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This is part of a much longer general explanation of 'bird flu' I have been writing for my extended family but I thought it may be appropriate here. I would be grateful for any suggestions or comments that may help refine it.
I am British & UK resident so my perspective is likely to be skewed towards that climate and culture.
Prepping
The problem with a flu pandemic is that it may not happen for years and yet when it comes it could be everywhere in weeks and panic buying could clear the shops hours after the first announcement on TV. To beat the rush you can get into the habit of checking flutrackers or similar websites on a daily basis to see what the scientific community know about clusters before the mass media broadcast, also regular checking will get you used to ‘normal’ activity levels so you can spot when something is amiss.
Things you can do now
Most of this section is just to get you thinking, everyone’s situation is going to be different.
Go to the supermarket wonder up and down all the isles look at everything they stock check some sell by dates so you get a feel for how long they think things remain in prime condition, remember many items are good long after their sell by dates e.g. canned goods, pasta etc. (a couple recently eat a canned chicken, given to them when they married, on their 50th anniversary). Some items are surprisingly cheap and may be worth buying even if they never get used (milk powder, some types of canned goods) others are not too dear and worth buying in bulk, they will get used eventually salt, matches, candles, paper plates etc. (even if you never have to buy another in your lifetime). Likewise wander around other stores (DIY, camping, garden centre) again thinking about which of these items may be useful if there was no power, mains gas, mains water etc if you have lamps do you have spare wicks & mantles?.
Walk around your house and garden which items would not work if the all utilities stopped how would you manage without them?
Start carrying more of the things you regularly use and prepare a list of items to be purchased - if you think it is imminent - including who stocks them locally and what they cost, look at them now measure up etc.
You may want to consider two lists:
1] for expensive items you would not consider buying normally e.g. A giant propane cylinder and regulator, water butts or rain water collection from the roof, Colman petrol burning lamp & cooker, Jerry cans, a UPS (this is a battery and voltage regulator normally used to keep a computer running for 30min if the power goes down but it gives a mains voltage output and could be used to recharge mobile phones, batteries etc if mains power is intermittent), a generator (be warned this may draw unwelcome attention) etc.
2] additional supply levels for items you already have, and items you do not normally have e.g. powdered milk & eggs, canned goods which you would normally have fresh like veg. Fresh fruit & Veg.
Think about ‘traditional’ panic buy items, torches, candles, batteries (long life & rechargeable), petrol cans (they are bulky so retailers do not hold many), all types of fuel – petrol, coal, gas cylinders, logs, charcoal.
Think about how you may be living - candles for light (fire extinguishers, smoke alarms), hand washing in cold water (buckets, cloths pegs, rubber gloves, a mangle?), heating by gas burner (carbon dioxide alarm), no running water (potties, chemical toilet, somewhere to empty them) etc.
This needs a change of mind set. We are so used to ‘popping out to the shops’ and picking up a few things that we have developed a ‘just in time’ mentality. We think mainly of sell by dates on things in the fridge. You will need to be more organised and a set aside a lot more storage space. Start to buy more than you need of items like rice, sugar, flour, pasta, oil etc. and carefully stock them with the new items at the back of the shelf so you get used to using them on a ‘first in first out’ basis. Get used to how much you use on a monthly basis (how many loo rolls do you use in 6 months?) and start building up your stock levels so the items taken form the front of the shelf are beginning to approach their sell buy date. Items with very long shelf lives salt, toothpaste, washing powder etc. will also need to be stored in a similar fashion and rotated (remember hand washing powder & washing up liquid not just for machines). You will need some big plastic stacking bins with lids, or similar, to mouse proof items like rice, flour, beans & pasta. List items in storage boxes with Qty & use by date so you do not have to unpack the boxes to find out what you have left.
Experiment –
How long will potatoes, onions, apples etc keep? Try different storages areas, attic, garage, cellar etc. Try different containers card board boxes, string bags,t
You may not be familiar preparing meals based on some of the dried goods, powdered milk etc try them now, find out what your family likes/will eat so you can increase stocks of those items and do not have too many of the items that don’t work. for you.
