do.

blam – at 20:00

A reminder for all. Think about those items that you use that are imported, coffee, tea, spices and etc. Presumably the countries where these are produced could be harder hit than the US and the supply chain could be broken. I’m convienced that at some point we’ll go through a ‘barter’ period. Coffee, etc will make good (good for long storage too) barter items.

ssal – at 20:25

I’m-workin-on-it.

Thanks for taking the lead! Sunday before Thanksgiving is OK with me/us. My wife will probably be with me. (We may arrive significantly after 1:30.) I agree with Repomadman about keeping the first meeting light.

Good idea to post on the threads of nearby states. People came from out of state to the Pandemic Planning Summit in July.

06 November 2006

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 09:14

Where oh where have my little sheep gone? Oh where oh where can they be?

I feel like singing where oh where have all our people gone!!???

Obviously we’ve all been enjoying the sunshine and gorgeous weather we’re having — but the rain’s coming! :-)

If any of you have tried to reach me by email, you weren’t able to because I gave you the WRONG ADDRESS! Go figure.

Here’s the right address:

im.workin.on.it@gmail.com

I left the dots out the first time!

Let’s hear from you guys about meeting up on the 19th…….lookin’ forward to it.

07 November 2006

Hide in the Hills (and wait) – at 21:15

I will if possible. Don’t know yet.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:44

Okey doke! :-)

Galt – at 23:41

Won’t be able to attend, but I hope you guys will post all of the highlights on the board for the rest of us. Hope all are doing well in AL.

08 November 2006

Reconscout – at 05:41

Does anyone know of an Alabama source for Gamma Lids?

09 November 2006

Repomadman – at 02:00

Quiet here lately. We’re planning on being there on the 19th - where ever “there” might be. Hope plenty of you other folks show up.

ssal – at 08:05

Galt =

I read your comments on Alabama state and county plans (27 Oct, 14:05). Need to keep hearing what you think. Yes, i do have a few thoughts on why that’s happening (but do not know if I’m right). Please keep posting here. Could you write up the best you can do about how you think state and county plans should (“should” in italics) read and post them somewhere (on my site and/or here, if nowhere else), with the purpose of stimulating and attracting other imput to arrive at better plans than what now exists? If you don’t want to post them here or on my site, I’ll try to help you set up your own site (ultimately much better than posting it elsewhere) and then link to it. Your leadership (I know you’ve got it) is needed. If you know the existing state and county plans are terrible, you also have thoughts about how to make them right.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 08:14

I second what ssal said! I’m so overwhelmed and out of touch with our county government, much less state government, that I’m relying on ANYone who can make concrete statements about what SHOULD be going on to make them! Hope you can help, Galt.

10 November 2006

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:03

hi

JustAnotherPrepperat 23:42

I’m getting caught up on my reading. I’ve been in and out of town all week on business.

Yes, I will be there the 19th. I am going to invite my friend in Trussville who also preps and I am going to invite another person who doesn’t but who knows that I do…if that is okay. He is supportive of prepping and recognizes the need to be prepared for an emergency.

My prep plans for next week includes purchasing more coffee. I found a store brand manufactured by Sara Lee that is sold at WalMart that I like and that is much less expensive than name brands. I bought a can to try it first before I stockpiled it.

I haven’t even had a chance to read the store circulars to see if there is anything on sale that I want to stock up on. I need to look at those and make any purchases next Monday or Tuesday before the sales end.

I have 99% of my garden seeds purchased and stored…ready for spring planting. I have fresh Romaine lettuce in the garden that I and my neighbors are enjoying with no worry of food poisoning.

I still haven’t had a chance to contact Buffalo Rock about the plastic barrels for storing water but it is on my list. I need to stay in Alabama for a few days to get it done.

blam – at 23:55

JustAnotherPrepper… The coffee in metal containers will stay fresher longer. I’ve shied away from the coffee in plastic packing.

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 23:57

JustAnotherPrepper – at 23:42 fine to bring anyone you want! I put directions to Jason’s Deli on the other thread - check there!

Big Lots has a DVD for $25 and has a battery tv with car adapter for $18.

11 November 2006

ssal – at 20:15

I’m-workin-on-it:

What’s the “other thread?”

