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We find ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Prepping can be an overwhelming approach to life when one disaster after another lobbies for your attention.
Attempting to have the perfect approach to all possible events is impossible. From food and water to batteries and vitamins, the list of things to stockpile for a pandemic can be overwhelming.
The threat of a pandemic has been raised to a critical level on every prepper’s threat matrix. In the following sections, I will help you look at your current level of preparation.
By the end of our time together, you should have identified any gaps and made a plan to fill them. If you are new to these types of emergencies, stop and take a breath.
First, you aren’t alone. Secondly, there are many of us out here that can help you get a good perspective on current events. We can help you to best prepare yourself.
Read on, and I will get you well on your way to handling this coronavirus outbreak (and many others too).
Essential Foods to Stockpile for a Pandemic
- The food must be non-perishable (canned and/or dried).
- The majority of it must be similar to your daily diet.
- Finally, add a little variety to avoid food fatigue.
Rice
Rice is the number one meal stretcher. Chili and rice, rice and beans, porcupines (rice in meatballs). It goes with nearly everything and turns a meager portion into a belly filler.
Rice is the perfect food to stockpile for a pandemic. It’s cheap and can be purchased in bulk (50 lb bags are widely available). Additionally, it stores forever!
My favorite treatment is Congee. Porridge is made by boiling rice for many hours.
It is a true chameleon. Add a soft-boiled egg, and it’s breakfast. With a little ground chicken or pork, it is dinner. Finally, add coconut milk and sugar, and you have dessert!
Stack rice high and deep. You can put the bags in 5-gallon buckets and mylar bags to keep the critters away.
Uncle Ben’s Converted Rice, 50 Pound5 Gallon White Bucket & Lid – Durable 90 Mil All Purpose Pail – Food Grade – BPA Free Plastic (5 Gal. w/Lids – 6pk)10 Dry-Packs 5 Gallon Mylar Bags and 10-2000cc Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers for Dried Dehydrated and Long Term Food Storage
Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Fish
Protein is one of the hardest things to store. Meat is expensive, has a relatively short shelf life (compared to rice and beans), and is expensive (see what I did there?).
I prefer to make my own. One pound per pint or two pounds per quart. We do beef, chicken, and pork.
If you are unable to do that, then the best approach is to buy a little each week. Tuna and chicken are easy to find and relatively inexpensive.
If you have a dehydrator, another great option is to store beef jerky. You can store it in mylar bags for several months, or even longer in the freezer. Once it’s opened, be sure to eat it within a week or so.
Otherwise, get meat-heavy canned meals. This includes chili, spam, corned beef, etc. Add a few cans as often as your pocketbook will allow.
Beans
Beans are another great food to stockpile for a pandemic. Most of the world lives on rice and beans. Cheap and able to be stored for many years. Get as many as possible.
Don’t forget to get multiple types. You can make brownies out of pinto beans. Black beans and olive oil make a great dip. Lentils cook in a quarter of the time as any other beans and add substance to thin soups.
Organic Pinto Beans, 25 Pound Box
Canned Veggies and Fruits
Store what you eat, and eat what you store! Canned fruits and vegetables are very affordable, especially if purchased at the end of the summer when they are making room for the new stock.
Ensure that your stockpile has a lot of what you normally eat as well as a lot of variety. If you have to eat out of your pantry for a long time, you will appreciate the familiar as well as the new.
Del Monte Mandarin Orange Fruit Snack Cups in 100% Juice, 12-4oz Cups – PACK OF 2Green Valley Organics Peas | Certified Organic | Non-GMO Project Verified | Deliciously Succulent | 15 ounce can (Pack of 12)
Oils
Cooking oils contribute much-needed calories to our diet. Likewise, they add a richness and mouthfeel that are hard to leave behind. Ever cook a chicken breast with nothing but the juice it came in? Not too great.
Oils have a limited shelf life; therefore, it’s best to have a consistent rotation in your pantry. Store what you need for a year, then add some every time you use it.
Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 101.4 Fl OzFilippo Berio Extra Light Olive Oil, 101.4 Fluid Ounce
Pasta
What is life without pasta? Again, a prime stockpile of food. Cheap, stores a long time, and it’s filled with calories.
Figure out what you eat per meal and do the math. Stack up the pounds in your pantry, then get a little more.
Natural Heaven Pasta Substitute | Angel Hair Hearts of Palm Noodles | 6 Count 9 oz | Kosher
Soups and Sauces
Once you have your base calories accounted for, start adding variety with canned and jarred soups and sauces.
Soups can be a filling meal with some fresh bread. Cream soups are especially flexible when used in casseroles.
Spaghetti sauce can be used with your pasta, rice, chicken, etc. I’ve even seen it watered down as soup.
Variety and volume are the keys. Tomato sauce, Alfredo sauce, and meat sauce. Add jar after jar of everything you like. Even add a few jars of things you think you would like.
Campbell’s Soup on the Go, Chicken & Mini Round Noodles, 10.75 Ounce (Pack of 8)
Treats (Spices & Candy)
Plain rice is boring. Now toss it with a little olive oil and spices, and you can finish a bowl without thinking about it. The same goes for pasta.
