Sponsored Influenza Pandemic Evacuation Rehearsal
(SIPER)

REPORT.

Rehearsal Date: September 2005

Destination: Elgol, Skye, Scotland.

Intentions.

* Research previous influenza pandemics.

* Find somewhere sustainable, out of the way, ecologically
diverse, next to sea for ultimate food range and hygiene
and health.

* Settle in a vacant space somewhere within own means ie
water supply.

* Exercise precautions and plan avoidance strategy.

* Perhaps a good approach would be to not do anything
drastically different from ones usual routine, but to
examine all aspects of that routine and refine it down to
notice all loop holes were infection could take a hold.
Then if one wants to have a total other experience use it
as an opportunity to completely change.

* We chose somewhere incredibly remote however ones house
could become just as remote if isolated from friends,
family and local community.

Chosen rehearsal route:

* Plane from Bristol to Inverness.

* Bus from airport to city centre.

* Walk to main road.

* Hitch to Isle of Syke.

EVACUATION THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSIONS.

* Travel light and minimal.

* Evacuation will be confusing, unpleasant, chaotic! Be
prepared to cancel/ abandon and act irresponsibly.

* Try to pre-empt the pandemic, this will heighten chances
of good preparation and action.

* We decided to leave bristol as soon as the real pandemic
hits London.

* Group with persons avoid cross contamination between
groups evacuate with a diverse skill set.

* The earlier one leaves the greater choice of safe and
reliable travel.

* All things that you come into contact with must be
handled with caution: money, seats, door knobs, light
switches, phones and purchased food.

* Best to carry alcohol hand gel to clean hands after
suspicious contact.

THOUGHTS ON METHODS OF TRAVEL.

Hitch hiking.

* Very flexible form of transportation. The most flexible
method of transport is to take any transport though.

* It is doubtful that people will give lifts due to fear
of infection.

Car.

* Fuel maybe short...make a preemptive fuel stock.

* Personal vehicle would insure contained, controlled
exposure.

* Road network may be jammed.

* Study travel route choices.

Bus.

* Road networks maybe jammed.

* Public transport infrastructures may break down, would
have to wait for authorities to organise.

* The system can't be fully trusted due to council
corruption.

Train.

* Train runs on its own network so no interference from
other vehicles.

* Too many people entering and leaving, confined space -
risk of infection high.

Plane.

* Quick but risky.

* The body is in a position of vulnerability to radiation,
dehydration and air conditioned viruses.

Boat.

* Excellent, but vulnerable to weather and need specialist
knowledge.

Bicycle.

* Self contained and discreet. Can carry enough food to
cover whole journey thus reducing stops and further
interactions.

* Can travel along remote cycle tracks.

Walking.

* Very discreet, but limited to what you can carry.

* Unless collecting wild food, would have to visit
settlements or take very heavy pack.

DESTINATION THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSIONS.

Fishing.

"Took telescopic rod with reel and several types of
spinners (hooks). Monday: Tried fishing off rocks on first
day for 1 hour = 15 small fish. Tuesday: Tried fishing off
rocks on second day for 1 hour = 0 small fish. Thursday :
The hook is jammed will have to swim out to untangle
tomorrow. Friday: Hook retrieved at low tide. Fished when
weather became better, caught 6 fish in 20 Min's", Heath.

Water.

* No shortage of fresh water from wilderness or highland
streams.

Animals.

"Monday: Cormorants, Gannets and Seals in the bay. Cows
on the beach eating plastic and flotsam. The cows chew on
rope, one ate the whole thing, apparently for salt. A few
curious seagulls and sheep watching us", Kayle.

Cooking.

"Tuesday: Brought a gas camping stove with us, but have
started to collect wood for cooking on fire later in the
week", Kayle.

Resting.

"Wednesday: Kayle is sleeping on turf in bivy bag,
inter-dispersed with some reading. We made some chairs as
standing, squatting and kneeling become to tiring", Heath.

Weather.

"Tuesday: Wet with fine drizzle with occasional sun.
Wednesday: Whole day of showers and drizzle stayed in rock
shelter to stay dry", Kayle.

* Collect food and wood for wet days.

Network.

* There will be no mobile phone reception in the
wilderness.

"Monday: Public call boxes two miles either way from rock
shelter. Heath remarked one could tap into the phone masts
(telegraph poles) and dial up onto the Internet.The post
office 1 mile from rock shelter. There is Internet at the
post office for pound 2 an hour", Kayle.

* Remember to disinfect the telephone and computer keypads
before using and wash hands after.

* Take portable radio for news and entertainment. Best
idea is a dual wind up and battery powered.

Food.

"Wednesday: Every morning we collected Mussels, cooked on
open fire: boil water then put mussels in, reach boiling
point then cook for 1 minute. Mussels were very tasty",
Kayle.

* All seaweed can be eaten.

* Irish moss seaweed can be fried in pan with oil and
garlic, then steamed with small amount of water.

"Wednesday: Picked periwinkles kept in a tub with garlic
left for 72 hours no sign of them eating garlic (hardly
surprising). Went to post office for coffee and cheese
sandwiches and supplies (tinned peas, biscuits, Orkney oat
cakes). Heath caught 15 fish, but stupidly thought all
a bit small so threw them back", Kayle.

Social interactions.

"Tuesday: Talked with an elderly group on tour from
Glasgow, whilst at the post office. A woman sat on our
beach for several hours today. We only saw her from a
distance. The woman in the post office is nice and
helpful", Kayle.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

* Everything slows down having a biscuit is an event.

"Thursday: We have a found ball. We thought maybe we could
play with it (we didn't). Next time we come up we should
bring the electric drill to cut a hole in a beached metal
buoy, we could sleep in it. Feel generally more at ease
today even though there are times I find myself counting
the days, its difficult to go from a life of every minute
being taken up", Kayle.