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 20:26

It’s titled “Alabamians will meet for a leisurely lunch”…

13 November 2006

Galt – at 16:40

ssal and I’m workin on it More thoughts on the plans later, am running out the door for an appointment now. However, preliminary thought. If you do a word search of our state plan, the word “food” comes up zero times. In one of the county plans that I reviewed (which now have all disappeared off of the adph website, as an interesting aside), the word “food” comes up one time, and it is in the phrase “Food and Drug Administration.” However, the word quarantine comes up five times (and this does not include other words with similar meanings, which also come up quite a bit). As an initial thought, it seems wrong to discuss quarantining the population more than feeding them. I think if people’s movements are restricted without a very workable and clear plan for keeping them fed and hydrated, that things will get very, very ugly. I am concerned with plans that don’t begin with a focus on food and water.

Talk to you guys soon.

anonymous – at 22:18

Galt – at 16:40 that’s info NIGHTMARES are made of!

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:19

that was me….sorry

14 November 2006

Hide in the Hills (and wait) – at 16:00

Galt @ 16:40 Been missing your slant/comments. I tried to find what your were talking about on the ADPH website. Never did find it. I may have been on a totally different/wrong site. When you get a chance “walk us” through the process to locate what you’re talking about. It IS important.

Thanks!!

15 November 2006

Hide in the Hills (and wait) – at 20:09

I ran across this yesterday. It is most illuminating. This was pulled off the internet soon after it came out. The Hong Kong consulate suggests that their staff’s families stockpile 12 weeks worth of provisions, while we are being told to only have two weeks supplies.

Needless to say, when they realized what they had done, they yanked it down.

www.greenhammer.net/2006/week45.htm

Galt – at 22:56

Hey Hide in the Hills,

That’s an interesting find. THere was some discussion about that on the Rumors page, but I had not seen an actual link. Thanks.

RE: your 16:00 comment, the county plans have all been pulled from the ADPH website. Don’t know why. The state plan is still from early fall 2005, which was supposed to be okay because we have all these nifty new county plans (uh…the ones that have all disappeared). There’s a link that is supposed to let you ask questions, but it goes to Cindy Lesinger, and she will tell you that all emergencies are local emergencies, so she can’t tell you anything—to talk to your county coordinator instead. All emergencies are local, and yet the state tax is 8%. Somewhere there’s a disconnect. Anyway, here is the walkthough on getting to where the info used to be. Go to www.adph.org/pandemicflu/

Or, you can go to www.adph.org and clic on the link on the front page that says something like “Pandemic Plan now online.”

When you get to the page that has links for the Pandemic Plan, etc., that’s where the county plans used to be. However, you can still find the panflu coordinator for your area, and I believe that they are required to send you the plan (or draft plan) for your area upon request. For example, I believe you were over in Etowah Co, so your contact would be John Hooper (phone number is on there, but I won’t post here, easy to find on ADPH page). Also they have an interesting table that gives the prediction re: how many folks you could expect to be sick, real sick, or dead in your county in the event of panflu (link is called “Assumptions Table by Alabama Counties).

An interesting contrast is to then wander over to the preparation sites of some other states/counties. For example, the Ft. Wayne Indiana website www.fighttheflu.org This site has some really good information, including some great powerpoint presentations. Other state sites that are worth a look include the State of Texas PI plan, the ARkansas PI plan, WA State PI plan. The point I was trying to make several points ago is that there’s lots of good info out there already, seems like our state folks could just pirate things from some other places and be more helpful than current AL state site is.

For ssal—you might want to consider linking to some of the FT. Wayne ppt pres on your site, particularly since the AL state site doesn’t have much that is step by step on PI prep.

Interesting side note: ADPH has a general, all-hazards disaster preparedness guide in which cooking your poultry well is listed as a means of preventing (avian?)flu.

17 November 2006

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:08

We’re meeting on Sunday! See the other AL thread for details.

