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 what 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.

What to Stockpile Today for Pandemic Survival

 

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

 

 

Hunger makes any situation miserable. The right foods must be cheap and easy to stockpile. There are three keys to a happy pantry:

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. A porridge made from 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 and 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.

Beef, Chicken, Pork, 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 can 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.

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.

Oils

 

Cooking oils contribute much-needed calories to our diet. Likewise, they add a richness and mouth feel that is 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.

Pasta

 

What is life without pasta? Again, a prime stockpile 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.

 

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, meat sauce. Add jar after jar of everything you like. Even add a few jars of things you think you would like.

Treats (Spices & Cookies)

 

 

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 day one, make it Italian the next.

 

Ok now for the serious pandemic stockpile item. Bulk cookies. Life without pasta sucks. Life without cookie is not worth living.

 

The mood elevation a cookie can bring is amazing. Don't neglect this simple prep.

 

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, PPE

 

Your first line of defense is your Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). You avoid getting sick by not coming in 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 to not 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.

Boost the Immune System

 

 

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.

 

You need a natural, premium quality blend that contains revitalizing health-boosting superfood blends, that helps support multiple levels of health!

 

The most important ingredients that this blend must contain are:

 

Barley Extract - Barley is rich with ligans antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, including Copper, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Niacin, and Vitamin B1, and protein. Studies show it may help balance cholesterol levels and improve digestion, weight management, and heart metabolism. Like all whole grains, Barley can impair digestion and nutrient absorption. Studies show it helps reduce your risk for gallstones by 10%. It also helps reduce your hunger!

 

Medicago Sativa Alfalfa Extract - Alfalfa is an herb and a legume prized for its superior source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and low in calories. Nutrients include Vitamin C, K, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Copper, Manganese, Magnesium, and Iron. It's also high in saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, alkaloids, and phytoestrogens. In medicine it's used to help protect brain functions, balance cholesterol levels, fight free radicals and bacteria, and promote heart health.

 

Thinopyrum Intermedium Wheatgrass - Wheatgrass has higher levels of all essential amino (except lysine), than any other wheat. And it has NO gluten! The 9 essential amino acids that you must get from food are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

 

Broccoli - Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, which is known for its high water and fiber content that boosts the body's ability to burn fat and helps you feel full. It's packed with protein, fiber, Vitamins A, C, K, B9 (Folic Acid), Potassium, Phosphorus, and Selenium. It contains glucoraphanin that converts into the potent antioxidant sulforaphane that helps balance blood sugar and cholesterol levels, fight oxidative stress, and improve immunity marker levels. It also contains the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may protect against free radical damage in your eyes.

 

Spirulina - This metabolic superstar is a must, one of the most nutritious foods on the planet and used by NASA in space. It's a blue-green alga hailed as a superfood packed with protein and amino-acids. Its high fiber stimulates hormone secretion for glucose uptake and significantly lower fasting blood sugar. Studies show it supports healthy gut bacteria, lowers immunity markers, and aids in weight management. Research also shows it helps balance blood cholesterol, promote heart health, and even reduce nasal allergies. It has 4 times the antioxidants of blueberries, protects brain health, and helps detox the pineal gland in your brain, improving dreams.

 

Green Tea Extract - Green Tea is loaded with potent catechins antioxidants called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), that can boost metabolism. EGCG helps to promote fat breakdown. The caffeine is a stimulant that also helps burning fat. Together they compound these effects turning you into a fat-burning machine releasing energy into your cells and muscle!

 

 

Medications and Supplements

 

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 in 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!

 

 

As the American Diabetes Association tells us, the problem people with diabetes face is they’re more likely to have worse complications if they get COVID-19.

 

 

Also, the more health conditions someone has adds to their risk of getting those serious complications from COVID-19, ever if you suffer from toenail fungus. Older people are also at higher risk of complications if they get the virus.

 

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, 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, 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 in the great outdoors is fine on occasion. But having to rely on it can be maddening or even dangerous.

 

Vitamins

 

During any stressful situation or your diet changes, you will lose micronutrients. Vitamins go a long way to supplementing your nutrition when this happens.

 

It's cheap and easy to get a few bottles now. Go with chewable vitamins as gummies have a limited shelf life.

 

Non-Food Emergency Supplies

 

Surviving this coronavirus outbreak isn't just eating and meds. There are many things around your house that are consumables.

 

Stock these items as they are the first to be used up and the most likely to be taken for granted.

