About a hundred waiting for the supermarket to open this morning

[Cyrano]

People are trying to buy things that have been totally gone for a week or two. No hand sanitizer, toilet paper, or other daily basics.

I just needed some bananas, tomatoes, and milk so I had no problem. But what I noticed is that no one was stocking up on foods that will last long term: Canned hash, Spam, beans, soups, instant rice, etc. Foods like this can last more than a year and keep you alive. Remember the rule of three. A human being can live three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food. That's a law of nature that Trump can't make go away.

However, everyone was buying water like there was a category 5 hurricane coming in tomorrow. It's very unlikely that water will stop coming out of your tap due to this virus. I live in Florida and always stock up on gallon bottles of water just before the hurricane season starts (June 1). I save the old plastic gallon containers which I can fill with tap water in minutes.

(A suggestion. Buy a very small funnel. When your hand sanitzer is gone, refill the bottle with rubbing alcohol, bleach, or anything with a lot of alcohol or disinfectant in it. If you can't find alcohol in the stores, buy some cheap vodka with no odor.)

Nonetheless, a huge number of people waiting for a supermarket to open is on Trump. If everyone knew in January or February about the impending danger, people could have taken their time and stocked up more leisurely. This man is a menace to civilization and we all know he needs to go. Well, all of us except for his cult who still believe this is a hoax. The kindest thing I can say about them is fuck 'em. Their votes put this madman in power. And although they deserve what they get, their "Emperor" is fucking all of us. And each and every death due to this virus is on him.

[at140]

1. Where are you at? I was in Aldi food store this morning in NE Florida town of

St Augustine, and it was busy at 9am opening, but all items were fully stocked,
and I did not witness in any panic buyers.

[Cyrano]

12. I'm in Palm Beach County

[Flaleftist]

20. I was at an Aldi in Central Florida a few hours ago.

I just went in for a few things. I had a craving for a BLT. It was a lot busier than normal. They were running 5 registers. They usually have 1 or 2 open. Produce was hit pretty hard as well as bread. I didn't look at soaps or TP.

[at140]

26. Yes, they did have more registers open this morning

which was good because last week at the same time in morning, the checkout lines were longer.
I really like the re-modeling Aldi did a few months ago. it is brighter, spacious and better all around.

[intrepidity]

2. Note: vodka is only 40% alcohol. Need 60% to destroy virus nt

[Dennis Donovan]

4. If you apply it internally

...you won't care about the virus.

[cwydro]

3. What state are you in?

Not seeing any of that here in NC.

[Cyrano]

13. Palm Beach County Florida

[customerserviceguy]

14. Nor in SC

I took a trip to the store yesterday, being careful to avoid being too long in the presence of anyone. I'd exhale while quickly passing someone in an aisle, when I couldn't actively avoid people.

Only the disinfectant wipes section was gutted, although there was a major dent in the supply of TP. Otherwise, everything else was available, I even got canned pinto beans on a nice sale with a digital coupon.

Oh, and a neighbor was moving, and sold me her propane grill, so even if the power goes out, I'll have a way to cook food.

[TwilightZone]

5. "buy some cheap vodka"

Most vodka doesn't have enough alcohol.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/us/titos-vodka-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

[stopbush]

6. The hoarding is ridiculous, especially on staples like water and TP.

Unless your neighborhood’s population has doubled in the last month, the normal stream of products going to stores and out to consumers should be sufficient.

[tavernier]

7. I'm in the Keys and no panic shopping

Although almost every person has some TP. I’m wondering if people are intending to wrap it around their face, mummy style, since masks are hard to find.

[MissB]

8. I stopped at my local Fred Meyer (Kroger)

this morning just after opening. It’s a smaller one so it tends to be less popular.

However, it was packed. I just needed a few perishable items since both my kids are heading home from college this weekend.

I also needed some whole wheat flour, and they had three 5-lb bags left. I grabbed one. I also needed just 10 lbs of regular flour and all they had left was one 25 lb bag. I felt bad, but I did grab it.

