Pandemic Flu Central

On the fluwiki2, we have discussed SIP, or staying in place. Some choose to call it JAH, or just at home.  This scenerio is a scarey one, especially if you have children and indoor pets. I for one don’t think I’d be able to tolerate SIP too long, given that I don’t like being cooped up. I have a 14 and a 5 year old, a min pin, and a Hubby. They all get underfoot anyway, but what about during SIP? How could we handle it, especially not know how long it would be, and I’m talking mandatory SIP.

I have situations come up, where I’m forced to think about this. Case in point: we had some sever winter weather over the weekend. It started Friday night, and proceeded to get nasty Saturday and into the night. We had all types of precription, the worst being sleet. We even had a flash of lightening, then a loud clap of thunder. Our power went out twice, only briefly though, but the lights kept dimming, so we turned everything off, and just listened to the radio. I had all my flashlights, hurricane lamps, and candles on standby. I had done up all the dishes and filled up extra containers of water. I even ran the vacume over the rugs. (Don’t ask me why I did that. I felt compelled to do so.)

As the evening wore on, we listen to the sleet beat against the windows, and groaned in our boredom. I asked Hubby what he would do if we had to live that on a daily basis due to mandatory SIP. He just looked at me and rolled his eyes. Yea, I agree. It would be a novel idea for awhile, than the boredome would start in with the kids. Hubby would be next. I would just have a mental melt down from the stress of it all. I know myself. You can sperate kids for just so long, until there’s nothing left to do(but push’em out the door!) Seriously, that’s what I would want to do. I honestly don’t know how I would handle it. I have ways of dealing with life now, but goodness, we’re talking a 24 hour ordeal, no space.

It was also discussed if we should be out on our property, those of us out in the rural area. That is a very good question, because if your seen by others passing by, looking for someplace to go, or food, your a target. So that is something else to consider. I would take the risk and go out. I would have to. Instead of taking the dog out for bathroom duty, I’d take myself out just for the peace and quiet!!!

Would you break SIP/JAH?

Fot the most part, we on the fluwiki said no, we would break it. We agreed that it would have to be an extreme emergency before we left our home/families.  The general consenus was that lack of food and water would force one to break SIP. Breaking SIP for a medical emergency would be useless, as there wouldn’t be any help available(under our extreme idea of a flu pandemic and mandatory quarantine.) Hospitals would be over ran with inner city residence, and if your rural, risking your life to drive to the city could be deadly. (Car jacking, ect.) But as human nature mandates it, us parents would risk our life to take our sick child anywhere to get medical help. I even include myself in that.  Knowing my child wouldn’t have a chance in hell to get medicine, I’d still risk it. If I was fortunate enough to get her help, I probably would be contaminated, and I would want to go home. Do I go home and infect my Hubby, and other child? What should I do? Or visa versa. It’s Hubby who takes the child for medical help, do I let him back in? I suppose it’s really a no win situation. You do whatever you have to do, and pray with every fiber of your being that it works out. That’s why being prepared is so important. Having over the counter medicines in your stock is a life line, just as your food and water.

Help/Resources

We spent today digging out. It was about 24 hours of SIP for sever winter weather. I thought some more about pandemic flu SIP.  I don’t know of it will ever happen in my life time, there is no way of knowing. There is no way of knowing what is going to happen in my lifetime, but I have a chance to prepare my family. Even if pandemic flu doesn’t happen, we still need out stock. Natural disasters/emergencies happen all the time, and some last for longer than 3 days. I’ve been through one that lasted 13 days with no power and no phone, no travel. That was mandatory SIP by the order of the county sheriff. We had so little that we were forced to look for food and water. That was a ugly scene as everybody was too, and then you realy see just how ugly humans can be, when trying to survive.  I vowed that we wouldn’t be in that situation again.

There are many websites for resources, and help in where you should start in your preparations. I will be adding a “Websites for Prepardeness” list. I have this on the Fluwiki as well. I encourage everyone to take action and be prepared for not only pandemic flu, but emergencies and the high cost of food. Your stock can literally become a food pantry in times of financial crisis. I’ve done it many times. Once Hubby saw how many times it’s saved our butt, he’s happy I’m doing it.  My stock is gold in this household. I don’t care how rich you are, when a crisis hits, that plastic is worthless, and my stock is priceless!   

If you are looking for a place to start learning about H5N1(aka bird flu), the fluwiki and PFI are two excellant places to go.

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/

http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/

Until next time,

cottontop