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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
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. 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 Pound
5 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 2
Green 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 Oz
Filippo 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 Bag
SNICKERS, 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-Sterile
3M 8210V Particulate Respirator with Cool Flow Valve, Grinding, Sanding, Sawing, Sweeping, Woodworking, Dust, 10/Box
UVEX 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 Count
Basic 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 Toilet
Reliance 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 D3
Nature’s Wonder Child Chewable Complete Multivitamin, 300 Count, Compare vs. Flintstones® Complete Chewable Tablets
Non-Food Emergency Supplies
Surviving this coronavirus outbreak isn’t just about eating and taking medications. 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.
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.
Don’t overlook external cell phone batteries. The world is slowly standardizing on these handy items.
Fireproof Battery Organizer Storage Box Waterproof Explosionproof, Hard Safe Box Fits 200 Batteries Case – with Tester BT-168, Carrying Container Bag Energy Batteries AA AAA C D 9V Iithium 3V Holder
AmazonBasics AA 1.5 Volt Performance Alkaline Batteries – Pack of 100 (Appearance may vary)
Flashlights
Speaking of flashlights, get several.
Advances in LEDs have made flashlights cheaper, brighter, and longer-lasting. You used to look in dark corners and down into basem*nts; 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 and Drum Liners
We make trash. There is 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.
Hefty Strong Multipurpose Large Black Trash Bags, 30 Gallon, 56 Count
Aluf Plastics Heavy Duty 55 Gallon Trash Bags – (Large 50 Pack /w Ties) – 2 MIL Industrial Strength Plastic Drum Liners 38′ x 58′
Entertainment
Don’t forget that you will get bored. If you don’t, all kids will. They won’t be shy about it, either.
A few books and DVDs will go a long way. If you have any warnings, 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 them easier to clean and disinfect. It is very important when you know sick people will be coming through.
Frost King P1025/6W Polyethylene Sheeting, 10′ x 25′ x 6 mil., Clear
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 and 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 (this article was written during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak), I have the following triggers:
- If a child in my school district, or in any of the districts that we play in sports, has the disease, we bug them.
- 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.
