Question for site veterans.

Fantastic question. This situation is unique and at the moment and is running alone, no comparison. Unfortunately fear doesn't register with most here, but yes, very unique and a first time situation. We're all also highly trained to handle it.

Slate wiping is not effective. One must burn out all traces of the root. Then to be safe, dig down
very, very deep and if necessary a repeat burning must be done. This will bring a positive end result.

I prep for everything I can think of so am I scared no but I am watching since I have a kid in college and would have to get him home. He has a BOB to get here winter ready which included snow shoes, since we are up north.

I am going to get more gloves and some rubber boots just in case and some gowns but other than that I am pretty ready for almost anything.

This is no different than any other bad stuff that comes our way. The only thing I can't get ready for is if Yellowstone goes up. Denver is screwed and most of the US will be screwed so that is what I really fear!

What one must realize is that the regulars who have been here for years have been ready for a long time. We just hope others will get ready because something will eventually happen...like jacksdad says...baaaad!

I joined swineflu.org in 2009.  Always lurked here finally signed on last year.  I had always been fascinated with H5N1, considered it to be "the one".  Then when those first reports came out of a young child sick with a novel flu virus in southern TX I knew something was starting. 

Ebola is nothing compared to influenza.

Very good and quite humbling question, I do not consider myself a veteran, there are many more here who have stayed the course and posted consistently for longer than I.

I joined in 2006, and have been a “fair weather” AFT member between multiple births, moves, and life. when things get hairy I always come back here because of the solid work of others including those you mention and many more over the years, including Albert. No matter the question, or scenario you can always find the answer here. It is a safe haven for getting solid, vetted scientific information, as well as opinion, conjecture and real life advice that can save one’s life in an emergency.
The regular posters here are most solid, not too panicky, but very cautious…a very good balance to glean clear, concise knowledge and which to base decisions on.

I have always prepped to some extent, and kicked into high gear for Y2K, but since avian influenza in 2006, this thing has potential to outstrip any previous emerging viral threat in my adult lifetime. The paradox is that the threat from the virus is twofold: one is from the virus itself, it kills fast, spreads fast, is not all that well known and is changing…..and there is no cure. That poses an immense threat to you and me, unless we can contain and control it…..we are watching those efforts unfold before our eyes, and time will tell.

The second part of the paradox is fear: how fear affects and effects humanity and civilized society. Once people get scared many things can happen: panic, stockpiling, runs on essentials, rash decision making, poor judgment etc:

The threat from this virus can manifest itself in one or both ways, and again time will tell, but if things continue as they are: uncontrolled spread in Africa, possible multiple cases and clusters here, with the government taking precautions and actions that have never been seen before or not seen in two generations by the general public…..we are in for a rough ride.

The danger of the consequences from that rough ride can be mitigated, or even nullified by solid thoughtful planning and prepping. Some of us here will have entertainment, games, hot wonderful meals, and life will go on during rough times, while others will eat cold canned beans in the dark. But most that are here will get through it.
So the question you ask is difficult, I would recommend asking yourself the following question: What would you tell me to do considering the state of this out break and its perceived potential?

Hazelpad wrote: This question is for those who have been on this site for years, Jackdad, coyote, Albert,Elver, Waterboy and all the others. You have been doing this stuff for years, so just wanted to ask how this Ebola outbreak compares to other outbreaks, scares you have gone through together on this site. Your experience is invaluable, how do you think this compares to past situations. Thanks.

Been here since 2005.

Never been like this before. It was always somewhere else, or in the process of mutating.

This is *HERE* in our country, right in some of our backyards. People are yanking their kids out of school to protect them (Whether genuinely threatened or not is open to debate) which I never thought I'd see.

Absolutely agree with everything you said, KiwiMum. I've long considered the JIT system to be the thing that will be our downfall if any number of things sideswipe us. Nine meals away from anarchy - and one generation away from barbarism.

jacksdad wrote: Absolutely agree with everything you said, KiwiMum. I've long considered the JIT system to be the thing that will be our downfall if any number of things sideswipe us. Nine meals away from anarchy - and one generation away from barbarism.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I think for us that are newer to this site, your collective advice, tips, and responses to the present situation really help.

