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Preppers

Prepping for a Pandemic - Thread 16

960 replies

Sprayitall · 18/03/2020 17:12

I don’t know why another thread hasn’t been created yet , so here you go. Now as we prep ourselves to the peak of this pandemic, let’s all face it together and appreciate how fragile our lives are and how we need each other to survive and flourish.

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Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 11:56

How would you delete a comment here Once it’s posted?

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VivaLeBeaver · 29/03/2020 12:01

I’m quite worried about the reports in Italy of people being unable to find food and posting videos saying they’re worried they’re going to starve.

Initially I saw stuff saying nobody in Italy had panic bought and there were no food shortages. Telling us in the uk to calm down.

Have they just panic bought later or is there a real problem with so many people being sick that the supply chains/food manufacturers have collapsed? Could that happen here?

RhubarbTea · 29/03/2020 12:10

I'm concerned about Italy too, both in terms of social unrest and food shortages (which would lead to the former anyway). I have been using our preps a little and have been glad of them but now I'm wondering when I should go shopping and what to get.

Does anyone have an opinion as to what 'tougher measures' would look like in the UK?

TiddleTaddleTat · 29/03/2020 12:22

I'm concerned too. We are using our preps but will similarly need to venture out next week for fresh items. I had a Tesco delivery last week and there was no chopped tomatoes, sugar, or long life milk. We are running very low/out of these items now.

I think tougher lockdown will involve needing to have a letter/piece of paper to show police when you are out. Somehow limiting people to one grocery shop a week maximum. And greater restrictions on who is deemed an essential worker.

Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 12:35

Food is in good supply but the freight costs have increased (up by 30% last week) so may be that’s why. I also saw the news in India - For crops like rice and Lentils / the domestic price offered is higher than export price now so farmers are selling locally to avoid freight costs. All major producers are doing the same. So I think there might be some food shortage.

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Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 12:37

I’m missing veneto’s update now and would like to know how bad is it there?

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WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 29/03/2020 12:48

I was just coming on to ask @VenetoResident how they all are?

Whatthefoxgoingon · 29/03/2020 12:49

Another one hoping @VenetoResident is doing ok.

Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 13:06

Sorry if it’s not relevant but I am now trying to write a will. Previously when I contacted the will solicitor he said we would need two witnesses but given the situation he wouldn’t advice meeting people for that. How do you think we should sort it? Any ideas welcome. We don’t have much assets but we have dd and would like to sort it out just for her sake.

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MrsFezziwig · 29/03/2020 13:33

I’ve been unable to finish sorting out my will due to the current situation. I’ve therefore just written one out myself, signed it and am keeping it somewhere obvious in my house. The contents are not particularly controversial but I have stated categorically that this is what I wish to happen to my assets.

I am aware that it has no legal validity whatsoever but I am fairly confident that it would be adhered to.

Sprayitall it would be important for you to state whom you would like to be your daughter’s guardian if something happened to both you and DH. You could presumably discuss this by phone with the relevant person now.

MrsFezziwig · 29/03/2020 13:34

Hope you feel better soon ofwarren. What dreadful luck!

lexloofah · 29/03/2020 13:51

TiddleTattle I have been wondering that too, about strategically when would be the optimal time to get next big shop in. I think next week might be the time as hopefully stocks back in, social distancing becoming more automatic and before further restrictions and shortages. Anyone else have a take On this? We have stuff in, can manage for 2-3 weeks but not months and in 2-3 weeks I don't think I want to be going out to any shops

AlohaMolly · 29/03/2020 14:01

I’m trying to shop as normal still, but have managed to get a delivery slot for 11/4 and a click and collect slot for 18/4. Do you think food places will still be able to deliver, like butchers etc?

georgedawes · 29/03/2020 14:28

Yes we're debating the exact same thing here too. We have prepped for a long time, so have been avoiding the supermarkets. Not sure when is the best time to restock tbh!

Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 16:04

I have been thinking this too.. but I personally think as long as we get fresh produce we can normally buy them & make sure we also buy long life items to prep along with them?