Defrost your freezer and make sure it is efficiently packed with useful items. Pork is good; if the power fails large pieces can be cured with salt to make bacon, hams etc. and will keep for months without refrigeration (you will need to keep insects and rodents away).
If you have a local farmer you may be able to buy milk, meat or vegetables but it may be best to make contact now then you can arrange a collection/payment system without too much contact if it starts, the farmer will still have to milk his cows but he may not have anyone to collect the milk.
What are you going to do with your time? If you have children do you have pens, paper, cards, ball games, board games or something similar for them? Plenty of books you/they have not read? Jobs you always meant to do but hadn’t the time – make sure you have the hand tools (not power)/paint/timber etc.
Pets
Dogs, cats, birds can all get flu and give it to you. Train your cat to use a litter tray, get it use to staying inside and walking on a lead. Is your garden dog proof? How much pet food have you stored? Cat litter?
Gardening
If your garden was low maintenance and you plan to be growing your own food check your tools; are they up to the job? Seeds get plenty - particularly things that will keep or produce greens in the winter. If you have a fireplace do you have a chain saw, large bow saw, spare blades & small file to re-sharpen them? Do you have a shed or green house, if so does it have a good lock? No point in prepping and being robbed by someone who didn’t.
Water
If the mains stops you will need a source of water and this could be most people’s biggest problem. We use a lot of water even if we try not to and it is very heavy (allow for pets and plants too, plants in grow bags or containers can go through a lot of water). If you have a stream nearby do you have suitable containers to draw it and transport it? Do you have a cart, trailer, wheel barrow, sack truck, wheelybin? Can you collect rain water in a water butt? If so do you have other bins/barrels to fill from it to increase your storage capacity (also useful if the mains supply is intermittent)? Has it got a lid, a tap, a filter to keep out leaves and other rubbish from the roof? Do you have the right pipes/brackets/fittings to route the down pipe into it? Have you plenty of bleach to sterilise the collected water and orange squash etc. to make it more palatable? Do you have smaller containers with taps that all the family can carry (I recommend the collapsible polythene cubes they are cheap & easy to store until needed).
Money
Do you have cash? ATMs may not have power or anyone refilling them. Do you have somewhere safe to keep it? Do you have items you think might be good for trade? Credit Cards may become of limited use if the phone system is disrupted.
Is your Will up-to-date? Now might be a good time to check/top up your life insurance before rates change (use only ‘Blue Chip’ financial institutions preferably ones that have a broad portfolio i.e. not specialists with a high life insurance exposure, also read the small print to make sure they have not added a Pandemic disclaimer).
Security
Do not be too ostentatious about your prepping. You do not want to have to turn down neighbours pleas for assistance, and you will not know how long your stores will need to last. Do not underestimate the determination of a parent with sick or starving children who thinks you have what they need. Your best option is to try and get them prepping now so they will not need anyone’s help.
Medical supplies are covered in a separate section but if you live in the UK be warned you will need a lot of Paracetamol & Ibuprofen and there is a restriction to the number of tablets you can by at a time (to try and prevent suicides) which means you can not buy what you need at the last minute. You should start stocking up each time you go to a supermarket or chemist. If you need any prescription medication etc. try and see your doctor now about building up as big a stock as you can.
Finally I am just going to type a list of things for you to consider in addition to those above:
Fire lighters, lots of plain bleach, more salt, contraceptives, tampons, razor blades, mouse traps, lots & lots of matches, refillable lighters, lighter fuel, long ‘cooker lighters’, lamps & fuel, cookers & fuel, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, cold weather gear, wet weather gear, tobacco & alcohol (may be good for trade), fishing tackle, siphon pumps (fuel & water), garden hose and other tubing, plastic sheeting, bubble wrap, string, rope, wire, chain, books on preserving/curing & smoking/gardening/first aid, duck tape, masking tape, glues, bicycles and spares, pressure cooker (saves fuel), Liquid Sodium Silicate (for egg storage), netting (crop protection & storage), nappy buckets (with lids), nappies, Tupperware, news paper (less bulky that loo rolls, individually wrapping apples etc), more plastic bags, clockwork torch & radio.
