Level 4.....then what?

Truth be told I ask those same questions to myself...and since we do not know how everything will be going..we will all have to do what we feel is right at our own pace and time set...

Preps are an ongoing thing here..and I will try not to have to do to many last minute things,but also want to look like the paniced throng..so as not to stick out...and it will also deepend on how WHO handles the level change...

My kids will be a top priority..and will be pulled the minute this has gone H2H..proof positive(I have the feeling it has,but since there might be a cover-up..wel time will tell).

Start confinement i would say when your heart tells you so...don,t depend deeply on the media and go with your gut instinct...you are in the know and part of the loop..you will know long before the panic hits...

We decided as a family to allow 24 hours to pull together once the H2H picks up.  It's still not found here in American, maybe that should be the triggering factor...when it's here?  Your kids are precious, schools are very contagious, just pull them out when the virus is confirmed here.  Maybe inform the school of your plan so they understand that your kids will be home-schooled.  Ask the school what their plan is?  Do they have one?  I read schools will close, but when will that decision be made?  I don't have kids, so I haven't looked closely at what is planned.  I agree that you should go with your gut.  You are prepared and informed, I vote better to be a little early than late. 

Ella Fitzgerald wrote: Ok, I'm struggling with trying to predict what our world will be like when a level 4 is finally announced by WHO. I'm thinking it will take 24-48 hours for panic to set in and plan to start collecting my last minute preps during that time. I will shop in the middle of the night to prevent contact with crowds. I'm really struggling with when I should pull my kids out of school and when we should start confining ourselves to our house. Any insight, wisdom, predictions is greatly appreciated. Obviously level 4 is the next 'official' step so as my fellow avian flu talk buddies...then what?

Probably the best way to judge this would be to watch our politicians.............if we hear reports that they've gone into seclusion or they start giving speeches and interviews with a mask on, then it might be a good time to hole up.

Ella Fitzgerald wrote: I'm thinking it will take 24-48 hours for panic to set in and plan to start collecting my last minute preps during that time. I will shop in the middle of the night to prevent contact with crowds.

I don't think the US will really even notice Level 4.   Most people will probably only start noticing at Level 5 and then, probably only to buy extra milk and bread.   Truth be told, the vast majority of people don't act until action is forced upon them.  ie: your neighbors and co-workers are sick. Uh-oh.  To act prior to VISIBLE threat, especially like this, where you need to commit some real time and money on things that ultimately may be a complete waste (or such that at it takes years to use up) is completely against most peoples nature.  They'll wait.  We'll be panicking (or at least, fighting panicking and checking and rechecking our plans for holes) and going out of our gourds, but they will most likely just be very worried and hope the government will tell them where and when to go for their shot.

Tired wrote: When people are dropping dead on the sidewalk in front of their homes, THEN they will wonder what is going on! Sad, but unfortunately true.

Well...as they say...they will be using the police as their guides whether everything is ok:

If the gold line on thier uniform pants is vertical - everything is fine.

If the gold line is horizontal - it's trouble outside.

Oh yes, silly me for thinking the schools have a plan!!!! 

I asked my mother's doctor about the bird flu and he pretty much cut me off and said 'there is nothing we can do about it'.  I asked him for one year of her perscriptions, and he gave me three months worth.  Very interesting though; for a severe pain condition she has, he slipped her 9 months. 

I'm not a mom, I don't know how I would handle this.  I was pretty freaked out yesterday and wouldn't have been able to sleep without knowing I had those last few items.  Again, don't just prep for the bird flu, prep for EVERYTHING.  Maybe as this get closer to your country (I'm in the US) just pull them out then.  I really sort out the safe or sorry....if your kids loose credit a year of school???  Or if your kids are exposed to BF???  Just scary times we live in...maybe the parents here can help devise of plan of when to choose to keep the kids home?

Aodhan wrote: Ella Fitzgerald wrote: I'm thinking it will take 24-48 hours for panic to set in and plan to start collecting my last minute preps during that time. I will shop in the middle of the night to prevent contact with crowds. I don't think the US will really even notice Level 4.   Most people will probably only start noticing at Level 5 and then, probably only to buy extra milk and bread.   Truth be told, the vast majority of people don't act until action is forced upon them.  ie: your neighbors and co-workers are sick. Uh-oh.  To act prior to VISIBLE threat, especially like this, where you need to commit some real time and money on things that ultimately may be a complete waste (or such that at it takes years to use up) is completely against most peoples nature.  They'll wait.  We'll be panicking (or at least, fighting panicking and checking and rechecking our plans for holes) and going out of our gourds, but they will most likely just be very worried and hope the government will tell them where and when to go for their shot.

Aodhan, spot on.  Americans tend not to notice some things until they literally explode. 

Ella, I think the problem with waiting until the middle of the night once things explode is that half of everyone else on the planet will be doing the same thing.

very few people use their initiative. They would rather die than do something that other people arnt doing. Conforming is very important to the vast majority of the population. More important than life. I think that they will not declare level 4 or 5. Keep you ignorant and you dont panic.If you havent got all your supplies in now i would suggest you get them. Stick your grains and lentils in the freezer overight to kill weevils and eggs. Preserve eggs. Rub them with parafin oil and store point down. Should keep for 6 months. Anybody any idea if you can preserve fertile hen eggs. I have done them as above and will need to be thoroughly washed with detergent before incubating. I suspect that there will be very few of our feathered friends left anywhere in a few months.

Finally can we all pray for all those people and birds and animals in Africa.