Hide in the Hills and wait – at 21:00

According to the Checkmate thread on the forum, the belief has been expressed that the feds are going to announce rather soon that the “bug” is going H2H and is a 4 (Four) now. If this is correct, there will probably be quite a bit of excitement at this announcement. I pray they are wrong, but fear they are correct. Everyone needs to scan the checkmate thread…

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 23:41

ACM on that thread copied something Anon_22 had pointed out that makes more sense than the bug being on the move — the feds are due to have their reports compiled and published in late November. Bet it’s more about that than anything about it going H2H. I think THAT’S what the feds are going to announce — NOT WHO announcing a level 4. Just makes more sense, especially since the virus isn’t moving anywhere right now. Just my opinion.

18 November 2006

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:07

bump

19 November 2006

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 20:44

Hi all, sorry those of you who couldn¡¯t make it to our lunch, you missed a fun get together. I want to tell you about it as best I can while still protecting everyone¡¯s identities, ages ranging from 30¡äs to 60¡äs.

First of all, I want to thank each of our servicemen who were present ¡ª no matter how long ago you were active, one or 2 stints to our 20+ years of service Marine, all of you who served played an important part in keeping us safe and we all thank you for your sacrifice to our country.

It was soooo nice to put a face with a ¡°nick¡±name of all the people I met today. Repomadman and his wife and children, Debbie in Alabama and her husband, Busy in Bama, VJay and her husband, and Ssal was with us in spirit - -hope your wife is recovering from her illness. Thanks, ssal, for calling to let us know you weren¡¯t going to be there! And thanks to the nice stranger at the register who typed your number into his cell phone until the cashier could find a pen for us to write with¡­¡­hope you don¡¯t get strange calls because of that! :-) And Galt, we missed you too!

I think our biggest challenge was sitting at a table with multi-colored balloons attached to a Pandemic Flu Discussion sign floating over the table and ignoring the stares we received. :-)

We didn¡¯t have any trouble getting acquainted with each other over our meals ¡­.. then we did a couple of quizzes to test our knowledge of areas of preparedness, as well as clue our spouses in to the fact that they¡¯re not married to someone who¡¯s the only person in the world that wants to prepare for long term emergency conditions. They were able to sit with other real live prepping people who hold normal jobs & play and have fun, but also want to ¡®save¡¯ for a rainy day.

I think everyone won a prize for something --- even our youngest & our least prepared :-) Prizes included anything from candy to canned meat, candles to Kleenex. And I stumped ¡®em with a prepping item for them to identify but no one could ¡ª yea me!

Questions on the quizzes brought out discussions about everything from preps and PCs, to preparing other people, to pump repair. Most everyone at the table didn¡¯t feel certain that we would have any problems during this flu season, but felt that it could happen within a year or so and that the financial impact would be disasterous.

I believe I understood that only one of us has talked with a city official ¡°officially¡±, and because some of us were so burned for our Y2k efforts or some equilivant of Y2k, that our own families haven¡¯t even paid much attention to us, we¡¯re even more reluctant to discuss the issue outside of a small group but we would be willing to try when the opportuity arises.

Ssal encouraged us by phone to band together, since some of us live near each other, if we want to distribute literature to help minimize the project so it¡¯s not overwhelming¡­.I think I have that right. I think as a group we¡¯re not ¡®on fire¡¯ yet with being activists, but we¡¯re sincerely dedicated to doing what we can in small groups for our own families & neighbors, if they¡¯re receptive.

One of us at the table is married to a spouse who has, for years, been an emergency planner of sorts for a large entity. Good things are happening in that environment to prepare for a large number of people who would be stuck in our downtown area, including the foreign population in their group, who would not be able to return home during an emergency of any kind. This was extremely good news to hear!

We all hope that others will join us from around Alabama ¡ªit felt really scary that so few were in attendance from such a big city and a larger support group would be nice. We¡¯ll meet again before long and post invitations to let you know when!

Thanks to everyone who gave up their Sunday afternoon to be there! Your presence was greatly appreciated ¡ª you¡¯re wonderful people with strong family ties and strong spirits and it was a pleasure meeting each one of you!

21 November 2006

Galt – at 22:22

Sounds like you guys had a great time. Sorry not to have been able to go, but thanks for posting the details.

Are all the AL folks on the new forum? Have e-mailed to dem for the url, but haven’t heard a reply yet.

Alabama Prepper, are you still with us?

Hope all are doing well and staying warm.

