Coronavirus prep

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  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    I would post a photo of the absurd displays of TP at my supermarket, but it feels kind of cruel to do that to you guys :\

    You saw what @rheddmobile said about the Memphis area - that is about 2 hr. drive away. My mom in Omaha says they have plenty in the stores and are limiting it to 1 package per person. She lives with my sister and family, and tells me that my sister and her husband are buying 1 package every time they go to the store because they don't want to run out... to what end, I don't know. I assume there is a point where they will have stockpiled enough that they will stop that. In rural Iowa where I used to live, about 90 min. drive from Omaha, they have it and are limiting quantities as well. I heard the same from people I know in Des Moines. Maybe people in my specific area are just worse with hoarding than elsewhere?! I'm actually starting to get pretty upset about this now that I'm seeing other places have it.

    We still have a product limit (two packs), though it seems unnecessary at this point, at least in my town. I had wondered if our ample supply was because I live in a small town with a high retired population, so home consumption may not have increased as much, but friends around the country tell me there are no issues with the tissues elsewhere either.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,204 Member
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    I would post a photo of the absurd displays of TP at my supermarket, but it feels kind of cruel to do that to you guys :\

    You saw what @rheddmobile said about the Memphis area - that is about 2 hr. drive away. My mom in Omaha says they have plenty in the stores and are limiting it to 1 package per person. She lives with my sister and family, and tells me that my sister and her husband are buying 1 package every time they go to the store because they don't want to run out... to what end, I don't know. I assume there is a point where they will have stockpiled enough that they will stop that. In rural Iowa where I used to live, about 90 min. drive from Omaha, they have it and are limiting quantities as well. I heard the same from people I know in Des Moines. Maybe people in my specific area are just worse with hoarding than elsewhere?! I'm actually starting to get pretty upset about this now that I'm seeing other places have it.

    We still have a product limit (two packs), though it seems unnecessary at this point, at least in my town. I had wondered if our ample supply was because I live in a small town with a high retired population, so home consumption may not have increased as much, but friends around the country tell me there are no issues with the tissues elsewhere either.

    FWIW, there's been TP on my recent trips, too, here in Michigan/US, mid-sized city, at both Kroger and Costco. I've been there in the mid-afternoon. The shelves have been more depleted than pre-virus, but there was some there. (I didn't buy any; I tend to buy a giant Costco bale every few months - hate to shop - and had just replenished mine about a month before this excitement happened.)
  • fitlulu4150
    fitlulu4150 Posts: 1,371 Member
    edited April 2020
    @whoami67

    Is that photo really of HB yesterday? I don't see any masks, and I've seen only a few people out without masks in SoCal the past couple weeks, even out near the beach (not on the beach; mine is closed).


    Yes, unfortunately that was a real photo of Huntington Beach yesterday, Newport Beach is the same although the Wedge is closed. It was much the same today from what I saw on the news this evening. They're saying people are social distancing but from the photos I've seen I'm not very confident of that. I live in Riverside County, the 2nd hardest hit county in CA. Los Angeles is 1st of course. I'm pretty sure people from Long Beach, Seal Beach and others north of Huntington drove to the beaches in OC. I also know for a fact that our Governor does not support opening the beaches.

    We drove out to Lake Elsinore yesterday in hopes of seeing the poppies blooming and drove along the lake. Only sporadic small groups of people there but Riverside County is much more strict than OC and we have to wear masks when we go out. BTW, the poppies are still about a week I think from the best view of the fields. They still haven't really opened up yet so we're driving by next weekend again. You can't stop there though or walk through there.

    Stay safe where you are!
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    I would post a photo of the absurd displays of TP at my supermarket, but it feels kind of cruel to do that to you guys :\

    You saw what @rheddmobile said about the Memphis area - that is about 2 hr. drive away. My mom in Omaha says they have plenty in the stores and are limiting it to 1 package per person. She lives with my sister and family, and tells me that my sister and her husband are buying 1 package every time they go to the store because they don't want to run out... to what end, I don't know. I assume there is a point where they will have stockpiled enough that they will stop that. In rural Iowa where I used to live, about 90 min. drive from Omaha, they have it and are limiting quantities as well. I heard the same from people I know in Des Moines. Maybe people in my specific area are just worse with hoarding than elsewhere?! I'm actually starting to get pretty upset about this now that I'm seeing other places have it.

