My town and COVID-19

[stinkyattic]

Stay safe Dax and hope your friend recovers fast

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

I have found that being in a low population county didn't make any difference. Just moved from a county with about 10,000 people and my sister who still lives there tells me that she couldn't find a single loaf of bread and they are out of a lot of other necessities. I am now in a place with about 20,000-25,000 people. We have 2 larger grocery stores--couldn't find a parking spot in one of them and the other had a lot of bare shelves.

I can't say that I believe that this is being blown out of proportion--it can spread fast, young healthy people may not even know they are carrying it, and older people and sick people are at great risk. And I am one of those older people. However, many people's reaction is blown out of proportion--panic buying is stupid and selfish.

Rosebud, thank you! You and Mr. Rosebud take care. I think of you guys often. Big hugs right back!

 

[Keef]

U can expect that "Blown out of proportion" -- From people who get thier news from Fox -- They were encouraging people to take advantage of low patronage at restaurants and bars mix and mingle --it's just a type of flu you'll be fine - go have a good time ! -- Coming from medicine I know how limited ICU beds are -- The healthcare system can't handle what's coming -- It WILL crash - Stay safe !-

 

[rubrown]

UPDATE: Approximately noon, Wednesday, the toilet paper factory in town had a sale, cars were lined up for a mile, state police, city police had the area cordoned off. Walmart was packed, about 400 people, shelves are completely wiped out, everyone is social distanced, everyone is whispering, no one is speaking, no one is coughing. I hear an occasional, "oh my God!" and an "This country has gone insane!" in the distance. No toilet paper, No bottled water, No paper towels are stocked, Traffic is down by 66% restaurants, bars, movie theaters all shut down. Hospitals, Doctors offices shut right down. Hospitality is the main industry here. I think it's going to take a little more than a grand per citizen. In 4 days it has become a different place! WOW! Some hours later, traffic in the central business district is less than one half of normal. Really kinda creepy... like...

 

[Keef]

I'm still not over the blown out of proportion !-- .....

Edit :- Deleted the rest of the post to keep from getting kicked out !

 

[rubrown]

No exaggeration, almost complete shutdown of vehicular traffic here. I haven't been out since Tuesday. Every neighbor and pedestrian is coughing and glancing about furtively, as they walk down the street. Most of us have read H G Wells and Stephen King or seen the original "Night of the Living Dead" so collective expectations are shaping reality. They are coming from all over the state to buy toilet paper at the toilet paper factory here. It's unreal! Almost complete shut-down! This will cost a fortune in GNP! Weapons of Mass Destruction? Holy Shit!

 

[Caw]

The wife and I flew out to Vegas last Sunday afternoon. This trip was planned well in advance for my 50th bday by my wife. We debated on postponing but there would be no refunds for shows she purchased, which cost more than the trip itself. So, we took our chances and decided to go. Once there we were told to investigate whether the shows were still happening, many had cancelled. Come to find out, ours were on the list.

We walked the strip Sunday evening, had a fantastic dinner, stopped at a dispensary and walked a bit longer before heading back to the Luxor. I turned on the tv in our room and there was an "urgent message" stating all MGM casinos (about 8-10) would be closing Monday at midnight. AND, all guest were to check out by Tuesday at noon! To avoid a mass exodus on Tuesday, we booked a flight out for Monday afternoon. We checked out and they held our bags until we left for the airport.

We had another fantastic meal, lunch, and headed back to the hotel. We apparently weren't the only ones trying to beat the rush. There was a huge line for checkout.

It was highly unusual for me to see people trying to roll up the last of there weed at the airport as police walked by...I purchased a disposable vape pen and just carried it in my coat pocket. No questions asked at TSA.

The flight there was basically empty. Not so much on the way home - PACKED! We got the very last 2 seat together (group C boarding on Southwest). Got home, attempted grocery shopping, and have self quarantined. Shopping has been done over a 3 day period at different times of the day. We are set on meals for a couple weeks.

I get my toilet paper and paper towels from Sam's regularly. We were all set on toilet paper for about a month. But, the wife is still in search. I've tried to explain that this behavior is part of the issue! Even an employee I was speaking to at Sam's said theres no "shortage" on things, just a shortage on drivers to get it to stores. I told the wife I would continue to try Sam's, getting there early in the morning. Oh, I did order paper towels off of Amazon before leaving for our trip. We were down to 3 rolls.

On a positive note, I had done a nute change prior to leaving. Just over night there was a start of root rot in my veg tent. Had I been gone the whole trip, I would have lost all the plants in there. Another nute change and all is good, just a few wilted leaves that have been removed. Not exactly sure what went wrong...?

Stay safe everyone.

