We Need to Stop the Panic

Facts are facts. No need to panic just prep. I would panic if i weren't preped.

I may briefly panic over a dead bird or person in my area  but will then go to my preps to solve the panic and the problem.

Panic if you have no solution.

I agree it's too early to panic. I'm in a concerned mode at this time - just reading and thinking. Not sure what will make me spring into action. At least I'll have thought about it. So, I should be able to move rather quickly.

I also believe society will hold together better than expected. Even if it's severe, I don't see another New Orleans on a national scale. 

We'll when you finally decide to spring into action, what are you going to do?

and if that is what you are going to do when you spring into action why not start springing now?

What makes you think there will be any springs available when you want to spring?

Maybe this spring?

Thanks Zoe. I don't think it's so much Texas, as it is being in a smaller city (200,000). I think any major metropolitan area is going to have, well, major problems. The more rural areas should do better, not too rural though. Everyone is still going to need help. :-)

I almost chose to ignore your response Corn, but then I thought, what the heck. I've been kicked off boards before. :-)

What's your problem? I know it's hard for you to believe, but not everyone is ready to go running through the streets screaming THE FLU IS COMING! THE FLU IS COMING!

Besides, I have a big basement and a .38 with plenty of ammo. So, I figure I'm a leg up. :-)

 

 

I know what you're saying elbows. I think it's the contrarian in us. The more something is trumpeted, the more leery I become. :-)

OK then Preparation without Perspiration is my new slogan

Yeah, I have to weigh in with Corn on this.  Although NO ONE knows when the magic hour will happen, it could be tomorrow or five years from now. 

But prepping, with the goal of maximizing your money and quality of items IS exhausting.  Physically. Emotionally. Financially. Intellectually. 

It took many, many DAYS of research and tracking down.  Days turned into months.  I have been doing it for a year and I'm still not done.  It never really ends.  But I have enough that if it did happen tomorrow, I wouldn't be out in the masses fighting over anything. 

I would be out doing my last minute list.  Items that I have deliberately put off until zero hour.  No one is going to be fighting me for that roto-tiller or bag of lime when and if zero hour arrives.

John, yep I have all those things.... that's what put me in mind of the tiller...when I got to thinking about hand turning that much real estate my back began to ache.  I'm not as young as I used to be.

BTW: I spent early fall learning all about pressure canning.  It was fun and scary at that same time.  I learned a lot and I was able to greatly expand my preps in the process.

Here too I also have to agree with Corn...You would not believe how many people That I have talked to about BF is waiting for that magical moment for their own personal alarm to go off.  Sadly these include my children and family members! Once that alarm goes off you have to understand that you will probably be in competition with everyone else out there...just look at what was told to Hong Kong today! And those poor people will be in competition with every other resident trying to do the correct thing and stock up. But when the shelves are bare and you are there trying to do the same thing....what then? Are you going to try and take what you can from everyone else? You have to remember that even though you may have a gun...chances are that the other one has a bigger one than you do and is a better shot! Not trying to be an "Alarmist" but will willingly wear that title if that is necessary just to get you to realize to start prepping now!  So Okay I'm a smother mother...but hey that's what I do and proudly do well!

Meewee

I agree to prep or lay back some stuff, is a good idea I always have every winter, and add back to the stock as it's rotated out. So it's no great big deal to me.

I am not paniced and won't be, it will be what it is, no more no less. I have concerns as this stuff spreads, maybe it will mutate out of existence.

None absolutely none of my preps, are stuff we don't use. Look at my posts, cheap stuff is my way. I won't spend my normal bill money for preps. If it gets bad, we will make do, with what we have. I won't buy ONE MRE, not one, my dog probably won't eat them. Spacecamp stuff, freeze dried stuff, I couldn't use it if I needed it. I'd be better off with one squirrel and some flour, make dumplins and feed 5 people.

I have posted several times, FEAR not flu is moy concern. If it does go to H2H and shows up in the US. People will go nuts, more will get killed in wrecks, and fighting over bread and milk than the flu will get.

I spent my day with a friend in a major city, he has no emergency stuff, no food, water, alternate heat, lights or cooking. NOTHING, if we had a major fuel shortage he and people like him would be in trouble FAST.

He is far more concerned about a nuke event than flu. No matter how many times or ways this is discussed, at the end of TODAY who knows, if or when is the right term to use. Who knows, not me for sure.

Sweets, I'm a single mom too and I just want to say you have our support.  Honestly, I know we aren't supposed to lose sleep over this bf thing but before I was able to stockpile anything I was really on edge.  Getting some preparations done really goes a long way towards relieving some of the anxiety.  Maybe during the time you're waiting for the money to come through, you can plan on paper how to spend the money the best (that takes time) and how to get the most value out of it.  And make any other plans too (like how to get the kids to learn at home and where you would plant a garden, etc.)  We're definitely here for you, sweets, just let us know what advice or support you need....   Best, cupcake mom

If you here, the info will help you through any uncommon situation.

