February Prepping 2020

I'm not storing water. We have a well where we get our supply but I also have tanks attached to our barns and they collect the roof water. We have 90,000 litres in storage tanks right now.

You can buy a great piece of kit called a downpipe diverter that you fit in line on your roof downpipe and divert rainwater away into a tank. If you get one, be sure to get one with a first flush fitted, as this takes the first water off the roof (containing the dust, leaf debris etc) and swished that out onto the ground and then subsequent clean rain goes into the tank.

Personally I think that even if you don't want to fit it, it's worth getting now as they are cheap. Make sure you have everything (like a hacksaw) you need to fit it and keep it in a cupboard until you need it. I suspect they'll sell out in seconds if the water goes out.

Penham wrote: In the U.S. before you star saving rain water, check your state laws, in some states it's illegal to catch rain water. Of course in an emergency I don't think anyone will care or be checking lol.

Wow! That's unbelievable! Rain belongs to whom ever it falls on. It's a basic human right. And it's free. I'm so glad I don't live there!!!!! There are whole suburbs of Auckland that have no watermains, and everyone lives on tank water from their roof. I know because I used to live in one.

I am not a fan of bleach. But i have 55 gal barrels cor water stock which i clean out with a bleach solution then rinse amd then fill with water then put a small porportionate amount of bleach back in. Not very much as my city tapwater already is chlorinated. But i do put a few drops in.
Absolutly the only thing i use bleach for. I do hate the stuff.

After doing a full inventory on my food preps cabinet, I was pleased to see I've successfully kept up with preps. Near to expired food got donated to the food pantry and replaced. I've bought an extra filter for my Barrier water pitcher which filters out 99.9% of uglies including virus. I'm not worried about losing water because here in NYC water is fed by gravity. I'm not all that worried about losing power because after 35 years here, I've only lost power once during the Great Northeast blackout. And then only for 10 hours as Fort Hamilton was a priority and I'm on the same grid.

Tomorrow I'll toddle on down to my local market and buy bleach, vinegar and cleaning and disinfecting supplies. Today I will order another two months worth of cat food. I have enough litter for four months, I may extend that to six (if I can find room for it).

I have been obsessive about rotating six months stock of my daily meds so I'm good there.

I've been printing out recipes and putting them into my SHTF binder. Also knitting and crochet projects and putting them in binders because I have to have SOMETHING to do. (Heaven knows I have enough yarn) I've also been downloading audio books to my tablet for which I have a solar notebook charger.

I've already squirreled away cash in small bills. (that was the very first thing I did when news of this broke)

And then I think I'm done because I'll be prepped for six months. Once I hear of a cluster outbreak anywhere in the Metro area I will shut shut the door for at least two weeks to see if there are any more cases. There will be one last trip for fresh fruit and veg and bagels as soon as that news breaks.

I didn't notice there was a recipe section on the forum. Too girly? I thought it might help expand people's repertoire cooking with non-perishables which could get boring if you're used to eating fresh.

I have just started learning how to make bread. I have a no-knead cast iron version and I ordered a Pullman Loaf Pan off Amazon to make sandwich bread in. I am sure its a basic skill, but one I have never attempted.
Bought all my supplies to start working on it and have a few good recipes from a friend on the net.
I also have stocked my extra bedroom with canned and dried goods. Every time I am in a grocery store I add just a little more for the larder.
As far as meds, I stockpiled so many long ago and also took my ex's leftovers...lol...like penicillin he never finished and was going to ditch. You never know. I have a little bit of most everything, even steroids and Tamiflu.
Just following along with all of your good advice on here as I am fairly new at this.

Just had a shipment of freeze dried food arrive. Went to my local shop this morning and picked up a few self defense tools to add to the collection. Waiting on one more food delivery, vendor now says it will be delayed and their site is out of stock on most things.

Have done all of that...always thinking I need more TP but I have so many napkins that are unused just sitting there can be used as TP. I only have plywood for windows left and a little more gas cans to fill. I keep trying to think what more I need ...I have been collecting stuff too long!!!

Hi Hachi, I would get more cans just in case. I don't think otc drugs will do much but I would put in cold meds just in case. Stay well.

I've come to the conclusion that Covid-19 is in the general population here in the U.S. as we speak. Multiple thousands are under self-quarantine here in the U.S. Yeah.. I'm a little slow sometimes...

I finally broke down and ordered 10 day supply of antibiotics. Yes, I know it will be ineffective against a virus, but I'd feel more comfortable having them in my meds supplies. I already have six months of my other meds - the one thing I've been obsessive about rotating so it's all fresh.

I think I'm pretty well done prepping. There are a few things I'll order today but that's about it. Besides.. I'm not sure I have any more room in my emergency equipment closet or my preps pantry closet...

Going forward I'll continue to social distance, only go out once or twice a week in the early morning to do regular shopping, and keep an ear out for possible illness near me.