One of the priority boxes in my bug out pantry is the spice box! I can live on rice and beans for a while, but I’m much happier if I can spice it up on day one and make it Italian the next.
Ok, now for the serious pandemic stockpile item. Bulk candy. Life without pasta sucks. A life without chocolate is not worth living.
Hit the after-holiday sales and get a few pounds. The mood elevation a Twix bar can bring to a child is amazing. Don’t neglect this simple prep.
HERSHEY’S Silver Kisses Milk Chocolate Candy 5lb BagSNICKERS, M&M’S Milk Chocolate, M&M’S Peanut, TWIX & MILKY WAY Candy Variety Mix, 45.45 Ounces, 90 Pieces
Medical, Hygiene and First Aid Supplies to Fight Coronavirus
Being prepared is much more than food and water. There isn’t much that we need to say about stockpiling medical supplies for a pandemic. It comes with the territory.
The less you go out into crowds, the less you are exposed to infection situations. This includes making a run for medical or hygiene supplies. Even the Department of Homeland Security is recommending avoiding all unnecessary travel.
Respirator, Gloves, Face Masks, and PPE
Your first line of defense is your personal protective equipment (PPE). You avoid getting sick by not coming into physical contact with pathogens.
Gloves, goggles, and face masks (N95 or better) are all your first line of defense.
Bacteria and viruses infect you via your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. By covering these, you are partially protected. Gloves keep the infectious materials off your hands.
It is essential that you also remember not to touch your face. A full-face shield will help with this. Each time you touch your face, you risk bringing virus particles close to or into your eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.
AMMEX Medical Black Nitrile Gloves, Box of 100, 4 mil Size Large, Latex Free, Powder Free, Textured, Disposable, Non-Sterile3M 8210V Particulate Respirator with Cool Flow Valve, Grinding, Sanding, Sawing, Sweeping, Woodworking, Dust, 10/BoxUVEX by Honeywell Bionic Face Shield with Clear Polycarbonate Visor (S8500)
Electrolytes
When your body is under assault, it is imperative that you provide it with ammunition to fight back. Nutrition is one of the biggest bullets you can use.
Electrolyte powders and drink mixes replace the basic nutrients and salts your body uses.
Get dried mixes, as they are cheaper and last longer than pre-mixed drinks.
Medications
You got sick. You took the medicines Mommy gave you. It’s no different when you are older. Take your medicine. A pandemic is no time to tough it out with a serious bug.
Depending on the disease, you will need to be specific about the medications that you take. For example, antibiotics don’t work on viral infections.
Purchase a selection of medications that cover the gamut of symptoms you are trying to overcome. Sudafed for sinus pressure, Mucinex for chest congestion, Delsym for cough, etc.
Don’t neglect the basics, either. Tylenol, Ibuprophen, and Benadryl are components of many over-the-counter drugs. Become familiar with the dos and don’ts of each drug and use it according to the directions.
Don’t neglect prescription medications!
Basic Care Ibuprofen Tablets 200 mg, Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer (NSAID), 1000 CountBasic Care Extra Strength Pain Relief, Acetaminophen Caplets, 500 mg, 500 Count
Hazmat Suits
Extending on the PPE topic is the hazmat suit. I’m not talking about the big Biolab bubble suits, just a good outer layer. Tyvek painter suits are cheap, sturdy, and sufficient to cover you during a risky activity.
Remember that these will be single-use! Buy them one size too large so they aren’t too tight and split.
Sanitizer / Bleach
Your next layer of protection is cleaning your living space. All contact surfaces must be cleaned often, especially if you are caring for sick loved ones.
Bleach and other sanitizers are essential for keeping your living areas free of pathogens. While there are several off-the-shelf options, you can make your own DIY hand sanitizer.
Become familiar with the process before a crisis.
Toilet Paper / Personal Hygiene
Gotta keep clean! Nobody likes a case of swamp butt or other stinky, sticky areas.
Toilet paper, sanitary napkins, soap, shampoo, and deodorant all have natural or homemade options.
That being said, I always have a few rolls stashed just in case. You know, so I don’t have to cut up, use, and then wash my old t-shirts.
We take modern sanitation for granted. Personal hygiene done wrong can easily lead to infection or worse. Stack them high and deep while you can!
As a self-sufficient prepper, I highly recommend you learn how to make your own toilet paper when SHTF (no pun intended!) for an extended period of time and supplies are nonexistent.
Portable Potty
Sometimes the plumbing fails, and we need to have a backup plan. There are many options for personal waste management. Be sure to add at least one to your stockpile (as well as all the associated supplies).
Having to go to the great outdoors is fine on occasion. But having to rely on it can be maddening or even dangerous.
Reliance Products Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon ToiletReliance Products 2683-03 Double Doodie Toilet Waste Bags (6-Pack)
Vitamins
During any stressful situation or when your diet changes, you will lose micronutrients. Vitamins go a long way to supplementing your nutrition when this happens.
It’s cheap, and it’s easy to get a few bottles now. Go with chewable vitamins, as gummies have a limited shelf life.
Centrum Adult (100 Count) Multivitamin / Multimineral Supplement Chewable Tablet, Vitamin D3Nature’s Wonder Child Chewable Complete Multivitamin, 300 Count, Compare vs. Flintstones® Complete Chewable Tablets