Darlman,
I have been through several hurricanes and I have also seen where there is NOTHING left on the shelves when you go to the store to buy supplies.  When there have been hurricanes, most of the time,  I have gone to the store to buy enough supplies to last for approximately a week or so and have had difficulty finding things.  I can't imagine what it will be like when people all throughout the country are trying to buy supplies to last for weeks or months.  People will truly begin to panic that happens.

I have tried to get people to prep now and hopefully they will listen and not wait til it's too late.


Edited by jackson

Well, I tried to post this already.... either it was deleted or it didn't take.

So, I will repost it.

Plainsman:

Check the Members Only Room.... some of us are.

SZ

It is clear to me I've ended up in the right place. 

After reading The Coming Plague years ago, I gained a HUGE awareness jump over a low level knowledge of the disease dangers of population pressure and poverty.  In the last year, occassionally reading BF news had made me think that in a few years, we could see a Big One. (Mind you, my own feeling is that biological warfare development is more a threat to civilization than nuclear weapons ever were - leaders with their finger on THE BUTTON, while often unstable and arrogant in many ways, are usually not suicidal - with bioweapons, a depressed lab tech could do us in by taking a deep breath with his mask off and going to an airport bar).

In the few weeks since I signed on this site, I have watched a breathtaking and accelerating spread of a disease that is short just a few attributes (all genetically available from viral cousins) of surpassing the 1918 pandemic in a world of Just In Time supplies and overburdened infrastucture.  And, by reading carefully, I am seeing most of the shortsided, venal, and manipulative behavior on the part of authorities that Robert Heinlein had warned me of in my younger days,

I am not feeling panic, but I do feel like I was asleep at the switch, and have woken up to see a light in the distance coming my way that I am hoping is not a locomotive. 

 

Hi I am still about a month out from getting my money, so I can start preparing. The reason I worry is because I have been in the panic buying situation before (HK sars). 

I think that here as soon as a local news report says anything about bf the buying will start. 

I am not panicking but am stressed I cannot start stocking up. When I get the money I will start filling a small storage near my home.

Last night when I got my pneumonia shot my mom finally started to listen about bird flu, so that was good. I find when I bring it up to family and friends I need to really explain facts and stay away from anything else.

Hong Kong is a different situation when it comes to stocking up. People there buy food daily. Everyday people go to the wet market  and buy what they need for that day. Houses are small flats are smaller, there is not alot of place to store things. Also the climate is a problem in the summer if you don't have power for cooling.

People in HK will stock up on oil rice ramen noodles canned meat dried fish western medicine  MASKS and such. I really don't think many will look at the thought of no electricity or water. 

What I watch is what are the expats doing? As soon as things get hairy they tend to leave HK for home. This hasn't started yet, but it may start with spring break. They sometimes go home and don't return (teachers )

Also the large companies keep a watch on the current situation and have guidlines for expats leaving. 

I am now trying to figure out how to live in Hk without Power and Water if that ever arose. I am looking into solar power as an option for cooling in the summer. Propane is widely used for cooking there. The company brings you a big canister that sits outside the kitchen window. No water is what I am trying to still figure out if it got to that. It's not the best climate for going out and digging a toilet hole. (darn Insects)

Any way I am not panicing just trying to look ahead a few months and trying to be a step ahead if trouble arises.

Another reason you dont want to be caught unaware and in the stores at the last minute You would be exposing yourself to multiple people and increasing your risk of contracting the virus.

Even if there are supplies left you dont want to risk getting H5N1.

To avoid panicing in my prep, I have purchased a wine making kit.  soon I'll have some Honey Mead fermenting and wine making supplies will be still on the shelf when everyone is scrabbling for basic stockpiling.

The important thing is to be "PREPARED "I am feeling a little more relax now that i have at least 60% of my preparations out of the way  I live in Miami so I know that you have to be prepared for the worst scenarios in case of a hurricane if you wait , you will probably not going to find anything in the supper market ! not only that but dealing with people in an emergency is very dangerous !

Mississippi Mama -- They're probably cheap enough that it wouldn't hurt to get more. Also make sure you get extra lids so that once you've eaten the contents of a jar, you can reuse it in future canning efforts. -- Libby

Welcome to our forum Lee2! IMHO Please listen to your gut...that is what will save you nine out of ten times! That's why it's there!...As far as water I finally broke down and ordered an MSR MOIX water filter and have been getting bottled water. We have a 9'x 36" wading pool that we are also prepared to set up and fill up in our shop out back plus about 8, five gallon jugs and the bath tubs. as far as space goes...Muskrat can probably help you out there! She has her preps everywhere Under beds behind furniture in the closets etc. Have you thought about getting a storage unit close by and using that for the dry goods and when TSHTF go there and pull it all out? Please feel free to ask any questions and we will all help out as best we can! Hope to see more of you in the future...once again Welcome

Meewee