Bird Flu--what if anything have you done to prepare?

[Tigger&Belle]

We haven't done anything, but my DH decided that we need to stock up on supplies just in case this actually happens. And what he read is that in the next year or 2 it's a real possibility, which I'm in denial about.

I'm not sure what all is recommended, but I know having enough supplies for about 3 months is on the list. The reasoning being that we might need to stay close to home for awhile and will want to limit contact with other people.

What else should we be doing? How much do you know about bird flu?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have not done 1 thing. DH and my family thinks I am crazy if I discuss doing something.

I told him we should at least have water. Afterall we will drink it eventually.

 

[momof2inPA]

Nothing!

 

[bananiem]

I haven't done anything, but I did print off 2 forms from the pandemicflu.gov website. One's a family emergency health info sheet and the otheer is an emergency contacts form. I figure it's always useful to have those.
If it hits the US I'll go get water and stuff. I figure we can still grill on our deck. It's not like we'll be quarantined inside our homes.

 

[lucas]

Nothing.

I am a stock piler anyway, so we won't go hungry or need toilet paper, that is for sure. And we will still have electricity which is a definite plus considering last year we were without electricity for 10 days with Hurricane Wilma and the year before we went 3 days without electricity with Hurricane Frances.

 

[Holly]

I always have at least three months of supplies ready.
If it were just me I wouldn't, but since I have five children that I am responsible for I believe in being prepared for anything.

 

[Magickndm]

I've started stocking up on hurricane supplies slowly, if I have to stock up for the bird flu too we'd need to build a warehouse just for emergency goods.

 

[shortbun]

We got flu shots. We always have about a 2 week supply of food. My husband doesn't work inside so he's in good shape. I, however, drive a school bus and our son is IN school. We live very near an organic food co-op and two groceries. I'm not worried since flu season is past. We have bikes and a garden too. I recently bought a freezer and will gradually build up to two months worth of frozen food just in general. I bought the freezer so I could take advantage of sales.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I have been slowly stocking up for several months now. I probably have a 3 month supply of most things - especially if it is only a matter of being stuck in the house and it doesn't go into worse case scenarios with the power out. As long as we have time to use up the supplies in the fridge and freezers we will be good for much longer. I am slowly stocking up on things I will use anyway and emergency stuff you should have anyway. Luckily, we still have alot of our camping stuff. (One thing I have learned is it is impossible to stock up on paper towels - this time of year with spring cleaning and all I just go through them too fast!!) Can't seem to get enough water - am making that more of a priority.

Many people say they will wait until this is a definate/it has already hit. My fear is that most everyone will need everything- and will be in a panic....I would rather get stuff now than take my chances on it being available then or having to go out and deal with the mad rush/panic.

I know it is not a definate, but I like being prepared. When they say we are free and clear of the possiblity, then we will slide and have really small grocery bills for a while, but I think from now on I will always continue to have some kind of stockpile and be up on my emergency supplies. We would probably also make a donation to the food pantry.

As Holly already said, being a mom - I have to think of this because I am responsible for the safety and security of my child.

Luckily, my DH is on the same page - I don't think he feels it is as imminent, but he is going along with alot of the things I have asked him to do /get for the house...but again, many are just security precautions we should have been taking care of all along.

I know the feeling about the warehouse - there are only three of us , and luckily we have an unfinished basement - so there is plenty of room, but the shelves sure are are getting full!

shortbun: this is not the same as the regular flu - the shot you got will not protect you and there is no "season" for the bird flu....you can get more info at the CDC site!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Nothing!

I already have hurricane emergency supplies that I could convert to bird flu supplies.

This isn't something I am getting worked up over until I have to (if I have to).

 

[Divamomto3]

We got flu shots. We always have about a 2 week supply of food. My husband doesn't work inside so he's in good shape. I, however, drive a school bus and our son is IN school. We live very near an organic food co-op and two groceries. I'm not worried since flu season is past. We have bikes and a garden too. I recently bought a freezer and will gradually build up to two months worth of frozen food just in general. I bought the freezer so I could take advantage of sales.

