I'm not a prepper. I'm not an alarmist. But AIBU to be considering a small stockpile or supplies because of Corona?

[Hollyboba]

I've never done so in my life.

I usually have a wee snort at the preppers board when it pops up in general convos (sorry guys, no offence)

But reading about the Italian villages that have been put on lock down and families can't leave their homes has got me thinking...

Italy isn't a million miles away. Its not a 3rd world country. If its happened there...

Maybe just some bottles of water and some tinned goods? Medicines?

Am I going mad?

Just the more I read about the more sensible it seems. Even if it's not a case of being officially quarantined then it might be a good idea as it goes on not to have to go shopping as often as I do now?

Argh I don't know!

Fer christs sakes don't panic!! its not the bloody plauge or Black death! Yes its a nasty ilness but quite a few are recovering now and more is being learnt about it anyway.

Seems the infection rate is slowing very slighly!.

covid19info.live/

It’s not a zombie invasion so I’m limiting it to enough stuff to feed us if we have to stay quarantined.

The food supply network is fragile. You only have to see what happens when it snows to prove that. Having extra tins of foods you would normally eat is a good idea.

It’s not all crouching in a basement, surrounded by ammunition and beans

If I have sufficient beans, the ammunition would be redundant, believe me...

Going to stock up the freezer and cupboards with some sensible supplies. Also pet food and basic medication such as paracetamol.

I’m fairly chilled about it but all it takes is a family friend or colleague being ill and then it’s 2 weeks in isolation.

Not unreasonable at all OP

I already have a small stash of Corona thanks (beer left by DD's exBF at Christmas)

Yanbu except for the bottled water. If we reach the point where there is no more town water supply, things will be way to far gone for a few extra cans to help.

As long as you know where your towel is, ArthurDent, you'll be ok

But watch out for Vogons.

YANBU. This now looks like a likely pandemic situation, and although the majority of people may well survive the virus, there could well be shortages of many things, due to the knock on effects of towns/areas being locked down, and many people being unable to work due to travel restrictions. It's always sensible to prep in moderation and keep cupboards well stocked, just in case of severe weather or illness.

If you are able to stock up before the weekend, you'll be ahead of the game, as many people do their main shop at the weekend. We don't have a huge amount of strorage space, but I have enough tinned and dried foods to tide us over for a couple of weeks, if needs be, plus toilet rolls and OTC medicines. If an event occurs that results in a temporary breakdown of law and/or riots, I would hope to have enough to avoid running the gauntlet in that scenario.

I am not a prepper as such, but I do like to be prepared, I do a massive monthly shop (so I am hoping if anything happens it happens in that week just after I get my shop) but I always have 6 weeks of tins, pasta and dog food and 8 weeks worth of cat food, because I am scared they would eat me in the night

The main thing I am worried about is water, we have no where to store something that big for a long period of time

Why the bottles of water, OP? Would the corona virus affect the supply from the tap? (and isn't it really bad for the environment to be drinking water transported on lorries in bottles when you have access to more local water from the tap?)

Because I always have bottled water. I don't drink tap water. Nothing to do with the virus, just a staple I always have in.

I can't afford to buy lots extra so I won't

Wind up torch

Wind up radio

Simple corded phone that plugs into the landline socket and needs no batteries or power supply

Matches

Camping lantern

Camping stove that burns twigs and wood scraps

Basic medication

Soap

US Center For Disease Control says the question is When, not If it will be pandemic. Recommends preparing for a two week quarantine and advises stockpiling food, water, medicines and contacting schools to determine how classes will be conducted - skype, etc.

It's actually quite easy for water supplies to be disrupted - not by corona itself making it unsafe but if potentially there was a lockdown or pandemic situation and key personnel weren't available to test for/ fix problems.

We were once without mains water for a week due to a flood breaking a mains water pipe and it took them several hours to bring bottled water into the area (the local shop sold out in minutes) . I now always keep a couple of bottles of water in stock in case the water goes off even if it's just so we can have a cup of tea.

I think the water situation if you look deeper into this stuff is water isn't magically made clean and safe to drink. It takes people to do that. Which wouldn't be much good if people had to stay home in quarantine.

Nobody could store the amount of water the average household uses though so it is a fingers crossed job.

This is a good article on some preparations here:

virologydownunder.com/past-time-to-tell-the-public-it-will-probably-go-pandemic-and-we-should-all-prepare-now/

I think it’s good practice to always have some long life foods in store if possible. I’ve found it useful just in situations like I’m stuck in the house with a poorly child, or if I just CBA.

In this country it's sensible to be prepared. We're far too "me and mine first, second, and third" when there's any kind of crisis - petrol shortage, a light dusting of snow - so I'd rather have a full cupboard and do some stock rotation every few months than have to face my local supermarket on anything other than a regular day.

Nobody could store the amount of water the average household uses though so it is a fingers crossed job

In 4 days without water we used 32 litres of water for a family of 4.

That involved the kids using the old baby bath to wash in a few inches of water (reused, washed whichever was cleanest first). DH and I had 'strip washes' which were basically a flannel and a bowl of water.

That water plus any water from washing dishes and cooking was then used to fill the cistern to flush the toilet.

The rest we drank.

It really made me think though just how much water we waste in this country and his much for granted we take instant clean running water.

Yup. I started this today. I'm prioritising though! I have all the pasta, sauce and pulses etc, I also have tea, biscuits and 18 loo rolls... these are far more important to me. I'll eat anything really and the kids will put up and shut up if forced; if I can't have tea though, no one will be happy, and the mess would be unimaginable if I had to ration loo roll with the DCs.

Whelp
They’ve just said in the US it’s not if but when, there will be a pandemic, so I will stock up some bits this week. I remember what the shelves looked like in the last big hurricane we had and need to be prepared a bit. We don’t have an extra fridge/freezer like most though so will be limited. I figure a week of canned/frozen veg/mince or something should be ok.

YANBU

Hmmm I'm thinking I need to stockpile now too!
I've got enough food in to survive a few weeks but not so much for my son (he's very particular with what he will eat due to autism). Also need to consider my pets. Will make a start tomorrow.

I'm just back from Italy and will need to "self isolate" if I get any symptoms. No prep needed really, as still have some Brexit stuff which will go out of date if not eaten. I imagine that the British, this year, are better prepared than most.