    I'm in rural Central VA and any of the stores I can get to all still have more empty shelves than filled. I haven't seen TP, tissues, pasta, soup, canned or dry beans, cleaning products, rice, or rubbing alcohol since the beginning of March. I don't know if it means people are still hoarding or if it is a delivery issue, but I'm starting to take it personal!

    Yes, exactly the same here. Except there were some packages of TP (not much, but some) in mid-March here. None since. And a lot of other stuff is either out or in low supply. I don't know about pasta, beans, soup, or rice because I don't eat those and wouldn't notice if out. But cleaning products have been hard to come by also, but I live alone and it takes awhile to run out of something. The only thing I needed to refill thus far was toilet bowl cleaner. I found some stuff online that is totally different than what I normally use. It's a sticky gel that comes with an applicator. You apparently apply some of it on the inside of the toilet bowl just under the rim so that every time you flush, water flows over it and washes/mixes some of the gel cleaner into the bowl. I've never heard of this product before, but it is what I was able to find online when nobody had the normal stuff. It says a tube should last up to 8 weeks and I got 2 tubes, so should be able to make this last awhile.
  • gradchica27
    gradchica27 Posts: 777 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
    I went to the laundromat today and then to the store. I have plenty of food to last awhile, but was hoping they had toilet paper back in stock. This time, I decided to not try several stores as I know that if a store is out, they all are. No sense in putting myself at additional risk for no benefit whatsoever.

    The toilet paper aisle here looks exactly the same as it has for well over a month now. What is surprising is that there are still 4 boxes of Kleenex remaining. It's a respiratory illness, so that doesn't make sense... anyway, no toilet paper and no paper towels either. And since some people didn't believe me last time, here's a photo for the skeptics:
    8e8zeuqo7ze3.jpg

    Good grief!

    If you get desperate enough to drive down here we’re starting to see normal supply in the outskirts of Memphis. I found both tp and paper towels at both Kroger and Walmart in Collierville. Still very low on cleaning products but I also managed to snag some bleach. This week’s shortage was meat - I guess there is a panic starting due to news about the plants closing, but chicken was entirely gone and other meat very scant.

    @rheddmobile , we’re in the same neck of the woods! Husband struck out on TP at Costco and Target last week (paper towels available and even some hand sanitizer at Target!), but I found some tp at Kroger, so we’re good for a another few weeks! Target guy told him to come back at 7:45, but that was senior hours and we weren’t in dire need....maybe in a week I might have had to be “that woman”, but was happily spared that. At the beginning of the panic he found some in MS bc there was none here.

    Costco was out of chicken—the meat guy said they were getting less in and it was gone by mid morning. They were also out of random produce, like strawberries. We’re trying not to shop that often, but it’s getting tough (we have 4 boys, so there’s a lot of eating happening here!) when Walmart or Kroger pickup/delivery is “out” of 10 of your 25 items (and often if you just walk in, boom, whole shelf full of frozen spinach/half and half they said they were out of) or they won’t sell you any tp unless you physically go in and get it.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Hand sanitizer: If you have a local craft distillery - one that usually makes vodka, whiskey, gin, etc. - check their FB/web page, or call to see if they have hand sanitizer. My local sells it in gallons, or 2oz, at about cost to make. I've read about places in other parts of the country doing similar things. Helps a local business, helps you.

    Yes! There is a place nearby that changed from making whiskey to hand sanitizer. I heard they sell the bottle (32 oz., I think? I don't drink whiskey, so not exactly sure what the bottle size is) for $35. That may be a little expensive for that size of container, but not terrible. Also, they are new to making it and I'm sure materials went up in cost too... so probably is about right. They were supplying the nearest hospital as well and not sure if they were charging or how much. If not, that explains part of the cost too. Either way, $35 for about a liter isn't bad.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,281 Member
    TP seems to have reappeared here as suddenly as it disappeared.

    Stock has never been terrible, have managed to get some all along if I go as soon as shops open - but on weekend there was shelves full at both supermarkets on Sat afternoon.
    Went to shops again Sun, just to get the weekend newspaper, still plenty on shelves Sun afternoon.

    This would be unheard of a mere week ago.

    ( still one pack per customer)
  • CupcakeCrusoe
    CupcakeCrusoe Posts: 1,424 Member
    I'm a little concerned about food.

    I've heard that meat processing plants are having a really hard time keeping up production, because of course they are. I can go without meat, but if meat processing plants are having a hard time, I imagine all food production is having a hard time, and I'm worried. I don't know what if anything I can do, besides try to garden, but even then, I definitely can't produce enough to feed my family.