There are no shots yet for the bird flu. That's the problem. It'll be a pandemic if it hits. None of us are protected.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Shortbun, as I understand it the seasonal flu shot will do nothing to protect you against the bird flu.

Here's a link from the site that bananiem mentioned. http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html There are family checklists along with general information.

pansmermaidzlagoon, what you are doing is what we plan to do. How are you storing stuff and are you rotating the food? I thought that maybe I would get some clear plastic containers to put supplies in. We have an unfinished workshop/storage room in our basement, so at least we have space for things.

 

[CathrynRose]

I have enough food, meds etc - Im obsessive compulsive like that. Has nothing to do with Bird Flu.

Now check out this quote form the CDC site:
""""Although avian influenza A viruses usually do not infect humans, more than 200 confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza viruses have been reported since 1997. """"

200 cases - since 1997. 22.22 cases - per year, worldwide!

Anyone remember the SARS panic a few years back?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Again, I don't know much about it and have generally used the "head in the sand" approach to dealing with this. However, I believe the danger is not that it passes from birds to humans, but that it will mutate and there will be human to human contact. It would be more accurate to compare it to the flu pandemic of 1918. I so hope that it never evolves into something else, but I figure it's better to be prepared, without going into panic mode.

 

[MosMom]

Nada...I didn't stock up when SARS was supposed to kill us either.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Tigger&Belle:

yes, just basically buying extra of what I normally get - we already had some wooden shelves..I just pulled the junk off them (stored that away elsewhere)..and am rotating things as I use them.

I have only just now started buying a few things we don't normally get: a few bags of rice from the warehouse, extra propane..looking into powdered milk (not sure we will need it - the rice milk I normally use and am stocking lasts forever). I have to start looking into storage for things like the rice or any extra flour etc - I had heard metal boxes are best, may look into that over our usual plastic storage.....I am always going back and forth on exactly how far I want to take this...

if nothing happens the rice and powdered milk - things we do not normally use - will go to the local food pantry....so either way it will be a win/win! We will either be prepapred for something - or we will use up/donate the stores!

in just the last 15 years, we have experienced two 5 day power outages and a four day (and this in in the NE!!!) - but at those times, DH was bringing home take out, etc...we should probably be better prepared for just those normal emergencies...

 

[DVC Sadie]

We are very prepared for hurricane season so we will refurbish our supplies as needed.

Both dh and I think it is not a matter of "if" but of "when" the transmission of the bird flu will be from human to human.

But really, what do we know? We also never dreamed a Katrina could happen but did.

BTW, the biggest problem we foresee if the pandemic hits is a lack of all public services. Medical care will be almost impossible to get as well as electricity, groceries, gas and basically everything that makes our lives easier.

 

[budbeerlady]

I have stock piled some canned goods and water. After seeing how unprepared our country was with Katrina I decieded if it were a snow storm, earthquake, whatever could happen in the Midwest I would probley have to fend for our selves for atleast a week or two. We have a fireplace so when we lose power we always stay warm!!!!

Lets hope nothing ever does (head in the sand here I come!) but if so we have corn, beans, rice and water. Thats gonna make for some boring meals!!!!!!!

 

[luvwinnie]

We got flu shots. We always have about a 2 week supply of food. My husband doesn't work inside so he's in good shape. I, however, drive a school bus and our son is IN school. We live very near an organic food co-op and two groceries. I'm not worried since flu season is past. We have bikes and a garden too. I recently bought a freezer and will gradually build up to two months worth of frozen food just in general. I bought the freezer so I could take advantage of sales.

Just want to point out that regular flu shots will NOT protect again avian flu and there is no "season" for such a flu virus either.

 

[vivilasvegas]

Okay, someone needs to explain to me why there will be an electricity shortage if the flu hits??