Galt

22 November 2006

Hide in the Hills (and wait) – at 13:31

When you get the website, please post on Ala. Preppers forum for us. I have not been able to get to it either. It’s a mystery to me where it is located.

Sorry, I couldn’t be at the “gathering of the clan”, but I was there in spirit. Did anyone come to a consensus on things we have discussed and postulated on the forum.

23 November 2006

ssal – at 03:45

Try:

newfluwiki2.com

25 November 2006

galt – at 21:31

Anyone still here at the old forum?

26 November 2006

ssal – at 02:44

Galt:

Yes, for the moment. I’ll be checking in until we all get to the new forum. I’ve had some trouble getting registered.

By the way, thanks for the suggestion about linking to the Ft. Wayne site! Haven’t done so yet, but probably will. Am overwhelmed with all sorts of stuff. One of my (internal) commitments is to try to help (to the extent that I can) anyone who wants to set up a Web site to deal with just about any aspect of the pandemic/preparation. (Particularly anyone who has any ideas that pertain to our state or anywhere in it.)

By the way, are you and Hide in the Hills geographically close to eachother?

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:31

Yes, I’m here and will be here and there too….I’ve been tied up with Thanksgiving stuff going on and have failed to follow through on a couple of things…..might try to get you guys together here at the house for a small Christmas party or something later on as a second gathering.

I’m-workin’-on-it30 November 2006, 08:19

bump

Hide in the Hills and wait?30 November 2006, 09:41

ssal & galt

geographically in Etowah County

side scroll?30 November 2006, 15:30

help

I’m-workin’-on-it30 November 2006, 15:41

thanks!!

Repomadman?02 December 2006, 20:10

Greeings Folks - just checking in. Can not say I like the new forum much, guess I just got used to this one. If anyone is interested Office Depot had a 5in black and white TV with radio on sale for $5. You can run it off electicity, battery or a car lighter. I ordered 10 and got them yesterday. They actually work better than I expected considering the price. Going to use them as prep gifts.

I’m-workin’-on-it02 December 2006, 22:46

Hey repomadman, good to hear from you! Tell your family HI for me!

That IS a great deal you found at Office Depot, thanks for sharing.

I agree I like it here better……all the bells and whistles there are great for those who need that to communicate what they need to — graphs, polls, etc., but here is simple, clean, more easy to “chat”, etc. Several of us will continue to post here, as opposed to there, althought I’ve learned many things over there and have gone so far as to recommend threads, etc. Just easier here while ‘here’ lasts!

I’m-workin’-on-it05 December 2006, 11:00

.

I’m-workin’-on-it08 December 2006, 15:19
  • Alabama- State reports progress making preparations for any pandemic flu (Link)

I’m-workin’-on-it08 December 2006, 15:23

I keep forgetting that you can’t copy and paste anything over from that other site without having to fix it first……..sorry…….here’s the link:

http://tinyurl.com/yjvodw

I’m-workin’-on-it13 December 2006, 13:31

http://tinyurl.com/yenwms

Now we could have told this guy this is what most people would think….no good way to divide people into “levels” of priority for vaccine shots!

I’m-workin’-on-it13 December 2006, 14:28

http://tinyurl.com/y8vhla

Another good article on same topic

Galt?14 December 2006, 20:37

Hey, I’m workin’ on it. How are things? Are all the Alabamians hanging out on other boards these days or still around and lurking? Hope all are well. Am using the holiday ordering to get more new neat prep toys delivered to the house. Keep smiling and saying “No…you can’t look in that one. It might be for you.” (and then I take my new Coleman heater and stash it).

Anyway, happy prepping to all…sure hate that I missed that MRE deal at Costco.

I’m-workin’-on-it15 December 2006, 07:50

Hey Galt, haven’t heard from most of us — we’ve gotten splintered I guess. A couple are using the new forum, but most have just drifted away I guess, either due to first football, then the Christmas season. Maybe they’ll drift back after the first of the year — I hope so!

I started a thread on the new site for us, I know you found it, but hardly anyone has spent any time there.