    I guess we'll just have to see what happens.
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    Yeh, predicting what is or isn't available for each week has become sort of a mind game. :) Plenty of toilet paper and paper towels now, lots of bread, eggs are dwindling, I still find no hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes, few bottles of bleach now, but no mushrooms, no spinach or lettuce type products? The ups and downs of product availability is strange and doesn't jive with my weekly shopping list. Lol
    Not only that, they recommend you only visit the store once a week to keep exposure down but how can you do that if you can't find half of what you're looking for? I know some things I can substitute but I'm a spoiled brat who wants what I want. :blush: When there are very few greens and no mushrooms..........:/ Subbing ice cream hasn't helped. :)
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,496 Member
    edited April 2020
    T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Hand sanitizer: If you have a local craft distillery - one that usually makes vodka, whiskey, gin, etc. - check their FB/web page, or call to see if they have hand sanitizer. My local sells it in gallons, or 2oz, at about cost to make. I've read about places in other parts of the country doing similar things. Helps a local business, helps you.

    Yes! There is a place nearby that changed from making whiskey to hand sanitizer. I heard they sell the bottle (32 oz., I think? I don't drink whiskey, so not exactly sure what the bottle size is) for $35. That may be a little expensive for that size of container, but not terrible. Also, they are new to making it and I'm sure materials went up in cost too... so probably is about right. They were supplying the nearest hospital as well and not sure if they were charging or how much. If not, that explains part of the cost too. Either way, $35 for about a liter isn't bad.

    Local central IL distillery is selling hand sanitizer for $56.65 a gallon. Don't know where you're at but sounds high.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    CupcakeCrusoe wrote: »
    I'm a little concerned about food.

    I've heard that meat processing plants are having a really hard time keeping up production, because of course they are. I can go without meat, but if meat processing plants are having a hard time, I imagine all food production is having a hard time, and I'm worried. I don't know what if anything I can do, besides try to garden, but even then, I definitely can't produce enough to feed my family.

    I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

    The issue with meat right now is that the major processing facilities are dealing with outbreaks. I believe the affect on food production will depend on how centralized the production of each item is, where those facilities are located, and how proactive the company is about safeguarding their workers and how crowded with employees those facilities typically are.

    Unfortunately it seems commercial meat production in the US is quite centralized and required a lot of people in those buildings. So a couple of facilities go down and everyone feels it.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    I'm pretty concerned about this whole food chain thing - and not just meat. I would say to everyone, stock up on protein powder, pasta or wheat, nuts, beans, whatever protein sources you see at the store. Canned vegetables and fruits, etc.

    I guess the government *could* deploy the National Guard or military to run the factories if it comes to that. Let's pray it doesn't.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    The only chronic shortage I am seeing here is powdered milk. My local Pig has received exactly one shipment of it in the last 2 months. I don't normally use it but have been keeping a sourdough starter and want to make English muffins. All recipes I have call for powdered milk. Both regular and evaporated add too much moisture to the dough. I have buttermilk powder but think it might be too rich.

    This is especially ironic since area farmers are dumping milk because the demand has gone way down with institutions like schools and restaurants closed. The powdered milk manufacturers cannot keep up with demand but they don't have the facilities to cope with excess supply.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    earlnabby, can you use whey protein powder? I would think it would work.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    One option I've been using is buying direct from farmers. I haven't needed meat yet, but they are selling that too. The website for my favorite farmers market has contact information for those participating.
  • whoami67
    whoami67 Posts: 297 Member
    edited April 2020
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    One option I've been using is buying direct from farmers. I haven't needed meat yet, but they are selling that too. The website for my favorite farmers market has contact information for those participating.

    That's great advice. A lot of small farmers who are used to selling at farmers markets are really struggling with so many markets closed.

    If your market website doesn't have information, you could try something like the Weston A. Price Foundation and contact the local chapter leader for a list of local farms.

    And if you're bored out of your mind staying home, a drive to a local farm might be fun.
  • fitlulu4150
    fitlulu4150 Posts: 1,371 Member
    @whoami67, we're fortunate here, we can see them quite well from the freeway so we don't actually have to stop. It was so crowded last year that we couldn't find a place to park anyway and I saw a lot of people off trails and traipsing through the poppies. I wasn't happy about that at all. If we go next weekend I'll post a couple of photos for you.............. ;)

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