Use this weekend wisely

a reply to: TheRedneck

Like I said to another poster, to each his own.

But securing some amount of food, water and medical supplies for a multi week period *is* something you can control. Assess your financial situation. That's not giving into fear, it's called planning.

Might you never need any of it? Of course. But if you do, it could mean the difference between a non event for you and yours or something altogether quite dire.

For the expense, it's a small amount of insurance to pay.

I get your perspective. I really do. I said as much in my opening post. But when you really take all of the emotion out of it, being prepared (however slightly) is the logical play.

Again, I'm not taking about you getting sick. You're right, there is little you can do about that, save minimizing your own contact with others should the need become obviously clear. But China is shutting down. The commerce hit they are taking will have international consequences. The global supply chain on many goods and services will be disrupted. The degree remains to be seen, but it would be unwise to think that just because it might not affect you directly, that it wouldn't also directly affect your neighbor whose livelihood touches any one of these supply chain issues.

We are only in the first 30 days of this, and already China has imposed an unprecedented quarantine of 50-100 million people. Public transportation closed. Railways closed. Ports closed. Commerce completely stopped. This will play out for over the next 6 to 12 months.

Unlike anything you've experienced in your 50 years, this is something completely new. If anyone claimed they knew what was coming next, I'd call BS on that. But this is not something that should be completely ignored. Just as one shouldn't give into complete hysteria over it.

What is happening in China deserves the respect of being paid close attention to. Plain and simple. No preparation is foolish. Any amount of preparation places you just a little further ahead.

As I have said, call it insurance.

I have about 4 months food not including my pantry, water is my weakness but 2 bathtubs, and a hot water heater to tap, and about 20 gallons storage capability on top of filling my bathtubs, guestimate about 80 gallons potential storage capability.

haven't managed to put together a real medical bag yet, but do have some N95 masks, couple standard med kits, the ability to cook my own food if the power goes out, wish I had a well though.

My best prep right now is the neighborhood I live in is kind of out in the sticks a bit, I am 30 mins from anything most people usually want close by, delivery drivers dont cover this area.

Most of my neighbors are current or retired military who keep up on vaccinations and typically very healthy individuals.

Edit to add; and I have the things to set up a decon station just in case Captain Tripps hits the mainland, only good thing from all those CORI's over the last 20 years you learn what is needed and how to set it up.

a reply to: openminded2011

It is disturbing to see people paint negatively even the sober and modest preparation of others.

For me, the extremes on both ends are baffling.

But none of that is unexpected. People are people.

In the end, everyone is going to have to do what they think is best and live with the consequences of those choices.

What I have done may not be enough or just enough or completely not needed. But what it has accomplished for me is not giving in to fear but eliminating it to some degree.

I too do not worry about things I can't control.

a reply to: loam

My grandfather once told me, "People always laughed at Noah, until the rain started". It always makes me laugh.

a reply to: loam

That's the point: I am prepared. I mentioned that I have food on demand; I also keep anything else that I need in reserve. Now, to try and do that in a weekend would bankrupt most; I have done it over a lifetime. If I get something I need, I assess how much I might need in the future and buy a little extra. I use only what I need, just as a way of life. Yeah, I'm the guy who mashes that last sliver of soap onto a new bar, uses the last bit of toilet paper on the roll, and finishes off that opened pack of crackers.

There's enough Vienna sausages and sardines right now in my cabinet to last me a few weeks.

If someone waits until the last day or two to get all these supplies, they're already done. It just isn't possible because they'll forget about half of the things they need, and by the time they realize it there's no money left to get the rest. If one does it over a year, it's easier but still not enough. If one does it over a decade or two... now they are prepared. That's what I always find funny about the "preppers." All that noise about being prepared when they're not. Survival preparedness is not something one does over a weekend; it is something one does as a way of life.

My post was not just talking about preparedness, but about the fear that I see surrounding this virus. That's the real enemy: fear. A virus is just a bunch of proteins strung together.

TheRedneck

a reply to: FredT

Hi Fred.
During the simulations that you had knowledge of: was there any kind of prevision for what it might take for major city to be put on lockdown, and what might the conditions be for that to happen ?

Also: would like to thank the movie-channels, for playing today: "I am Legend"; Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (Revision); and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" (Revision).
Who says they don't have a sense of humour ?

a reply to: TheRedneck

I have been slacking in my preps lately. This ordeal has pushed me too secure more supplies nit just for this "epusode", not trying to downplay people dying, but I did go out and spend about $200 yesterday getting some supplies. As I sit back and look in my totes, I seriously feel like I shouldn't have slacked off. So from now on I am going to get back in gear and every week I am going to acquire at least one item of importance to help along the way should my family and I need them.