I love your shopping plan! I’m trying to work things around so there are more “hiding places” in the house. It takes effort & creativity! After cold weather I may have to start dropping things down the chimney until time for Santa again!

frankiew15 December 2006, 09:41

Hello, I found ya’ll, I thought you could only talk at the new site. I have missed ya’ll so much, as I stated at the new site we had severe sickness in our family since right before Thanksgiving. I am only going to post here, am not very tech savy. Gosh, I have missed ya’ll. When I felt up to reading, I have noticed that everything is so calm, kinda spooky. Is everyone ready for Christmas, still prepping? oh I feel like I hit the jackpot finding ya’ll. Talk to all my fellow Alabamians soon. God Bless ya!

Galt?20 December 2006, 00:57

Hey there Alabamians.

Bump

Debbie in Ala?20 December 2006, 14:50

Debbie says “hey.” It has been really quiet lately, but then, I’ve been busy with shopping and family, so have not spent much time on either site. I still prefer this one - the new site is a tad intimidating to me.

Repomadman?23 December 2006, 09:51

Merry Christmas evryone. Be safe out there.

Repomadman?23 December 2006, 09:51

Merry Christmas everyone. Be safe out there.

I’m-workin’-on-it23 December 2006, 22:19

Hey folks, just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone — I had hoped to have some of you over, but honestly, I’ve been so distracted & just haven’t finished anything — our tree isn’t even decorated & I don’t want to do it, my little condo is covered up in crates and I just want to put it all away again instead of putting it up…..

I put together a rolling cart for a space in my guest room closet to hold stackable bins for my medical/sickroom supplies which, once loaded towers over my head with 2 bins on the bottom shelf & 6 on the top shelf! :-)

I’ve had to rearrange some things in my guest room & it’s a little better now, but stuff still lying all over the floor. I know where it goes, it’s just a matter of us putting it there.

I transported a rescued dog across the state & have tried to help 2 neighbors who had kidney stones until day before yesterday, and one who told my husband she possibly has pneumonia.

In other words I’ve not been too focused on anything for having to respond to something else!

I hope you all are having better luck than I am right now.

We did stop everything and go to see the Nativity Story yesterday & it was wonderful!

I’m going to make a point to be around the next few days here off and on, just in case anyone else is here.

I’m-workin’-on-it23 December 2006, 22:35

http://tinyurl.com/ymcpbt

News article about serious flu in children here in Bham area….we were just in Mt. Laurel a short time ago this evening, looking at Christmas lights!

Medclinician24 December 2006, 10:56

How is the current flu situation in Alabama? Have any of the six children on life support gotten worse? So far we had heard a lot about children sick with the flu? How about adults?

Galt?24 December 2006, 12:51

Medclinician, I don’t know about adults in AL specific to flu. In adults, we are seeing, in my area, a lot of respiratory/nausea/poorly defined feeling bad with aches, etc. that seems to come on rapidly then be done in a few days. Haven’t heard it described as a flu outbreak though. With kids, flu is in my area. Half of my kid’s daycare group was out this week with flu or with something not described as flu but that has symptoms like the ones described for adults above. I am about 60 miles from the Birmingham area. There are lots of people in my area and surrounding area who travel into Birmingham for work. Seems to be an excess of flu vaccines in this area. Signs up in front of all the walk-in clinics, etc. advertising availability of flu shots.

I also have wondered if these kids were from the Birmingham area, as in they lived in B’ham, or if they are from various outlying areas or a particular outlying area. My thinking is that, if you had a kid that terribly sick, in AL, if you were within 100+ miles of B’ham, you probably would try to get them to Children’s Hospital. Maybe even if you lived farther out.

There is a flu map on the weather channel website. www.weather.com It lists AL as being one of the more currently affected flu areas.

I’m workin’ on it, happy holidays and good for you on the animal rescues! Hope your organization gets done, perhaps you’ll share some tips.

Hide in the hills, are you still around and lurking? What do you hear from your county? On another flu board that I read these days, some talk about a good bit of respiratory illness in your area. Just wondered if you were hearing much out that way?

Happy holidays to all. Won’t my in-laws be surprised with all their prep gifts (ha).