 

[novitius]

Hey! I just found this thread today. Well yesterday. I'm late, as usual. I'm in a densely populated area. We're all grounded.
Everything is shut down here. No non emergency procedures of any type are allowed. Hospitals are offering drive through testing for the virus. Lines are so long for that they turn people away. Shelves are pretty bare of essentials. Meats were sold out of Sam's club. TP is rare and triple priced. Rubbing alcohol @ 70% disappeared quick. There's been no day care and school is out for the year. No bars or dine in services. County workers are working from home. The Gov enacted a unemployment package for all affected. Utility fees are on hold. Banks are down to window access.
Grocery stores and CVS types are open. Lots of gas stations are pumps only. The roads are pretty empty day and night. There are folks who are out there shopping though.
There are Amish out by my father's property. They have all butchered their cows. for sale or food I don't know. Probably both. They still have their schoolhouse running with a decent sized class. I wonder what they're going to do when it hits them.
Lots of people are being crazy! Even before social distancing was enacted. Plus, everybody's got they're face covered. i.e.you come out the store with a ton of tp and groceries. Three guys a couple spots over all masked up just watching everybody. You the mark now! Hopefully it doesn't get that bad.
My prayers to all affected.

 

[robisontransport3500]

I find it absolutely frustrating, I am a prepper, one smart enough to not get in a pissing contest over who has the most stored, but I do notice something that I just want to point out on this subject. I have spent the better part of my life being told by almost everyone I come across that being a prepper is stupid, that America couldn’t possibly fail (not saying we are anywhere close to that not fear breading) that we are a civilized country with the best interstate and transportation infrastructure on earth (also true no thanks to the federal theft of millions of state acres all over the country by the Democrats thank you Eisenhower) however, and I’m not deliberately trying to be insensitive, this a really bad year of the common cold. Can you even imagine when things really go sideways? So please people during this time of panic, only consume what you need and only purchase what you can consume. That being said and just maybe a good prepper tip for anyone that has been awakened by recent events, prep small. Seriously you have no idea how much crap you will accumulate by just being slow and consistent. Our method for years has been that we buy an extra when we depleted a resource. Finish off a 4 roll pack of toilet paper for example and buy 2x 4 roll packs and only use 1, when you buy the next pack buy 2 more and now you have 3 at home. I would draw the parallel between compound interest but the compounding is actively done by you. Now when you open up the cupboard and do a little simple math and realize that you now have enough rolls of toilet paper to supply your family for the next 2 years, then you can probably just buy what you consume as you consume it. If the budget is tight for a month just pick 3 things at minimum to add to your stock. Now i will let the crazy come out there are only 3 things that you can never stock enough of in my opinion, ammo, fuel, and food. I have done some volunteer work in disaster areas before and it is amazing to me what people will pay to trade for simple things like coffee ,smokes and chew, and obviously toilet paper.

 

[hollowpoint]

Panic amplified by social media has caused most of our problems...spoke with my friend who owns a grocery yesterday...still plenty of everything ...just not enough delivery's...he can get hand sanitizer but it is $2.99 for 2oz size...he just will not purchase it. We have enough resources none of this should have ever happened. I prep as well ...when I see what John Q bought as his ideal of necessity...it leaves me wondering about lack of basic survival knowledge in our nation. Water ...food ...shelter in that order...so far we still have plenty of that. Please if you do not have a filtration method for water...try to obtain one if your budget allows...you can make a basic one for about $30 bucks or so. Even if you boil or sterilize with Chlorine bleach you are still drinking all kinds of chemicals, impurity's and toxins...and if you choose to not kill off the microbes...well you gonna use a months worth of tp the first day...then a terrible ending...GI related deaths are horrible. rt3500...you are so correct on having a few months supplies on hand...so easy to stalk sales and what not to add supplies when they are cheap and in stock. John Q has become soft and over confident in modern conveniences....these conveniences will leave way quicker than we obtained them. If this has not caused an awakening in your world...it is time it did! Please ...get off social media...open one of those awful learning web pages and arm yourself with knowledge.... it will serve you when all else fails. If you have questions ...ask away...plenty of trade craft here on the forums....and best of all ...its free!

 

[QBCrocket]

Just locked down our borders down under , all pubs and clubs ,restaurants , casinos , and churches have been closed , Some popular beaches have been banned , they want every one to stay at home , they are looking at a minimum of 6 months before changing back , this will kill my business I have 4 staff that work for me that I will have to let go, all have been with me over 10 years breaks my heart ,

 

[hollowpoint]

That really sux QB...I do hope the best for you and our buddies down under!