Remember to print hard copies of items electronically stored e.g. these instructions, phone numbers, medical advice, stock lists etc.
I am British & UK resident so my perspective is likely to be skewed towards that climate and culture.
Prepping
The problem with a flu pandemic is that it may not happen for years and yet when it comes it could be everywhere in weeks and panic buying could clear the shops hours after the first announcement on TV. To beat the rush you can get into the habit of checking flutrackers or similar websites on a daily basis to see what the scientific community know about clusters before the mass media broadcast, also regular checking will get you used to ‘normal’ activity levels so you can spot when something is amiss.
Things you can do now
Most of this section is just to get you thinking, everyone’s situation is going to be different.
Go to the supermarket wonder up and down all the isles look at everything they stock check some sell by dates so you get a feel for how long they think things remain in prime condition, remember many items are good long after their sell by dates e.g. canned goods, pasta etc. (a couple recently eat a canned chicken, given to them when they married, on their 50th anniversary). Some items are surprisingly cheap and may be worth buying even if they never get used (milk powder, some types of canned goods) others are not too dear and worth buying in bulk, they will get used eventually salt, matches, candles, paper plates etc. (even if you never have to buy another in your lifetime). Likewise wander around other stores (DIY, camping, garden centre) again thinking about which of these items may be useful if there was no power, mains gas, mains water etc if you have lamps do you have spare wicks & mantles?.
Walk around your house and garden which items would not work if the all utilities stopped how would you manage without them?
Start carrying more of the things you regularly use and prepare a list of items to be purchased - if you think it is imminent - including who stocks them locally and what they cost, look at them now measure up etc.
You may want to consider two lists:
1] for expensive items you would not consider buying normally e.g. A giant propane cylinder and regulator, water butts or rain water collection from the roof, Colman petrol burning lamp & cooker, Jerry cans, a UPS (this is a battery and voltage regulator normally used to keep a computer running for 30min if the power goes down but it gives a mains voltage output and could be used to recharge mobile phones, batteries etc if mains power is intermittent), a generator (be warned this may draw unwelcome attention) etc.
2] additional supply levels for items you already have, and items you do not normally have e.g. powdered milk & eggs, canned goods which you would normally have fresh like veg. Fresh fruit & Veg.
Think about ‘traditional’ panic buy items, torches, candles, batteries (long life & rechargeable), petrol cans (they are bulky so retailers do not hold many), all types of fuel – petrol, coal, gas cylinders, logs, charcoal.
Think about how you may be living - candles for light (fire extinguishers, smoke alarms), hand washing in cold water (buckets, cloths pegs, rubber gloves, a mangle?), heating by gas burner (carbon dioxide alarm), no running water (potties, chemical toilet, somewhere to empty them) etc.
This needs a change of mind set. We are so used to ‘popping out to the shops’ and picking up a few things that we have developed a ‘just in time’ mentality. We think mainly of sell by dates on things in the fridge. You will need to be more organised and a set aside a lot more storage space. Start to buy more than you need of items like rice, sugar, flour, pasta, oil etc. and carefully stock them with the new items at the back of the shelf so you get used to using them on a ‘first in first out’ basis. Get used to how much you use on a monthly basis (how many loo rolls do you use in 6 months?) and start building up your stock levels so the items taken form the front of the shelf are beginning to approach their sell buy date. Items with very long shelf lives salt, toothpaste, washing powder etc. will also need to be stored in a similar fashion and rotated (remember hand washing powder & washing up liquid not just for machines). You will need some big plastic stacking bins with lids, or similar, to mouse proof items like rice, flour, beans & pasta. List items in storage boxes with Qty & use by date so you do not have to unpack the boxes to find out what you have left.
Experiment –
How long will potatoes, onions, apples etc keep? Try different storages areas, attic, garage, cellar etc. Try different containers card board boxes, string bags,t
You may not be familiar preparing meals based on some of the dried goods, powdered milk etc try them now, find out what your family likes/will eat so you can increase stocks of those items and do not have too many of the items that don’t work. for you.
Defrost your freezer and make sure it is efficiently packed with useful items. Pork is good; if the power fails large pieces can be cured with salt to make bacon, hams etc. and will keep for months without refrigeration (you will need to keep insects and rodents away).
