ricewiki, Kate et al - from the Forums

If You Only Have 24 Hours To Prepare for H5N1 Quarantine (please copy and circulate)

Note to Fluwikians: Remember, this “If You Only Have 24 Hours” list is different from a “How Do I Start To Prep” list. Both are directed at people who haven’t started prepping yet, but the former is for dire straits once the pandemic becomes “official” or there is an otherwise obvious escalated emergency pandemic situation.

The latter is simply for the calm before the storm, like right now, while we all still have (forseeable) time to prep.

This list is for individuals who have failed to stockpile goods and supplies for the event of an avian flu pandemic. It assumes that there has been some official or obvious sign given that a state of pandemic has been reached and that the best hope for protection will be self-quarantine. It has been said that a virus at this stage will be able to pass to any point on the globe within 18 hours. YOU NEED TO STOCK UP NOW.

NB: If you are buying last-minute food, water and supplies when a human-to-human pandemic has been announced as spreading, please sit down for 5 minutes and make a plan of action. It is not a good idea to grab everything you can - BE STRATEGIC. You will not be able to get everything you need for a 3-month quarantine in one shopping trip! This list is based upon what you should attempt to accomplish in the ultimately unfortunate of “last-minute” trips – when everyone else will be “panic shopping” beside you. Focus your energy on grabbing foods that provide the most nutrition.

Tips/Suggestions:
Pull the children out of school immediately and start the family plan into action.

Cell phones may come in handy - communication would be handy as you pick everything up around the stores and around town.

If you own multiple cars, have a family member drive each car (single-file, caravan style) to the same store.

Each of you take a cart and a portion of this list. Meet back at the checkout and load all of the cars.

NB: If the store has run out of an item you need, MOVE ON. IT WILL NOT BE THE END OF THE WORLD.

Do not waste time in this situation. Go to another store until you get it.

NB2: You will need cash! Some stores may no longer accept credit or debit in this situation.
In others, the lines may be down. Don’t risk your survival because you do not have adequate cash on hand.
And be prepared to spend considerably more than you would at any other grocery store run.

In Loose Order Of Importance:
From home: call to renew your prescriptions for pick-up. Call doctor to arrange for more.

Extract 60–75% cash from your bank account (save some for online bill payments; you may also
need to make arrangements re: investments, but this may need to be done later at this point.
Right now you need to get supplies.) or the full amount your daily limit will allow.

From the local drugstore/healthcentre/pharmacy:
N95 masks (NIOSH-rated Medical Particulate Masks) and Disposable gloves
(latex, vinyl or the best yet is Nitrile): (you will need these in the event
you leave the house again to pick up a forgotten or needed item)
bandaids
your prescription refills
vitamins: C and multivitamins
tylenol/acetominaphen, aspirin/ ibuprofen (many uses); 3 bottles each
any other over-the-counter meds you know you need (customize here)
8 packages of 12-rolls toilet paper
5 boxes kleenex
batteries: know the kind you will need. AA’s – buy at least 10 packages.
candles and/or tealights – buy whatever is left; at least 50
matches and lighters: buy 2 boxes matches; 10 lighters
tampons if needed: year’s worth if you can: 20 boxes of 40’s; OR, 1 “keeper”
soap
shampoo and conditioner
toothpaste

From the local grocery store:
as many bags rice you can afford (remember, you need to be able to buy some of everything on this list)
20 cans beans (90 would be needed for 3 mos)
20 cans tuna/chicken/fish
10 cans vegetables
30–60 jugs water (and you are going to need to come back for more!)
20 bags pasta
10 jars pasta sauce
2 big bags potatoes (high in energy; keep long time)
20 cans tomato paste (make your own pasta sauce)
energy bars; protein drinks;
bag/boxes of mixed nuts
bags of dried oatmeal
bags dried beans
5 large bottles vegetable oil (sunflower, safflower and olive are healthiest)
box sugar (biggest you can find)
box salt (biggest you can find)
bottles Gatorade (orally rehydrates) or vitaminized water
pet food and/or baby supplies if needed
extra manual can-opener (yours might break!)
extra scissors (might lose yours!)
5 jars peanut butter
3 loaves bread
10 bars/tubs butter
10 bricks cheese
frozen meat
soups that don’t need added water
garbage bags

Go to local hardware/supplies store and buy:
propane cooking stove
propane
flashlights (3)
firestarters
water purification tablets
battery-operated radio

On way home: stock up on tank of gas, extra gas. Fill any portable gas
containers you may have or can buy at the gas station.

Less Essential Items to pick up if you have Time, Money and they are Available:
chocolate
coffee, teas
3 jars jam
boxes macaroni and cheese
bag onions
boxes powdered milk
box crackers, bag cookies
peppers/lettuce/tomatoes
other fresh fruit and veggies
other vitamins if you know you need them: Omega-3, antioxidants, meds for diarrhea
key spices you use: garlic, mixed spice shakers, bouillon, cinnamon, turmeric, curry, ginger
q-tips, rubbing alcohol, a ready-made first-aid kit
shaving cream and razors
Paper plates, plastic forks, knives, spoons
paper towels
laundry soap

Really Less Essential (for urban survival) Items To Wait For Another Trip To Pick Up and then Only If You Really Need Them:
candy, alcohol, tobacco (could be used for trade; but you should quit smoking at this point)
tools; rope; tape;
cleaning supplies (bleach; disinfectant hand sanitizer with more than 60% alcohol; liquid dish detergent; big jug white vinegar)
Condiments - mayo, ketchup, BBQ Sauce, Salsa, creamers (presumably you will already have some of these anyway)
Lotion and all other more luxurious personal care items
entertainment items like books (you will already have some of these anyway)

For All Other Essential Survival Items You Will Need A Second Trip (at your own risk)

That is a HORRIBLE 24 hour prep list. Some of that stuff you need to have well before TSHTF, and some oyu just don't need.

After the Ike experience, I've begun to rethink the whole "what to prep if you only have 24 hours" thing.

I helped make this list at the old Flu Wiki. At the time, I thought it was an excellent strategy until reality hit between the eyes.

Nawty is correct - most of the stuff on this list you should already have. Period - end of story.

This whole list was predicated on a world wide epidemic of bird flu - not an earthquake, flood, snow storm, hurricane, financial collapse, meteor strike, whatever.

What's it really like 24 hours before a disaster?

1. People are hysterical.

2. There are incredibly long lines - 2 hours to check out, anyone?

3. There is pushing and shoving for water and basic necessities.

4. There is no more bread.

5. There is no more peanut butter, soup, vienna sausage, jam - take yer pick of survival food.

6. There is no more propane.

7. There is no more gasoline.

8. The ATM's are already out of cash - don't even bother.

9. There is no place to park at the local grocery store.

10. There is no more ice.

Do you want to place your family in this type situation? Put a bit back each week and you don't have to be here with the rest of the herd.

You simply sit at home, safe and know that come what may you can handle it.

You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on wheat berries, dehydrated food, etc. Like Nawty says - buy what you already eat - one extra can at a time.

Bugging out for those who live in urban areas? Remember the Rita "evacuation" anyone?

Seriously, do you want to be in your car, stuck on an interstate highway with no bathroom, running out of gasoline, hiding your stores in your vehicle from folks walking up and down beside you begging for food/water for their children?

Or in some cases, demanding food and water from you?

Oh, so you're gonna leave at 2:30 am so you won't have to deal with the above? Umm hmmm - half your town has the same idea once they see the tv pictures of gridlock.

That's what it's really like.