Stocking the cupboards in the event of a pandemic in the USA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was feeling grateful to the posters on this thread as I venture down out to my Whole Foods at 8:15 last night, for the first time in a week, and so many things were out: eggs, pasta, sauce, olive oil, chicken, wipes, OJ.

Whole food Kentlands Gaithersburg as of noon today had limited eggs, fair amount of breads, chicken only 2 packs per person, milk, butter, meats, ground beef, frozen fish all there asking people to be conscious of others. Yogurt and prepacked salads and fresh produce pretty well stocked.

Most people were social distancing and only one person that I observed was not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People cannot wear masks if they do not have masks

I have a rubber nose/mouth P100 respirator mask, and plan to wear it to the grocery. Its quite a bit better than an N95 mask, with replaceable cartridges. I usually use it in the attic w/ dust.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone else noticed a marked decrease in tap water pressure? We live in Vienna VA and at first I thought I was imagining it, but towards the end of the day even my kids and hubby mentioned it. Could it be because everyone is working from home? Please tell me we won't lose water altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else noticed a marked decrease in tap water pressure? We live in Vienna VA and at first I thought I was imagining it, but towards the end of the day even my kids and hubby mentioned it. Could it be because everyone is working from home? Please tell me we won't lose water altogether.

Nope, no decrease in pressure here in Vienna 22182.

[Anonymous]

Good to hear, thx. We are in the Towne of (22180) so your county water is prolly better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good to hear, thx. We are in the Towne of (22180) so your county water is prolly better.

Ye Olde Towne is sureth to have lesser water pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ventured out this morning to the local grocery store for produce, because we had zero fresh fruit left, and the only veggies in the fridge were liquefying celery.

There were a lot of people there shopping for 8am!
A lot of very quiet staff restocking the shelves.
Not a single person wearing a mask.
No possible way to stay 6ft away form each other, even at 8 am.

I hope I didn't catch it from that trip - I feel it was a stupid one. Too soon to wear a mask because no-one was, and too soon to feel safe from others, because so many other people out, but late enough to be really dumb.
These veggies better make my kids happy.

Isn't that hour of shopping reserved for elderly and those with other compromising issues? Honor system, I realize, but still.

All stores? I looked up the chain online to see if they'd narrowed hours for cleaning, and whether/when they had senior hour, and didn't see anything. No signs anywhere there either.

It’s inconsistent. I think one store near me is just two days a week: Tuesday and Thursday. It needs to be better spread out like Monday and Thursday. If, as a senior, you miss getting something on Thursday, the wait until Tuesday can feel long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guns have come up a couple times in this thread. We don't have any -- but are second guessing that. If we go down that route, what type would dcum recommend? Pistol? Shotgun? (Please assume we would take all necessary training and precautions for whatever firearm we get).

VERY liberal husband bought a small shotgun. Shocked my adult kids who thought for sure it's something I would do.

I would have bought a revolver

What he didn't buy was the eggs we needed. Told me they had none, then told me today, well actually they did, but they had 24 packs and why get that much?

I just can't....

If I hadn't stocked our pantry in early February, we would have been screwed. And my family is still making fun of me, while happily eating well. I'm content in knowing I did the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guns have come up a couple times in this thread. We don't have any -- but are second guessing that. If we go down that route, what type would dcum recommend? Pistol? Shotgun? (Please assume we would take all necessary training and precautions for whatever firearm we get).

VERY liberal husband bought a small shotgun. Shocked my adult kids who thought for sure it's something I would do.

I would have bought a revolver

What he didn't buy was the eggs we needed. Told me they had none, then told me today, well actually they did, but they had 24 packs and why get that much?

I just can't....

If I hadn't stocked our pantry in early February, we would have been screwed. And my family is still making fun of me, while happily eating well. I'm content in knowing I did the right thing.

Shotgun is a better choice.

I guess you didn’t grow up in a rural area or military family where gun ownership is not a political statement. I’m left leaning. A gun in my home doesn’t change that. Nor does it change my support for gun control. I don’t need a military style weapon to stop looters or home invaders. Shot gun pellets do the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guns have come up a couple times in this thread. We don't have any -- but are second guessing that. If we go down that route, what type would dcum recommend? Pistol? Shotgun? (Please assume we would take all necessary training and precautions for whatever firearm we get).

VERY liberal husband bought a small shotgun. Shocked my adult kids who thought for sure it's something I would do.

I would have bought a revolver

What he didn't buy was the eggs we needed. Told me they had none, then told me today, well actually they did, but they had 24 packs and why get that much?

I just can't....

If I hadn't stocked our pantry in early February, we would have been screwed. And my family is still making fun of me, while happily eating well. I'm content in knowing I did the right thing.

Sorry, PP. Sounds like the only person your husband is going to hurt is himself trying to shoot it...

[Anonymous]

So what foods are you mostly buying now? I was very stocked 10 days ago but obviously a lot has been eaten. Should I try to buy more meat? Potatoes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what foods are you mostly buying now? I was very stocked 10 days ago but obviously a lot has been eaten. Should I try to buy more meat? Potatoes?

Try to buy food that will last you as long as possible between trips. So fresh fruits and veg, and frozen and canned and dried. Beans, rice, stuff that will last a while.
Think about meat etc options that you could store for 2+ weeks... eggs, cheese, beans, canned soups. It may not be gourmet.m but the fewer times you go to the store the better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what foods are you mostly buying now? I was very stocked 10 days ago but obviously a lot has been eaten. Should I try to buy more meat? Potatoes?

Try to buy food that will last you as long as possible between trips. So fresh fruits and veg, and frozen and canned and dried. Beans, rice, stuff that will last a while.
Think about meat etc options that you could store for 2+ weeks... eggs, cheese, beans, canned soups. It may not be gourmet.m but the fewer times you go to the store the better

We are trying to go to the store as little as possible - 10-14 days is our current target. Mostly to pick up meats & fresh foods. Also replenish any non-perishables you have eaten. We are eating less and wasting less and generally buying less than normal though for the same time period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what foods are you mostly buying now? I was very stocked 10 days ago but obviously a lot has been eaten. Should I try to buy more meat? Potatoes?

tons of long-lasting veggies: kale, cabbage, peppers, potatoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what foods are you mostly buying now? I was very stocked 10 days ago but obviously a lot has been eaten. Should I try to buy more meat? Potatoes?

I just put in an order with a local foods distributor that will deliver. I got milk, eggs, yogurt, kale, chard, apples, potatoes, onions, tofu, jam. I'm still stocked on other stuff.