I feel I am way ahead of the game than most people but stil I am far from feeling confident I'm my preps.

I need to change that.

I agree with OP that this does 'feel' different. I have learned over the years to go with that inexplicable visceral intuition - the gut feeling about things.

I like to be informed, and that typically involves a certain amount of worry when you start looking at the facts. For example, I have been following the current ebola outbreak in the DRC since it began in August of 2018. I am not overly concerned that ebola is going to hit the US any time soon, but: this is the second largest outbreak in history, there are over 3400 cases with a 66% fatality rate, the hottest areas in this outbreak are cities with more than 1 million people and an international airport. Yes, I am concerned.

But this, this seems different. Its not just how fast it is happening. Its the idea that the source of the majority of the information we have has not historically been the most forthcoming with data considered deleterious to its reputation as a super power. And, to be brutally honest, a disease that wipes out a few hundred million people in China would solve the majority of the problems they face.

To continue that brutal honesty, if it were me at the helm, I would take strategic advantage of this 'accident' and send as many infected people to our southern border as possible with the intent of creating havoc and rapid depopulation here. I know that is a horrible way to look at things, but the power struggle will not end because one side gets sick. You strike when your opponent is at his most vulnerable. And I would be very surprised to discover that China does not believe that is what someone on our side is thinking too.

Even without the evil machination, just left to its own devices this is serious. Very serious.

The SHTF moment for me will be when China yells, "Help!" Not just seeking aid, but a truly terrified cry for help...

a reply to: liejunkie01

It never hurts to get back on track to preparedness.

Staying ahead of others is really, at the risk of sounding callous, the true measure of survivability in general. If one is in a situation that is irrecoverable by society, then it comes down to just pure dumb luck; preparedness might increase one's odds, but it's nowhere near a guarantee. But remember that in all other cases, society will find an answer... even though it may not be optimal, it will be survivable by the majority. That's the goal: reach that point ahead of others.

It's like the old joke about what would a guy do if the two of them met a bear in the woods. "Run." "You can't outrun a bear!" "I don't have to. I just have to outrun you."

TheRedneck

a reply to: Vroomfondel

The SHTF moment for me will be when China yells, "Help!" Not just seeking aid, but a truly terrified cry for help...

If that happens, I will get concerned as well. Let's hope it doesn't.

TheRedneck

We added some to our grocery budget today to add to what we have on hand already.

It's mostly sanitizers/disinfectants/gloves and water.

We've been laying in food in a few forms for a while now.

Our weakness will be water, but if we must, we'll head to my folks' with what we can pack. They have a well.

originally posted by: loam


From my perspective, it makes sense to use this weekend wisely to prepare. The expense is a small amount of insurance for whatever may come over the next few weeks.

Don't wait until you find the rest of the public has woken up. By then it will be too late to change your circumstances very much.

Like I said at the beginning of this thread, a big part of me wants to resist all of this. But let's just call this a hedge.

Better safe than sorry.

I've taken your advice to heart. I always have weeks of everything on hand, since two is one and one is none. However, as of one hour ago, it was extended to months. I've heard pandemics come in waves. It's all stuff we will use anyway even if a crisis doesn't emerge here.

I'm already pretty well stocked and isolated out here in the boonies, far from the maddening crowd.
I work seasonally (semi retired) and don't report to work untill mid May. So I'm already hunkered down.
I am planning to go to town tomorrow to stock up on some OTC meds like
flu and cold relief
expectorant cough syrup/lozenges
non latex rubber gloves
Clorox disinfecting wipes ( specifically state effective against coronavirus)
etc
But I think most important, I'm going to withdraw a good sum of cash from the bank while the currency is still relatively uncontaminated.
That way, if the economy goes insane, I have the funds I may need if something happens to the banks.
If banking stays stable, I'll redeposit the cash and use my CLEAN credit/debit cards exclusively if I need to make purchases.
People don't really think of how contaminated cash may become in this situation.

Hoping for the best but prepping for the worst

I am not prone to panic, but
one has to ask themselves what kind of mind set blockades, and quarantines entire cities?
surely not calm, rational minds. this is the work of panicked, desperate minds.
gut feeling says this is much worse than reported.

originally posted by: autopat51
I am not prone to panic, but
one has to ask themselves what kind of mind set blockades, and quarantines entire cities?
surely not calm, rational minds. this is the work of panicked, desperate minds.
gut feeling says this is much worse than reported.

Yet if these steps were not being taken CT's would be saying that not enough is being done.

originally posted by: CthruU

originally posted by: Tarzan the apeman.
a reply to: loam

What is truly scary is what China isn't telling you. They try hard not to look bad to the world. It is a utopia after all. I am always prepared for the most part.

