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

[Anonymous]

How do you stock up on prescriptions when you can only refill a 30 day supply

[Anonymous]

We stocked up today. I figure worst case (best case?) my family can slowly use the supplies or ultimately donate before the expiration dates. I think the biggest issue will be either medicine (big run and then shortages, or supply chain disruption) or perhaps paper supplies, not food. Especially because a true quarantine would be very unlike the CDC and food will be easier to access if there is one. But, what do I know? I’m not a microbiologist or a preppier survivalist. We bought the following, in bulk:

Advil
Infant and Kid Motrin
Theraflu / other adult cold meds
Kid cough syrup
Cough drops
Purell
Hand soap
Lysol wipes
Spray disenfectant (more chemically than what I normally buy)
Box of gloves
Vitamin C
Elderberry gummies for kids adults
New toothbrushes so we can toss ours if sick
Kleenex
Hand sanitizing wipes in travel sizes
Pedialyte

Peanut butter
Tuna
Lentil pasta
Tomato sauce
Jerky
Canned fruit
Coffee
Shelf stable creamer and milk
Mac & cheese
Goldfish crackers
Beans
Soup

Baby food pouches/toddler pouches
Dog food
Formula (extra)
Diapers
Batteries

We already have a few extra toothpastes, shampoos, soaps etc at home and a fairly well stocked freezer with veggies and meat.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why people are stocking up.

Most people in the world will get this within the year. Symptoms will be like most seasonal respiratory viruses, with corresponding severity for elderly and immunocompromised. It has been shown to be mild in children.

The only thing I can think is that they will close schools and other public places of gathering to slow the spread by a few days so resources can be better allocated. But that just means you should stock some stuff for your kids so they won’t be bored. I will start with basic scientific books about germs, books about working together with other people to solve problems, and books like Chicken Little about not believing anything and everything you hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why people are stocking up.

Most people in the world will get this within the year. Symptoms will be like most seasonal respiratory viruses, with corresponding severity for elderly and immunocompromised. It has been shown to be mild in children.

The only thing I can think is that they will close schools and other public places of gathering to slow the spread by a few days so resources can be better allocated. But that just means you should stock some stuff for your kids so they won’t be bored. I will start with basic scientific books about germs, books about working together with other people to solve problems, and books like Chicken Little about not believing anything and everything you hear.

Even if that’s the case and it’s like having a cold, China’s supply chain is going to have a lot of downhill implications for stuff we like to consume. I don’t want medicine to be one of them. Having extra food or supplies is generally a good thing. If not for a new virus, then for the many weather events we see in a year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why people are stocking up.

Most people in the world will get this within the year. Symptoms will be like most seasonal respiratory viruses, with corresponding severity for elderly and immunocompromised. It has been shown to be mild in children.

The only thing I can think is that they will close schools and other public places of gathering to slow the spread by a few days so resources can be better allocated. But that just means you should stock some stuff for your kids so they won’t be bored. I will start with basic scientific books about germs, books about working together with other people to solve problems, and books like Chicken Little about not believing anything and everything you hear.

Even if that’s the case and it’s like having a cold, China’s supply chain is going to have a lot of downhill implications for stuff we like to consume. I don’t want medicine to be one of them. Having extra food or supplies is generally a good thing. If not for a new virus, then for the many weather events we see in a year

Yeah, it’s true we are really dependent on China for medicine. I wish some of the money and energy spent on prepping would be devoted to getting out the vote. With a more functional government we could plan for some of these contingencies.

As for weather events, sure... I guess. I have never once been in a weather event so severe that it required weeks let alone months of emergency supplies. And I have lived in earthquake, tornado, blizzard country, you name it. Guess why I haven’t needed those supplies? Oh right... functional institutions.

I get that it is nice to feel some measure of control in the face of the unknown. The fact is that we rely on each other, on our institutions, on our collective knowledge and intelligence. We would be better served investing in that than in jars of PB that will no doubt be thrown away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why people are stocking up.

Most people in the world will get this within the year. Symptoms will be like most seasonal respiratory viruses, with corresponding severity for elderly and immunocompromised. It has been shown to be mild in children.

The only thing I can think is that they will close schools and other public places of gathering to slow the spread by a few days so resources can be better allocated. But that just means you should stock some stuff for your kids so they won’t be bored. I will start with basic scientific books about germs, books about working together with other people to solve problems, and books like Chicken Little about not believing anything and everything you hear.

Even if that’s the case and it’s like having a cold, China’s supply chain is going to have a lot of downhill implications for stuff we like to consume. I don’t want medicine to be one of them. Having extra food or supplies is generally a good thing. If not for a new virus, then for the many weather events we see in a year

Yeah, it’s true we are really dependent on China for medicine. I wish some of the money and energy spent on prepping would be devoted to getting out the vote. With a more functional government we could plan for some of these contingencies.

As for weather events, sure... I guess. I have never once been in a weather event so severe that it required weeks let alone months of emergency supplies. And I have lived in earthquake, tornado, blizzard country, you name it. Guess why I haven’t needed those supplies? Oh right... functional institutions.

I get that it is nice to feel some measure of control in the face of the unknown. The fact is that we rely on each other, on our institutions, on our collective knowledge and intelligence. We would be better served investing in that than in jars of PB that will no doubt be thrown away.

I think that’s fair. People like being able to do something, however small, for the safety of their friends and family. I certainly did. But it doesn’t mean it isn’t even more important to vote the entire swamp out. And because you seem like a good neighbor, I promise I will do my best to ensure my food storage doesn’t go to waste. I labeled everything with the dates and will hand it over to the food bank in my neighborhood when they get close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why people are stocking up.

