The Preparedness workgroup is focused on a specific concept: Planning for a Different Future. Our current goal is to educate, inform, and advise our community about how the future may unfold once oil and natural gas begin to decline, and to make them aware of the multitude of ways that changes in energy availability will affect each of us on a very personal level. We believe that being ready for possible adverse scenarios will lessen panic and enable our community to move forward knowledgeably, even if under extreme duress.

We hope to use a hands-on approach to meet with individuals, neighborhood associations, churches, our local government officials, the hospital, and other community groups to educate them about the potential problems and the corresponding need for planning regarding everyday situations like food storage, home heating, transportation, health necessities, and other areas of concern, many of which would strongly affect our large senior population.

We also want to encourage people to create community for themselves by getting to know their neighbors. We recognize that everyone has specific skills, and many have special needs. The more we know about each other, the more we can be of assistance during times of need by sharing the basic necessities of LIfe - shelter, food, heat, transportation, and expertise.

WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THE AVIAN FLU

 — by APPLE's Preparedness Workgroup

This workgroup had been assessing the needs of our county in the event of serious fuel shortages that could negatively affect our ability to heat our homes, get to work, receive food and medicine deliveries, and meet a myriad of daily needs. We distributed basic information that included an Agency Referral List (for those needing assistance to weatherize and repair their homes); and emergency Grab & Go lists for adults, seniors, kids, and pets. Right about then, we stalled, for lack of people and time. But this workgroup has been revived after doing research on the current avian flu, N5N1, mainly circulating in Asia since 1997. It has affected millions of birds and a small number of people, with approximately 132 deaths to date.

After doing this research, which included looking back at the 1918 avian flu pandemic that killed more than 50 million people world-wide (see the PBS link below), we decided to distribute information and tips on preparedness in the event of a pandemic. Many infectious disease experts agree that it is not a matter of if this happens, but when. We discovered that the 1918 pandemic arrived with little or no warning, but that is not true in our case. We have been warned and now have an unprecedented opportunity to prepare, which will lessen chaos and fear should this become a reality. A brief note: Some researchers speculate that the 1918 flu was an exceptional situation, where many factors came together to cause massive loss of life (see the federal government's web site below). The more recent pandemics of 1957 and 1968 were much milder: 1 million died worldwide in 1957 and 6 million in 1968.

Our intentions here are two-fold: to educate you, through web site links and a report by the Sierra Environmental Studies Foundation, about large-scale emergency preparedness in our county; and general information about what you can do now to prepare for such a scenario. There's an excellent book available that will cover the basics (see below). At this point, we're suggesting that you do your own research on the subject; store enough water and non-perishable foods for at least one month, but preferably longer; purchase masks, gloves, and water-storage containers; and keep your immune systems strong by getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, and reducing stress when possible. You can also contact local government officials and express your concern that we begin to put a comprehensive plan in place.

One last suggestion: Get to know your neighbors and other community members now. They are the ones who will be able to help you if enough goodwill is created. This necessity is made clear by the White House's report on bird flu, as published by the Assoc. Press on May 3, 2006. In that report, President Bush warned that the government would not be able to bail out communities reeling from illness and economic upheaval, and he called on businesses and individuals to take steps now to keep vital services running.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH AVIAN FLU?

• PBS Website: Influenza 1918 - "...the worst epidemic the United States has ever known."
• World Health Organization (WHO): Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response
• Center for Disease Control (CDC): Pandemic Influenza Threat and Preparedness
• Common Dreams (author also interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!): article by Mark Davis, author of "H5N1 - The Monster at the Door"
• Reuters : Get powers ready for bird flu, U.S. governors told
• Federal government site

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

• Recommended book (available in bookstores in July) : "Bird Flu: What to Do-Prepare to Survive," by Verona Fonte, Ph.D., Berkeley, CA: Iris Arts Press & Digital Media, 2006. Includes information on water and food storage, flu planning checklists, and a good resources and references section (books and websites).
• Report by Sierra Environmental Studies Foundation, Nevada City, CA: "M0606-1: Large-scale Emergency Preparedness in Nevada County, June 18, 2006." Click on "Reports" and scroll to the bottom of the page for this report (pdf format). Call Kate if you can't download a copy.
• Best Sanitizers is a Penn Valley company that sells N95 particulate respirator masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and other products. Phone #: (888) 225-3267, ext. 124
• Click Here for a good price for Nanomasks, which can be used over and over with the proper filters
• This site explains how to use the Nanomask.
• Emergency Food websites: www.theepicenter.com; www.storablefoods.com
• Click Here for Water Storage Containers and other products

Homeopathic remedies were found to be very helpful during the 1918 pandemic. Dr. W.A. Dewey, M.D., gathered data from homeopaths in the U.S. and published findings in Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy, 1920. Homeopaths in Phila. reported a mortality rate of just over 1% for the 26,000 flu patients they treated. Homeopathic remedies are not reliably preventative, but help to relieve flu symptoms. Call Kate for an article on this subject.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

• Giza Valentine-Kelly: ongracedwheels (at) hotmail.com
• Kate Sholly: kate (at) MountainAstrologer.com