New Fear Factor

There is a new fear factor in town. No longer will just some plastic sheeting and duct tape do the trick now you better get some canned tuna and powdered milk to put with it.

In a remarkable speech over the weekend, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt recommended that Americans start storing canned tuna and powdered milk under their beds as the prospect of a deadly bird flu outbreak approaches the United States.

I guess I must be getting jaded or something. Is it just me or do I get the sense that since "fear of ragheads" is wearing thin the administration has latched upon something else to keep the rubes from sticking their heads out of the sand? I know they fear the day when the majoity of people in this country begin to figure out what is being done to them. From Georgie's lastest polls numbers that day might be approaching.

Anyhow, back to the issue at hand. Am I wrong in thinking that most prudent people keep a modest stock of emergency supplies tucked away? Don't most people maintain kind of a buffer stock of basic necessities that they can fall back onto in case they are trapped or otherwise unable to get to the store or if the stores shelves are empty?

I am not talking about six months worth of everything you might need here. I am talking about 20 pounds of flour, 10 pounds of corn meal, cooking oil, salt, dried beans, canned tomatoes, canned meats and fish and yes powdered milk and some other basics that could get you through for maybe a month. Don't overlook first aid supplies, aspirin, iodine, bottled water, batteries, candles, bottled propane, maybe some beer, wine and whiskey. Last but not least some tools like a hatchet, knives, saws, etc. and finally a small caliber rifle and some ammo.

It's really not hard to do and you don't have to go out and buy it all at once. If you start thinking about how you would get by in an emergency such as a quarantine because of bird flu or even the inevitable bad hurricane or whatever you can begin to add a little to each shopping trip and before you know it have a stock of stuff that will buffer you in case of emergency. Of course you have to think about rotating through the perishables like flour and cornmeal and even long shelf life stuff won't last forever but it is not hard to do.

It is a little simpler for me since it is usually only me and madam to think about. If you have kids and pets etc. it does get a little more complicated but not impossible. Just begin to think about the things you take for granted that are fundamental requirements for getting by and you will reach for an extra box or two of kosher salt and maybe an extra five pounds of flour the next time you are shopping.

If you are the head of a household it is actually kind of irresponsible to not be prepared. Didn't you learn anything in the scouts besides how to cuss and smoke?