I’m-workin’-on-it25 December 2006, 09:06

The kids mentioned from Mt. Laurel school, are about 15 miles south of Birmingham. I don’t know how they’re doing — haven’t read the paper in 2 days! Most anyone in the state would come here to Children’s if it were a specialized problem. I’m not sure that someone with the flu would come to Bham from Mobile or Huntsville though, I think they’d be in their own hospital, so I have to assume that all the kids are from around here in the Bham area.

I’ve got family here - brother & sister-in-law & the other day we exchanged gifts…..I called ‘em and said we were coming over & I was bringing supper for us all & gave them a menu of what they could to choose from:

Beef Stew

Chicken Tetrazinni

Chicken with Black Beans and Rice

Chili with Beans

Chicken & Veggies

Spaghetti

(Sound familiar??)

They know that when I cook, I cook up a bunch so that there are left-overs & I freeze a lot and that’s what they thought I was bringing over, especially since I said they each had to have something different—they assumed I just had a little bit of each leftover - not enough for 2 people to have beef stew, etc..

Boy, were they surprised when they opened up one of their presents & it was a case of MRE’s and then I opened up my supper bag & brought out the menus they had each requested—in MRE packages!

We proceeded to each fix our own MRE (I wanted to make certain they understood how to do it & they were shocked at how hot they got) and then to share a bite with each other so we’d all know how they tasted. My sister-in-law kept saying how fun the whole thing was! I think she got a kick out of it!

We’re visiting in the Huntsville area today — DH was feeling tired & with a scratchy throat yesterday AM & during the previous night, I’ve been sort of sort of run-down too, just from mild sinus congestion, but I’m staying on it to make certain we aren’t any worse for the wear as we get through the holiday & visits today.

Hope everyone has a great one today! Be happy, be relaxed, and hopefully be prayerful for the reason for the season!

Rose

Hide in the Hills ?25 December 2006, 10:58

Hello all: Merry Christmas! I, too, have been running in several directions with the holidays upon us. Still lurking as often as possible. Storing as it is possible. As far as flu; seems to be hitting a lot of folks. Some of what has been getting people lingers on for two weeks or more. Due to lysol spray, handwashing, avoiding sneezers (at all costs), I think I have escaped so far.

DemFromCT25 December 2006, 11:47

see diary, new forum for Alabama references

I’m-workin’-on-it29 December 2006, 10:29

Hey to all, still here…and there

I’m-workin’-on-it29 December 2006, 22:00

.

Galt?30 December 2006, 00:12

Hi all. Alabama Dept. of Public Health has added a new series of flyers related to flu and to pandemic flu to their pandemic influenza section of their website (www.adph.org). Interesting.

Hope all had a very excellent holiday. By the way, on the AL state website, the official one for the state of AL, Governor Riley encouraged all Alabamians to give the gift of preparedness essentials to family and friends this holiday season. Pretty cool.

I’m workin’ on it, I got my MREs from mredepot. I thought I followed the heating directions correctly—they didn’t look all that complex, but the result was sort of disconcerting. Food got very hot, which is good. But have you found, on the APack MREs, that smoke boils out of the heating sleeve and the whole thing smells really, really bad? Food tasted fine, although I’m not real hard to please. Whole heating process looked enough like it might explode that I took it out into the driveway. Should things happen that would potentially set off the smoke alarm?

Best regards, Galt

I’m-workin’-on-it30 December 2006, 19:26

Galt, no, you shouldn’t have reason to be alarmed while your MRE is heating…….how strange!

If you fill the sleeve with water, let the heater absorb a little, then shove the meal pack into the sleeve & fold the sleeve top over the top of your food, to keep the water in the sleeve, then shove the entire sleeve back into the paperbox — it sort of serves as an oven. Steam should escape perhaps, but not smoke! Did you have the paperbox sitting on some surface that was reacting to the heat?

In the 6 I’ve fixed I’ve never had anything but steam! I can’t help but laugh thinking of the sight & you probably racking your brain trying to remember if anyone ever mentioned smoke! :-)

You’ve got me there! Might be worth another try just to see if it happens again……I’d sure like to know!

I’m-workin’-on-it31 December 2006, 00:17

.

Hermittao?02 January 2007, 23:46

I recently purchased canned butter and cheese from MREDepot. I used the FLUWIKI discount code and got a great price, but I believe the discount is no longer valid. I haven’t tried either product, but have seen great reviews. Both have an indefinite shelf life and require no refrigeration.