 

 

Survival experts all across the world recommend a stove and an innovative lighter as two of the most important survival tools to own. There's no doubt you can list off the top 3 essentials; food, water, and shelter. 

 

Batteries

 

 

Our lives are electronic. Make sure to have enough batteries for your flashlights, smoke detectors, etc. There is nothing worse than needing a flashlight when it has dead batteries.

 

 

Keeping electronic devices and batteries fully charged is prepping, in crisis situations when there is no access to an outlet, the most efficient is solar power charging. The world is slowly standardizing on these handy items.

 

Flashlights

 

 

Speaking of flashlights. Get several.

 

Advances in LEDs have made flashlights cheaper, brighter, and longer-lasting. Used to look in dark corners and down into basements; you have no idea the uses until you carry one at all times.

 

In addition to your handheld flashlights, I recommend you get a few headlamps as well. You can't beat the convenience of not having to hold your light when working in the dark.

 

Keep one on your person. One in every room. One on your nightstand and one in your medical kit. Then get a backup for each of those.

Garbage Bags / Drum Liners

 

We make trash. A lot of it. The downtime of a pandemic will be no different. Additionally, you will want to have extra garbage bags for any used medical, hygiene, or waste items. Double bag all of these.

 

Garbage bags are handy but also get a few jumbo-sized drum liners to take care of big messes. They are also made of thicker plastic which allows for more secure disposal.

 

Entertainment

 

Don't forget that you will get bored. If you don't, all kiddos will. They won't be shy about it either.

 

 

A few books, a reliable radio and DVDs will go a long way. If you have any warning, download a few from your streaming services in case the internet gets slow.

 

Downtime is a great relationship-building time. Family game night is a great bonding experience. How many households are letting the bonding happen with electric devices? Take the opportunity to break that paradigm.

Plastic Sheeting

 

It may be necessary to set up a quarantine space. As a result, you will need plastic sheeting. Drape it across a room as a divider. Or more effectively, across a door.

 

Anything that you can do to create a soft barrier between the sick and the healthy the better.

 

Plastic sheeting can also be used to cover walls and floors in order to make it easier to clean and disinfect. Very important when you know sick people will be coming through.

 

Alcohol

 

No, not to drink.

 

Alcohol has a myriad of other uses. Purchase 120 proof or greater as a disinfectant. Use it to make medicinal tinctures. Or even use it as an oral numbing agent.

 

Actually, you might be stuck for a while, so you may want to have the fun alcohol around, too. A small glass can ease stress and boost your mood. Just keep it in moderation, at least until the coronavirus burns out.

Laundry Detergent / Sanitizer

 

Keep yourself and your clothes clean. Keep your environment clean.

 

During an infectious disease pandemic, you will most likely have to do things you are not used to. Your ability to replace overly dirty clothes will be limited.

 

Stock up on an extra container or three of your standard laundry detergents. Add to that a few bottles of laundry sanitizer. When you are exposed to unsanitary conditions it's best to disinfect as well as clean your clothes.

 

Stay Informed: Know When To Bug Out

 

 

Pandemic preparedness will only go so far when things get really bad. In most cases you will be able to bug in, however, you must be prepared to bug out.

 

The hardest issue will be deciding when to bug out during the event of a pandemic. Your best bet is to review the possible triggers BEFORE they happen and make plans for each. When a bug out trigger is tripped GO.

 

Each situation is different and each will require a unique perspective and approach. Most importantly communicate with your loved ones.

 

For the current pandemic I have the following triggers.

 

If a child in my school district, or in any of the districts that we play in sports have the disease, we bug in.
If a co-worker's family member tests positive, we bug in.
In the event of a death in our county, we bug in.
If there are multiple deaths in our town, we bug out.

 

Each of these triggers is very personal and situation dependent. Study your current situation and establish your triggers.

 

When in doubt, listen to your local health officials, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), or the World Health Organization (WHO). They have been planning for this for years.

 

Keep your head, organize your plans, and we will all see each other on the other side of this coronavirus outbreak.

 

Bonus: How to Survive an EMP/HEMP Attack on the Power Grid

 

This guide is a complete program that gives you not only great strategies to survive catastrophes, nuclear and chemical attacks. But also, to help you be a step ahead of the global enemy, understand political and social signs, and never be caught off-guard.

 

COVID-19 has caused a global economic crisis. The author talks about when we lose all our electricity, gas and water what we should do to prepare ourselves to survive through it all.