 

[stinkyattic]

Robison I like your compound interest explanation. I tend to overbuy food normally just because of a lifelong fear of being poor again. I've been there, and am a bit hoardy as a result. Im so thankful to be at least solidly blue collar at last, where "perpetually a little broke" does not equate to "mm mm ramen noodles again?" Our local discount grocery store went belly up a couple months ago and their going out of business sale was intense. I staggered out of there with a FULL CART , easily over 150lbs, of deep discounted canned goods, flour, oil, and dog food for under $100, stuff I consider normal pantry staples. I mean, no I don't eat dog food but seriously that blue buffalo stuff... I'd consider a kibble meatloaf in a pinch lol. And every year I hit up the post Christmas sales at Big Lots for those stupid Hillshire type gift boxes of shelf stable cheese, sausage, and smoked salmon. Usually that's my camping food for the year but this year I doubt camping is happening.
We have a newly announced nursing home outbreak here in town and that is going to start the snowball rolling, since so many people here work for at least one if not multiple rehab centers, retirement homes, clinics and specialists in town connected to the regional hospital a few blocks from my house. Health care is a major employer and everyone has a close connection to it. The spider can feel a fly caught in the other side of its web.

 

[oldfogey8]

things are getting crazy in central mass too. a neighbor witnessed a couple of young women trying to steal a package of tp from a woman who appeared to be a cancer patient in a walmart parking lot. she tried to get the store to call the cops but they claimed they were not allowed to. another customer did though. i used to concealed carry pretty regularly but times being as they are, i now carry all the time. the media has hyped this up to the extent that i fear we are close to rioting. my son lives out in the boonies and said his walmart has tp. i have not seen a roll outside of my house in a week and a half. grocery store shelves are empty of a lot of staples and fresh food is getting sparse too. what little common courtesy there used to be(in massachusetts, we have been known as mass-holes by many neighboring states) is out the window. insanity. be safe...

 

[Daxtell]

I just received a postponement of upcoming surgery. Without details, it's a regular check up thing that I won't mind postponing. Hospitals are getting ready.

I will probably do more camping, not less. Just getting out and away clears my mind and focuses me to what's important. I can social distance for miles. I hate camp grounds. I just need room!

 

[hollowpoint]

Back from resupply...local Walmart has facial tissue paper...TP and paper towels...water isle was all most at full stock....fresh meat...bread...and some can goods... low supply. They had a small amount of the fresh meats ...smoked meats in good supply...sandwich meats...low supply....plenty of fresh milk. My buddy that owns a grocery says they are afraid it is fixing to hit bottom and do not want to get caught with lots of fresh meat that goes out of date fast. So you may only see it in smaller supplies for a while. It was peaceful here...no signs of hostility's.

 

[secret hippie]

Love & Peace from Britain.... Empty supermarket shelves, pubs and restaurants closed... hardly any planes in the sky... We're all supposed to stay at home for the next three months, six months...? I'm getting through a lot of weed, not much left and the next harvest isn't until early May .........And to top it all it's bloody freezing today! Stay well brothers and sisters x

 

[Locked]

Jersey checking in. We are on lockdown. No group gathering, Restaurants are take out delivery only. All non-essential workers are to stay home and off the roads except for shopping. I am both fortunate enough to have a job to go to tomorrow after being on vacation this week, and a bit freaked out that I will have to come in contact with dozens upon dozens of people. Being a UPS driver I work for essential commerce. I look forward to delivering things to people in need but fear I might bring Covid 19 back to my wife. I will be wearing gloves and hand washing as much as I can. I will not be wearing a mask though. Besides feeling like it will send the wrong signal to the public I also know there are shortages and the brave people on the front lines, Health Care Workers, need them more than I do.
I didn't realize that the Wife and I pretty much already self-quarantine regularly until I was told to do so and nothing changed except that the grocery stores are like war zones.

I hope everyone stays safe and sane in this insane time.

 

[rubrown]

The Governor issued a stay at home order and declared an emergency. Heavy traffic immediately resumed and is just about back to normal. The people of Michigan refuse to comply, even though, they are mass burying and incinerating infected corpses all over the world. Even though the Surgeon General issued a serious and dire warning without trace of deception. Without fear-mongering, and I'm sure there are educated people here. This is a really, really big thing. This will change the way everything is done on every level. There will be massive arrests and long sentence incarcerations. All prisons will become single cell maximum security. There will be no good time, anywhere. Every prisoner will max out a 20 year sentence. Without equivocation, they are not revealing the features of this virus to the general public. Please be aware.

 

[Lesso]

Still no toilet paper on shelves. Meat is iffy and not all that stocked. Ammo of self defense is gone. Some hunting ammo is left on the shelves. We have a stay at home advisory ....not an order. The cases are doubling every few days here. It feels like 9/11 again. Thats the closest feeling that i can recall in my lifetime (42 yo). There is a mix of fear and calm on the streets.