Not just china but ALL THOSE in the know, ever wondered why gold has spiked so much? It's because those in the know are aware that china will not contain this anytime soon and when the shipping port grinds to a halt so will the global economy very soon thereafter.

Is this a deepstate tactic to crash the economy whilst making sure america is not held accountable through its trade war? Whilst depopulating the globe concurrently as the icing on their cake.

You pay attention! Very good ! I agree

I am going through all my prep stuff today. I prepared back in 2014 just in case of Ebola. I have a stock of 30 year dry stuff, plus stuff I vacuum sealed myself. Most of the canned meats are still good as well.

I checked PPE and have 6 Tyvec suits, extra booties and hoods, gloves, 18 N95 masks and some other stuff.

Still calculating the calorie count, but it looks like we will have at least 4 months of food for the 5 of us if the SHTF. Could push that probably to 6 months if needed. (I could stand to loose a few pounds anyway) I may get another 2 months worth or so just to be safe.

I admit I’m more nervous about this virus than any previous contagion. I’ve long suspected that a deadly airborne virus would get loose someday and spread like wildfire through air travel. Let’s hope this isn’t the one and we learn from it.

a reply to: loam

The good thing about preparing, is that most of it comes down to no more than having a little extra stock of things you will use eventually anyway.

My N95 masks, I'll use when sanding, or spray painting. Extra reverse osmosis water filter cartridges and bottled water - I'll use them eventually, pandemic or not. My emergency food - again, rotate and replenish. I don't stock a bunch of stuff that will eventually go bad, I just don't necessarily have to go out to get stuff for a few months.

Just don't be wasteful, and if nothing else, it gives you flexibility to run out less often to replenish your stores. Anything more than a couple months needed and there's a good chance you're not holding in place anyhow.

a reply to: loam

I take a middle road approach.
---if you do get sick with an ordinary cold, you will want your comfort stuff like drinks, food, bedtime supplies, reading material, over the counter meds, etc....
often when you have a cold or flu, you will find that you need stuff like a headache pill or throat lounges or some gatorade drink.
why...you just have gone right down to the corner store or pharmacy or supermarket to get them!

however, this virus is a bit different. OK. you just have a very bad cold, version, of this coronavirus, and things will be soon Ok but on the fourth day you want some of those supplies. but here maybe 70% of the people in your area ALSO wants these same supplies! this is where things get dicey as 2,691 other people have been there before you so that you only see empty shelves!
so.
so buy these items now! beat the rush. might only set you back $20 to $60 and eventually you will use these items up anyway. comfort foods, meds, drinks, even blankets and reading material: get them *now*!!

also: since you might really will catch this, you will want a nice safe quiet place to be sick in! so, in advance, have a quiet place set up in advance. have the tv in the good spot, have a tray handy by bedside, have a puke bucket ready by bedside, have your caregivers Informed and ready to help you at a moments notice, have the room itself Prepped for in case you catch this. have extra soap by the shower, have lots and lots of tissues nearby.
[be sure to buy many boxes of tissues right now along with the rest of your stuff!]
point is....when you do get sick, you might not be in any mood to prepare your hidey-hole, your comfort place, for you to be in! you might not even physically be able to properly prepare. you know what you need and like, for such a comfort place; get it ready *now*!

now for number TWO: what will happen *after* you catch this virus and begin to heal?
[good idea too for any respiratory flu.]

since a huge number of deaths are due to the after-flu-pneumonia, the pneumonia that can happen after the virus goes away, you would want to prevent this pneumonia from happening. pneumonia often begins where there is mucus sitting in the lungs, especially at the bottom of the lungs. this mucus is where pneumonia gets started. thus you need to bring this mucus up and spit it out!

a truck driver once wrote that his greatest sickness problem is not back or kidney problems but pneumonia ! he does not ever swing his arms as he sits all day long.

so when you are beginning to feel like getting up, and you really should get up for at least an hour or two each sick-day, you should take a walk and take a least of a quarter mile long walk and SWING THOSE ARMS! this will help bring up that mucus and then you spit it out onto the ground or better yet, into a tissue. do not ever swallow it! getting up, too, circulates the blood. tells your body that you are alive. maybe only for an hour a day or so at the beginning of bed time recovery.

while i am not a doctor and that everyone is DNA different in responses, i have found that eating jello several times a week helps heal the mucus membranes, for me at least. bananas too. the jello has collagen in it, the bananas has phosphorus and other minerals that help with muscle spasms . a dish of jello once a day and then several times a week for a few weeks. if you wish to try this, buy some now! then a banana a day for a week or two....

do not rush to get back to work either. heal first. keep the stress low.

there, my middle of the road approach.....

freestone