By the by... BePrepared.com website has been down all morning. Error 500. Does anyone know what that error code means?

There is one OTC med I would recommend specifically for this bug. Vic! Or a cheaper generic version of a vapour rub containing camphor.

When a body is infected with a viral pneumonia, cells lining the inside of the lungs slough off (because they are infected and the white cells kill them) and are coughed up. This leaves gaps in the surface which bacterial pneumonia can invade through. (Bacterial pneumonia is in the environment). Camphor, in addition to making breathing easier, stops pneumococci from breeding. It does not kill them, but as they can't breed, our exhausted immune systems have time to kill them. The camphor enters the blood stream mostly through the skin, not the lungs. You need to wear the rub, not just inhale it.   YEUCH!

Gdeb wrote: Nice info on the Vics. My grandmother, who lived thru the Spanish flu, swore by mustard plasters. I have no idea how to make them, but maybe I’ll look that up.

There are different ways, but the one my grandmother used was a handful of crushed mustard seeds mixed with honey.   She smeared that on our chests and then tied cheesecloth across our chests. The honey makes it less likely to dry off and adhere to the skin (hence "ripping off a mustard plaster) than mustard powder, water and flour mixture.

Off the subject a bit. Went to local children’s hospital for my kiddos routine follow up yesterday. They are asking everyone about travel to China when checking in, “travel to China in past 14 days? fever or cough?”
I wanted to say “traveled there 15 days ago, but that shouldn’t matter right?!” Lol.

Well, as could be predicted, now those who were wise enough to PREPARE are going to be accused of HOARDING. This from a former CDC doc talking to Chinese Communist state media (bleh). Well, governments and people were warned, repeatedly, of the possibility. Should others who thought to prepare be vilified?

Can anyone here foresee confiscation? I can. Not a remote possibility in my mind in some parts of the world, or even the US.

https://twitter.com/DrTomFrieden/status/1230967399215661056

It's a little after 6:00 am and I am making a grocery store run.  I live in a small town,don't expect  anyone there. If they are they are WOKE ! Don't feel comfortable going out when the place is packed. I still can't absorb the predicament we're in.

Just got back from store,got there about 6:45, not a soul was there. I thinking to myself this is great,felt confident,though on occasion you would hear an employee cough. It's tough because seasonal flu is still so high. Then some woman was there being overly friendly,as she talked I just started backing up,and she just kept stepping close to me,I finally said "look I'm just getting over a cold,I just don't want to get sick" She wasn't WOKE! Then at the self check out,this bored checker starts touching my groceries on the belt,At this point I was just on auto pilot with my patience,"Please don't touch my stuff." Left the change in the cup,then she says you forgot your change,Finally told her to leave me alone. My inner New York habits roared back. None of the shells looked low.surprisingly

Just thought I’d throw this out there. I purchased fishmox from Thomas labs.  Fishmox is plain amoxicillin, manufactured by the same supplier you would get amoxicillin from a pharmacy but packaged with a picture of a fish on it haha. You can buy it without a prescription. 19.99 for 100 - 250mg pills.  Just a warning though, research thoroughly what dosage for what ailment you have. Improper dosing can be dangerous. I don’t plan on using this at all unless it’s a total catastrophe out there. It’ll be nice to have a supply though if China shortages hit home. 

I bought a pulse oximeter. They're about $15-25 on Amazon/eBay.

I've also bought some #10 cans (still decent selection on Walmart and Costco
-BP cuff and stethoscope (Walmart.com) for more vitals
-emergency water purification tabs
-emergency food ration/bars/MRES (in case advisable to bug out to a safer area or better SIP place like a distant relative...Can you imagine the hell Wuhan residents have gone through?), camping/survival gear pack
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Thinking about how to care for a sick family member without getting infected (or if I get infected, how to prevent others from getting it)..infection control will be very difficult with shared bathrooms, etc. Maybe port-a-potties and 3 mill plastic sheeting to create containment zones? I (or they) also could use some PPE I have...

PLEASE review all family members allergies to antibiotics AND cross reference the other antibiotics in the same “family.” You do not want to have someone in your home have an allergic reaction, as it can be avoidable knowing what is safe. Also do not forget the Benadryl (both tabs and liquid) for a mild allergic reaction to most anything else and Epi-pen refills if you have a family member in need of having one on hand.

Yes, most definitely, know what you can and cannot take. I cannot take Amoxicillan because I am allergic to it, I have to take other antibiotics. However, 2 other people in my family can take it. I have allergies so I always have liquid Benadryl (generic) in the house, pills in my purse and I carry an epipen. You also need to know how much to take and what strength. I got what my family normally takes.

I have done the same over the years . I have color coded notebooks to help my son if I am gone...garden, water, medical wood saws how to sharpen food. I have accumulated a lot of info including books. If I am gone he has the ability to protect himself and a family in the future.