Posted on 02/21/2020 3:25:56 PM PST by SpeedyInTexas
Will a pandemic hit the USA? Hopefully not, but the odds are the highest in our lifetime. Prepare now in case it happens. If it happens, there will likely be empty grocery store shelves, long lines at gas stations and hospitals.
1). Food
Stockpiling food is essential. Suggestions: Rice, oat meal, canned/dry beans, ramen noodles, canned tuna, sardines, summer sausage, potatoes. Fill up the pantry. Much of this food is CHEAP. $200 will buy so much rice, oat meal and beans.
In the freezer, pack it solid with meats. Also, stock up on disinfectants (alcohol, bleach, Lysol), TP, hand soap.
Did you know? Sherman ran out of food on his little march through Georgia. What did his men survive on? Rice - until he reached the coast and met up with naval supplies.
2). Medicine
Medicine can be tough if the cost is high and you need insurance to cover the cost. Insurance will only let you order a refill within certain time frames.
Suggestions: Try to get 90 day prescriptions instead of 30 days. If the medicine is a generic, consider paying cash instead of insurance so you can stockpile without time restrictions. When picking up a prescription, use a drive thru. Stock up on over the counter medicine. Tylenol, allergy medicine, etc.
3). Gasoline
Expect long lines at the gas stations. If everyone tried to fill up their gas tanks on the same day, all the gas stations would run dry. Fill up gas cans for storage at home. Gas is good for about 3 months in storage. For longer, add a stabilizer that will keep the gas good for 2 years (search amazon for Sta-Bil Storage).
4). PPE
Personal Protective Equipment is needed if you have to interface with crowds. If you are lucky enough to be able to stay at home and hunker down you wont need as many masks or gloves. Most people will need to go to work, etc. Have a supply of disposable gloves and masks, preferably an N95 mask. They can be hard to find now. I was able to buy 240 masks at my local home depot stores over 2 days. Less than $1 per mask is a good price. Also, look on ebay, amazon, etc. (but they have jacked up prices). If you cant find any, ask stores (Walgreens, Home Depot, etc) when they expect new shipments.
5). Guns
Having a gun at home with plenty of ammo is necessary. When some people run out of food, they will be breaking into homes to steal, not money, but food.
6). Crowds
Stay away from crowds. Wear a mask whenever out in public. Order from Amazon, Costco.com. If you have a 24 hour store nearby (some Walmarts are open 24 hours), consider shopping at 3am in the morning.
7). Inanimate Objects
Read online that COVID-19 can live up to 5 days on surfaces given the right temperature and humidity. Could be shorter? Could be longer? The virus cant live indefinitely because it needs a host to survive.
When getting mail, delivered items from Amazon, going to the bank drive thru, be cautious of the virus surviving on items. The mailman could have sneeze on mail right before putting it into your mailbox. Consider spraying items with Lysol and leaving them in the garage for a few days.
Definitely most are going to survive. However death is not the worry. The worry is of a lot of people getting very sick all about the same time. That has the POTENTIAL to interrupt the supply chain for food etc, cause economic hardship and overwhelm hospitals.
I bought all my wallmart had.
Need some 10 bucks a pop
I bought half of what was available at the store I went to...they are really jacking up the price on them too when they are available.
Why do so many people feel this pressing need to tell others what to do?
Great thread and start. Even if this coronavirus burns itself out and doesn’t impact the US in a big way there will be a day when SHTF planning pays off.
Additional comments? Yeah, this belongs in chat. It’s not news.
But its not a hundred percent fatal andthe mainland’s mortality rate is vastly enhanced by poor nutrition, smog worse than Los Angeles in the seventies, and a quarantine policy which cuts the infected off from sanitary facilities and basic necessities.
Taiwan would not be hit as hard as the mainland.
It would not enable the mainland to invade because the only thing which has prevented the mainland from invading since Clinton was elected has been Taiwan’s nuclear arsenal.