If you have a local farmer you may be able to buy milk, meat or vegetables but it may be best to make contact now then you can arrange a collection/payment system without too much contact if it starts, the farmer will still have to milk his cows but he may not have anyone to collect the milk.
What are you going to do with your time? If you have children do you have pens, paper, cards, ball games, board games or something similar for them? Plenty of books you/they have not read? Jobs you always meant to do but hadn’t the time – make sure you have the hand tools (not power)/paint/timber etc.
Pets
Dogs, cats, birds can all get flu and give it to you. Train your cat to use a litter tray, get it use to staying inside and walking on a lead. Is your garden dog proof? How much pet food have you stored? Cat litter?
Gardening
If your garden was low maintenance and you plan to be growing your own food check your tools; are they up to the job? Seeds get plenty - particularly things that will keep or produce greens in the winter. If you have a fireplace do you have a chain saw, large bow saw, spare blades & small file to re-sharpen them? Do you have a shed or green house, if so does it have a good lock? No point in prepping and being robbed by someone who didn’t.
Water
If the mains stops you will need a source of water and this could be most people’s biggest problem. We use a lot of water even if we try not to and it is very heavy (allow for pets and plants too, plants in grow bags or containers can go through a lot of water). If you have a stream nearby do you have suitable containers to draw it and transport it? Do you have a cart, trailer, wheel barrow, sack truck, wheelybin? Can you collect rain water in a water butt? If so do you have other bins/barrels to fill from it to increase your storage capacity (also useful if the mains supply is intermittent)? Has it got a lid, a tap, a filter to keep out leaves and other rubbish from the roof? Do you have the right pipes/brackets/fittings to route the down pipe into it? Have you plenty of bleach to sterilise the collected water and orange squash etc. to make it more palatable? Do you have smaller containers with taps that all the family can carry (I recommend the collapsible polythene cubes they are cheap & easy to store until needed).
Money
Do you have cash? ATMs may not have power or anyone refilling them. Do you have somewhere safe to keep it? Do you have items you think might be good for trade? Credit Cards may become of limited use if the phone system is disrupted.
Is your Will up-to-date? Now might be a good time to check/top up your life insurance before rates change (use only ‘Blue Chip’ financial institutions preferably ones that have a broad portfolio i.e. not specialists with a high life insurance exposure, also read the small print to make sure they have not added a Pandemic disclaimer).
Security
Do not be too ostentatious about your prepping. You do not want to have to turn down neighbours pleas for assistance, and you will not know how long your stores will need to last. Do not underestimate the determination of a parent with sick or starving children who thinks you have what they need. Your best option is to try and get them prepping now so they will not need anyone’s help.
Medical supplies are covered in a separate section but if you live in the UK be warned you will need a lot of Paracetamol & Ibuprofen and there is a restriction to the number of tablets you can by at a time (to try and prevent suicides) which means you can not buy what you need at the last minute. You should start stocking up each time you go to a supermarket or chemist. If you need any prescription medication etc. try and see your doctor now about building up as big a stock as you can.
Finally I am just going to type a list of things for you to consider in addition to those above:
Fire lighters, lots of plain bleach, more salt, contraceptives, tampons, razor blades, mouse traps, lots & lots of matches, refillable lighters, lighter fuel, long ‘cooker lighters’, lamps & fuel, cookers & fuel, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, cold weather gear, wet weather gear, tobacco & alcohol (may be good for trade), fishing tackle, siphon pumps (fuel & water), garden hose and other tubing, plastic sheeting, bubble wrap, string, rope, wire, chain, books on preserving/curing & smoking/gardening/first aid, duck tape, masking tape, glues, bicycles and spares, pressure cooker (saves fuel), Liquid Sodium Silicate (for egg storage), netting (crop protection & storage), nappy buckets (with lids), nappies, Tupperware, news paper (less bulky that loo rolls, individually wrapping apples etc), more plastic bags, clockwork torch & radio.
Remember to print hard copies of items electronically stored e.g. these instructions, phone numbers, medical advice, stock lists etc.