Part 1 - The Beginning: Prepping, Surviving & Thriving in Coronavirus Pandemic

Start with the full 6-part series on how we prepped, survived and thrived in a pandemic outbreak.

Coronavirus has reached a tipping point.

I went to the store this Saturday (March 14th) and it has taken just a few dozen people in panic mode to clear out the shelves. No rice, no meat, no eggs, no dairy. Most of produce is gone such as salads, potatoes, even onions.

Of course there is no water. Although I expected that as I live in a hurricane state.

But least likely item I ever expected to be gone from the shelves was toilet paper. I've lived through this during collapse of Soviet Union. Now 20+ years later it repeats itself in a different form.

I started writing this extensive series in early February, way before the media picked it up and the virus begun to spread.

Now it is end of March and many cities around Unites States are on lockdown. Restaurants, bars, clubs are closed. Grocery stores have limited hours.

Luckily, I caught the early wave and I began to prep in February before the rest of the population caught on. I've been able to avoid the fate of many standing in long lines waiting for 2 bottles of water be handed to me.

My attitude has always been:

"If I overreact and I'm wrong, the cost is minimal. If I underreact and I'm wrong, the cost is enormous." - unknown

Best case scenario is this turns out to be nothing then I'll have a bunch of organic lentils, beans, peanut butter and non-GMO white rice to eat for the rest of the year. No panic, just simple prep.

I never thought I would live through a full pandemic outbreak. It is like I am in a movie but at the same time everything seems normal, at least for now.

Right now we have TV, games, food, electricity and running water. I have a car with full tank of gas and no one is breaking through the house. I can still go to the store and buy most of what I need (minus water, toilet paper, meat, dairy etc.). I can still order most things on Amazon.

Earlier I went to the bank to take out some cash (just in case) and everything was normal. But you I could see the worry in her face as she tried to sell me the money market options.

There is a feeling of duality - things are normal yet they will probably never be the same again.

I started prepping for the outbreak in early February when I walked into Wal-Mart and saw N95 Masks sitting on the counter:

Resources

CDC Recommended Pandemic Planning

About CDC Coronavirus 2019

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Part 2 - Facial Protection: Prepping, Surviving & Thriving in Coronavirus Pandemic