Most people in the world will get this within the year. Symptoms will be like most seasonal respiratory viruses, with corresponding severity for elderly and immunocompromised. It has been shown to be mild in children.

The only thing I can think is that they will close schools and other public places of gathering to slow the spread by a few days so resources can be better allocated. But that just means you should stock some stuff for your kids so they won’t be bored. I will start with basic scientific books about germs, books about working together with other people to solve problems, and books like Chicken Little about not believing anything and everything you hear.

Even if that’s the case and it’s like having a cold, China’s supply chain is going to have a lot of downhill implications for stuff we like to consume. I don’t want medicine to be one of them. Having extra food or supplies is generally a good thing. If not for a new virus, then for the many weather events we see in a year

Yeah, it’s true we are really dependent on China for medicine. I wish some of the money and energy spent on prepping would be devoted to getting out the vote. With a more functional government we could plan for some of these contingencies.

As for weather events, sure... I guess. I have never once been in a weather event so severe that it required weeks let alone months of emergency supplies. And I have lived in earthquake, tornado, blizzard country, you name it. Guess why I haven’t needed those supplies? Oh right... functional institutions.

I get that it is nice to feel some measure of control in the face of the unknown. The fact is that we rely on each other, on our institutions, on our collective knowledge and intelligence. We would be better served investing in that than in jars of PB that will no doubt be thrown away.

I think that’s fair. People like being able to do something, however small, for the safety of their friends and family. I certainly did. But it doesn’t mean it isn’t even more important to vote the entire swamp out. And because you seem like a good neighbor, I promise I will do my best to ensure my food storage doesn’t go to waste. I labeled everything with the dates and will hand it over to the food bank in my neighborhood when they get close.

Thank you for looking out for others. See you at the polls in November.... no one cares who you vote for as long as you vote for someone who respects institutional norms.

[Anonymous]

We have been unprepared before for a weather-related emergency and did NOT have supplies on-hand for our family. We had just gotten back into town and had no food, TP, etc in the house and the stores were closed/depleted so we had to scramble for basics.

I’d rather pick up a few things now that I know we will use rather than having to go through that again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in CA and not as prepped for earthquake as I’d like, but we have on hand about 14 gallons of water, some canned staples, diapers, wipes, toilet paper, and a non-electric can opener. I assume many of the preparations to avoid crowded places are similar to those needed for earthquake prep.

I like the powdered milk idea.

It tastes like boiled milk. Kids boxed horizon milk tasres more like real milk and is shelf stable little boxes with straw just like kids juice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I am concerned about is a supply chain disruption for medicines. We don't take any that are serious regularly but I did point this out to my parents, and they said they are set with a 90 day supply, which they get anyway.

We have tons of water, other drinks, pasta/sauce/rice/beans to last for days, and 3/4 of the time have a house that is super stocked with food. We're a family of three, so not concerned about nutrition.

I did pick up extra allergy meds, check to see we have ibuprofen, tissues, and hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes.

I am actually more concerned about a conference I have to attend next week (via plane). I seriously doubt it'll be cancelled, but this is all happening so fast that I just don't know. Would suck to get there then have a serious situation crop up like it did in Italy over the weekend.

Do you have kids?
What if you flu with a case and be forced it quarantain there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you stock up on prescriptions when you can only refill a 30 day supply

I called my dr and asked if they could send a 90 day prescription to the mail order pharmacy. They did and it arrived in a few days. Usually I get a 30 day supply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lol

This title made me laugh. Of course the most obese nation in the world is worried about running out of food.

The bigger issue is what will all of the Starbucks addicts do? God forbid they should have to drink regular coffee at home.

I have a $4,000 one-touch espresso latte machine that makes better coffee than Starbucks. I sometimes use Starbucks beans, but find other boutique beans I like even more.

I work from home and it’s paid for itself by not buying out.

So sad. One would hope that once one gets to buy 4000 coffee machine one has it all and does not have to work.
This coffee machine would truly pay for itself if you sold it and feed a small African or Indian Village for a year for that.
What else you got there since “we” braggin... 50K crocodile shoes? Poor crock now have to walk barefoot.

[Anonymous]

Pheew he has a one touch machine? What...they ran out of touch free? Dude, they took you for a ride, that machine cost like40 buck at Walmart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you stock up on prescriptions when you can only refill a 30 day supply

I called my dr and asked if they could send a 90 day prescription to the mail order pharmacy. They did and it arrived in a few days. Usually I get a 30 day supply.

And now you will OD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lol

This title made me laugh. Of course the most obese nation in the world is worried about running out of food.

The bigger issue is what will all of the Starbucks addicts do? God forbid they should have to drink regular coffee at home.

I have a $4,000 one-touch espresso latte machine that makes better coffee than Starbucks. I sometimes use Starbucks beans, but find other boutique beans I like even more.

I work from home and it’s paid for itself by not buying out.

So sad. One would hope that once one gets to buy 4000 coffee machine one has it all and does not have to work.
This coffee machine would truly pay for itself if you sold it and feed a small African or Indian Village for a year for that.
What else you got there since “we” braggin... 50K crocodile shoes? Poor crock now have to walk barefoot.

The constant policing on how others chose to spend their money is so annoying! I don’t criticize poor people for having a cell phone nor rich for a coffee maker. I’m sure if you opened up your finances, folks could shame you too.