I’m-workin’-on-it03 January 2007, 09:32

Hermittao, the discount is good through the end of this new year 2007!!! So keep shopping!!!

Hide in the Hills ?03 January 2007, 21:12

Just thought I would let y’all know, I still here lurkin’ and kickin’. How many preppers do we have on the Alabama forum. Where are y’all? We have really dropped off. Has anyone heard anything new from Egypt lately. Last I heard it sounded like AF was about to explode out of there.

I’m-workin’-on-it03 January 2007, 21:33

Hi HH, I’m here….I’ve been working in the pantry trying to organize some things that I’d neglected the LAST time I tried to organize it & distracted with Christmas puttin’ away, & I’m supposed to be learning a new budget format for our finances…yeah right. Things have dropped off here….don’t know if it was just that the holidays distracted us, or if the new forum has pulled us in different directions, although there’s nothing going on over on the new forum either. We’ve just drifted apart I guess. I hate that, but I’m not surprised…it’s not just us, most of the state threads seem to have fizzled on both locations. Anyway, I’m HERE more than over at the new site, and I intend to be here more often now that the holidays are over. We’ve had some tragic things happen to folks here — Arkansas thread PBQ had a brain anurysm (sp??) and is recovering, and The Quiet One’s husband had a serious heart attack, triple by-pass surgery & it has changed their lives (posted on the Lurkers thread), so there’s lots happening to stress everyone out besides any updates on Egypt or Indonesia.

I’m not convinced that Egypt is any hotter a hotbed than any place else and I think a lot of the problem is Dengue. And the MRSA staph that’s causing problems here in the USA is threatening Canada as well…many things to keep our eyes on.

I’m-workin’-on-it04 January 2007, 15:07

.

Galt?08 January 2007, 01:08

So, forum will be closing on the 12th. I’ve enjoyed “talking” with you guys. I’ve learned a lot. I hope y’all will come over to the new forum sometimes. I plan to post there once in awhile. One problem I have had with the new forum is that it seems to me somewhat less focused on prepping, as opposed to political commentary, understanding the inner workings of the WHO, interpreting the nuances of national conferences on modeling the pros and cons of school closings. To be fair, that’s improved a little bit of late; Kathy in FL started an interesting thread at the new forum recently. It’s not that I don’t think that those things are important. It is that I have even less to contribute to such topics (which is really saying something from the only person in the world to ever practically blow up an MRE…). I also believe, given my interactions at the regional and county-level planning meetings and my interactions with AL Dept of Public Health folks, including upper administration, that none of those recommendations and none of the science will make any difference whatsover in what Alabama ends up doing in the event of a possible pandemic. For those of you who are natives, you might agree with me that change is slow here. Which leads me back to the importance of personal prepping. Any of you Alabamians have a prepping related forum that you particularly like that you are reading/posting on these days?

Best regards to all of you.

Debbie in Ala?08 January 2007, 19:02

Galt, The new forum is the only other one I ever check and I don’t post there much.

I agree completely with your complaints of the new forum: less focus on prepping, more on political commentary, etc. Maybe folks just feel that the prep topics have been covered (as in been there, done that) and want to move on to new levels. I was also happy to see the posts from Kathy in FL (LOVE those recipes, and all the other great info. she comes up with.)

The new forum feels scattered to me b/c there are so many columns to check every time I visit. It takes me much longer before I feel caught up. I’ll REALLY miss this site, but will continue to use the new one and hope to “see” everybody there.

I’m-workin’-on-it09 January 2007, 11:24

I agree with you all..sad isn’t it?

We either need to post on the new AL thread over there or at http://p068.ezboard.com/bthenextpandemic58276

One of the girls here started it and it’s got 24 members so far but it also has the chat feature! Why don’t you mark it down in case you need it.

I’ve not been there as much as I should have, and the last few days I’ve been setting myself up on www.sparkpeople.com for diet & fitness. I’ve used www.fitday.com in the past and still will, but sparkpeople has EVERYthing and then some - it’s almost overwhelming!

Anyway, I hope we don’t lose touch with each other, communication with those near you who understand may be one of the biggest parts of facing pandemic situations.

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