Thanks for the thread, I had posting something similar 3 weeks or so ago “Prepping for Coronavirus”. But now it’s real.
1. Food - yep, carbs are cheap. Not healthy, but given carbs or no food, definitely have some food available. Meat is great. In fact, we just bought another chest freezer for that purpose (and they’re still available, for now).
2. Meds - whatever the hell one can stockpile, the supply line for them is DEAD. Don’t bother with thinking you can get sick or badly injured either, it won’t end well.
3. Gasoline - That’s the one thing that I’m not (yet) panicked about, since consumption is already plummeting world-wide. But, yes, eventually, refineries, which, no doubt are dependent on Chinese supplies/materials, will have to shut down over time. For now, I’m just trying to clear out my old supply, in an old car, so that I can refill them when the time is right - and, of course, add Stabil.
4. PPE (masks) - good luck, they’re long gone.
5. Guns - yep, if you don’t have them yet, you’ll need them soon, assuming that you’re actually preparing for what’s coming.
6. Shopping - DEAD-ON, my wife from halfway around the world with a weak immune system, now ONLY shops during very quiet times. What counts is ‘viral load’, if you pass by a person who’s infected in the supermarket, you’re likely fine. If you’re in a taxi with that person for a 20 mile ride, have your affairs in order.
7. Inanimate Objects that gets back to viral load. Just because a virus is detected on a doorknob, doesn’t mean you’ll get a death sentence if you touch that doorknob. The virus has to find its way to your lungs, and then enough of it has to do that in a short amount of time - otherwise you won’t know the difference. If it comes to that degree of threat, then we’re all wasting our time trying to avoid it.
The best recommendation in addition to whatever rational prepping anyone does is: If you are not doing everything in your power to lead a lifestyle that results in as strong a physical, immune, psychological and spiritual system for yourself as possible ... ... then ... no matter how much you prep ... you ain't prepped.
A LOT more people are going to die of causes related to deficiencies of those things, which are totally in our control, than Wuhan, which isn't, even if it hits here.
End of self righteous moralistic, but accurate, rant. Ok not the end. Get to the dang gym on your way to Walmart to buy rice and oats and Vitamin I and Rx and N95s.
“If youre going to order emergency food supplies such as from Patriot or Augusan Farms it may already be too late. Many suppliers are on backorder for weeks if not months.”
For people looking to them, don’t bother. They’re good if NOTHING is on the horizon, as they’ll last for decades. But now we know what’s coming, so go to Sams, and buy out the place. If it’s canned, it’s good for at least a decade (in most cases) - same for much of their dry food (like rice, beans, noodles).
“Why do so many people feel this pressing need to tell others what to do?”
Is he holding a gun to you?
i agree. The nice thing about the emergency supply though is shelf space and variety. I have 2 months worth of food, breakfast and dinner for my wife and myself and it fits in only 4 five gallon bucks.
Search the report on Brietbart referencing the fact that 3M is out and China is the only source and is not releasing any out of China.
FR is known gor its requests for prayers for friends to ward off sicknesses, etc. but none for a virus pandemic. It must be not serious.
When people can go outside more often, the virus will not spread as fast. Reportedly, 80% of the infected have a mild case. So, society will not shut down, and most of your list is overkill.
If this ever starts to spread in America, for your own protection:
1. Stay out of crowds
2. Wash your hands
3. Don’t rub your eyes
4. Buy Clorox wipes
“...there will be a day when SHTF planning pays off.”
Nov 6th, after Trump’s re-election, when the commies, anarchists, BLMers, Antifa filth, etc begin the mass chaos.
Some folks here, and throughout the US have health challenges of all manner, transplant patients for example - that makes it very wise to prepare, much as they would for a hurricane or any other unexpected event. This however is different, in that just making a trip to the grocery store could expose them to a virus that could easily kill them.
Please understand that many folks fight battles that you maybe wholly unaware of, and try not to take it personally that those folks NEED to prepare and protect themselves.
May God guide and strengthen each who calls upon Him.
Tatt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.