It is good to see how you got into it, the past concerns and situations you have been through, also how this Ebola compares to the other outbreaks.

I think it is clear from everyone that answered that this outbreak is a unique situation, with varying levels of concern among you all. What is also evident is the variety of backgrounds and experiences you all have. Collectively it creates a massive pool of knowledge to either dip into or at times dive into.

I came here because I believe you, I believe in the saying " fortune favours the prepared".

When I came in 2009, pregnant with my third child, and H1N1 looming, it helped me so much. Thank you.

I have worked with horrendous dangerous reagents, and infectious pathogens and carcinogens. I shared a bench with cholera toxin, cyanide, and formaldehyde, and mitogens able to activate every cell in your body, and dont get me started on the radioactivity.......Over the years I have been UV ed, ....splashed with gut samples from patients with IBD,.... a medical student froze samples with methanol instead of ethanol, nearly blinded me, Another student left concentrated HCl on bench instead of in fume cupboard, that was fun !!!! Whole bench disappeared in a haze of fumes Been splashed by such lovely things as eth bromide, stabbed by needles with various antibodies, been stained with gram stain, which left my arm purple for a month. Even had to do spectrometry on a sample of vCJD.   Add to that exploding epindorfs, leaky gel tanks, out of control manic centrifuges, and dodgy fungal things left over in incubators.   So I don't scare easily, and I like to think I am rational.

However I know nothing about how people behave in a crisis, no nothing about PR speeches ( someone yesterday on here talking about stage managment of talks, and how people prepare for questions and answers, was great). No nothing about military, or business and economics. I have learned lots from people here so please don't feel your posts go unread, they are, and they matter, and I just want to say thanks.

Techno, what do you mean when you thought JD died?  lol.   I think he had Ebola and he's now a zombie, but he didn't pass.   

He has not started to growl, drool or stagger.  I think we're ok Boss.

DANNYKELLEY wrote:

Dan, I hadn't seen you up here then so missed and then forgot. But, Happy Birthday!!!

I remember when JD died!  Albert were you just joking or do you really not remember that?  That was a shocker for sure.

.  I can't remember why it was posted or who posted it, but for a day we all thought he was dead... till he posted that evening of course & we all had a good laugh :)

This is a great question. I've only been around for a few years off and on but would like to chime in. I found this forum as a result of a basic search to see if others had concerns like I did.  Not to sound weird or anything but I had a frightening dream that I felt was significant.  I often have dreams which come true in various ways and so this particular time I decided to look around. I've never been a computer person but I'm glad that I found this site. I check in on what's going on because these people know what they are talking about and are brilliant in their vigilance.  The wealth of information is the knowledge of a combination of many many years of experience from numerous backgrounds always given with candor and an amazing clarity of thinking.  I appreciate this site and the people here very much and share what I find out with others who are not prepared. In my opinion the Ebola is frightening from a perspective that we can see the ineptness of our government in action. I feel that the flu may still be our greatest concern--that and the arrogance of our officials in believing that they have all of this all under control.

Nice to see you back, Littleraven

Hey - I showered today.

Are we sure it's actually JD though?  I thought Ebola got him awhile back.   

I was glad to have JD back too and it was a rough time. Still not convinced we have the real JD though and not Ebola zombie after his bout with it.  JD - If you're inside there somewhere prove it - who's going to win the Chicago Carolina game?  

I'd better say the Bears - because I'm not sure I can rise from the dead a second time if "someone" kills me again

I'm waiting for the Chargers game anyway...

Scientists conceded that natives to AFTs might be blessed with strange powers enabling them to probe the mysteries of the cosmos, including active participation in raising the dead. On the other hand it might just be the side effect of imbibing the local site cocktail - made up of Cough Mixture and Vodka, with a Tamiflu and Diazepan/ Valium frosting.