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Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 16:06

@MrsFezziwig I think I will do something similar to you i think. Thank you so much for guiding at this instance

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ofwarren · 29/03/2020 16:17

I was thinking also about adding to the preps I have because we have used a fair bit of it
The council are going to be giving us a weekly food parcel because my son is on the shielded list but I don't know what's in it. I cant imagine it will be a lot.

We have a shop coming on Tuesday and another slot booked the week after.
I think I'm going to add a load of tins and dried again. The shops seem to be full again here as far as I can see on our local Facebook page.

doneaflit · 29/03/2020 16:25

Due to close contact with a confirmed case early in in this process, my family have been in isolation/lockdown for 3 weeks now. None of us have been poorly, just following guidelines as they are at that time.

The first week was a surprise isolation and we weren't allowed to leave the house, so we did eat into the prep store. I was amazed how much we all ate when we were all at home.

Since then we've been socially distancing for 1 week (I took the kids out of school a week early due to my son' asthma) and then the last week lockdown with the whole country. In both those weeks we've been able to go to the shop and managed 1 online delivery which had been booked while we were in isolation but before the whole country started to panic. So the last 2 weeks we've been unable to get certain things and had to dip into my reserves, but could find something to eat, even if it wasn't what we really wanted. Things like tinned tomatoes and pasta have pretty much been used up from my store. Not sure we'll be able to stock them up again now.

The last week or so existing businesses have tried to adapt to the new circumstances and I'm trying to get my head round these. I live in the countryside, very close to farmland, so some of the farmers have set up ways of selling direct to the public. I can get fresh veg, milk and eggs this way. There's restaurants and pubs in the town that obviously have their own supply chains that are still getting food in and operating limited take away services, so we've used them a few of times too.

For the time being I'm looking at the next few months ahead. I don't think we can rely on the supermarkets getting back to normal. At some point people will run out of money to stockpile and will eat what they've got, so demand must fall, but surely supply chains will be affected by the global slowdown. Probably wise to think about changing how/what I'm cooking, trying to preserve my preps.

Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 17:01

If we have to buy , could you all please share your first few items in your list by top priority so we will all save some money and will also buy only the bare necessities than wasting money on something that we won’t use?

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bellinisurge · 29/03/2020 18:54

Fresh fruit and veg - to dehydrate or eat fresh.
Fresh turkey mince.
Anything else is a bonus.

bellinisurge · 29/03/2020 18:58

I've had a milkman deliver fresh milk and eggs for a year.
I have alternatives but these are nice to have

Sprayitall · 29/03/2020 19:25

I have milkman delivering too but they have stopped delivering fresh veg and fruits now. So I am looking for options as such. Are dehydrators useful? Being raised in India I’m used to sun dried foods not dehydrators. If it’s useful and can save fresh foods I think it’s not bad to buy one now? Can you please suggest which ones are good?

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lexloofah · 29/03/2020 19:52

Based on what we have used and got low on the last 2 weeks as deliberately not been shopping I am going to stock up on

Bread flour - have baked several loaves and rolls and all but out now
Meat for the freezer, particularly chicken breasts
Frozen berries and veg

Plus more snack stuff like crisps, nuts, choc and biccies, I know not real food or for meals but while we may be able to get food parcels, milk and veg boxes I just don't see them including this kind of thing

doneaflit · 29/03/2020 19:53

At the moment I have 3 things constantly on my shopping list: yeast, paracetamol and spaghetti.

Also, one of my priorities at the moment is making things seem as normal as possible for the kids. That means having treats, pudding, their favourite drinks, the meals they like etc. So I'm going to buy those sorts of things for the moment.

I do have a milkman, but he's been so busy this last week with new customers that he's closed down his website and is not increasing orders or taking on any more new ones. So I'm still getting my milk at the moment but it's not enough now that there are 4 of us at home all the time. I've had to find another source too.

Graphista · 29/03/2020 20:00

“For the time being I'm looking at the next few months ahead. I don't think we can rely on the supermarkets getting back to normal...At some point people will run out of money to stockpile” actually I’ve been thinking about that, I think there’s going to be another spike of panic buying end May/beginning June when people who are having to claim govt aid in various forms for the first time will be starting to get their first payments. I think it would actually be responsible of us to prepare as much as we can ahead of that as they may have low running stocks due to lack of money so they may by this point be desperately needing to restock.