I passed by a few workers on my way through the store and they were shocked at how full the parking lot was. I’m sure it’ll be worse later today.

[Shrike47]

9. Here in Oregon we have noticed a run on dried pinto beans.

[MLAA]

10. Yesterday afternoon I went on a treasure hunt for hand sanitizer

CVS - no sanitizer or rubbing alcohol
Second CVS - same, though on line indicated they has low stock of sanitizer

Changed strategy and went to less likely sources

Ace Hardware: out of sanitizer and alcohol, though would have 8 one gallon jugs at 8 am the next day. All they could get was 8. But my goodness they have all kinds of stuff in that store! Way beyond basic hardware items you would expect.

Home Depot: None

Dollar Tree: Had no expectation, but remembered my sister had bought some really, really good fig newtons there. As expected no hand sanitizer or alcohol in sight. But alas, did get the Newton’s. Saw a manager as I was checking out and asked about hand sanitizer. She said we are just unloading the truck, just a minute. She returned with a box of those small mini bottles. Hurray!

[Cyrano]

15. Get some bleach. It will work just as well.

[MLAA]

16. Do I dilute it so not too harsh on hands?

[Cyrano]

18. I don't know.

I've had lots of bleach on my hands while house cleaning and it never bothered me.

But ask your doctor.

[MLAA]

35. 🙂 thanks!

[Mosby]

19. Yes.

Since you don't have test strips you will have to go by smell.

A regular size spray bottle will need maybe a teaspoon of bleach. The smell should be distinct but not overwhelming. If it barely smells like bleach you need to add more.

Your shooting for 100-200 ppm.

[MLAA]

36. Thank you!

[HockeyMom]

11. Walmart yesterday

Of course, totally out of TP, hand sanitizers, etc. People had carts filled with cases of bottled water, soda, and huge bags of chips! Great food stables there, people. I lived into Florida for 10 years and know all about what you need to prepare to a hurricane. Need coronavirus gets into the water system? lol

Stupid elderly me just bought food for a week. Cashier said to me, "Not HOARDING yet?" We both laughed and the woman behind me with her overflowing cart of JUNK food gave us a dirty look.

Our development's (not 55+) canceled their St. Pat's Dinner "per CDC recommendations. Somebody tested positive? Don't know. Now I will have to go back to the store for another dinner, but getting low on cat food and litter. NOBODY is talking about Pets at all. They don't need to eat too? Stay inside and don't walk your dog? Pet diapers????? Maybe they need TP for the animals too????

[RobinA]

17. I'm In PA

Montgomery County, where yesterday the governor pretty much shut down the county. I had to go to the grocery store last night to get a prescription and the place was a mob scene, with 20 carts at each register. I looked to see what people were buying, since he specifically said grocery stores would remain open, and it was water, toilet paper and snacks. Now, maybe that's all that was left in the store, I don't know, but it seemed odd to me. Yeah, I'll stand in line for 30 minutes to buy five bags of cheese doodles.

[Flaleftist]

21. I noticed the bleach was wiped out at a local Publix, but they had a full stock of pool chlorine.

So if anyone really needs bleach and can't find it, chlorine can be used as a substitute. But keep in mind it is much stronger, requires more dilution and you need to be careful with the fumes as well as getting it on your skin. If panic buying like this continues, that may be the next thing to go. Hardware stores and, of course, pool stores will have it.

[Dem2]

22. Check out line 3/4 way around the store

[Hermit-The-Prog]

23. What part of 'avoid crowds' do folks not understand?

[Dem2]

25. Lol

I'm glad I didn't take that photo. My coworker has literally been food shopping 3x in the last 2 days.

Starting to think she's got the obsession.

[clutterbox1830]

24. I went to the supermarket at 3am at a local grocery store. Went well. Got all the "hot" items.

[ismnotwasm]

27. Wonder how food banks are doing?

Shit.

I think I’m going to try and find out for my area

[Squinch]

28. Oh, man. I'm glad I stocked up a month ago. Even though there were those on DU who told

me I was being hysterical.

[gibraltar72]

29. Maybe the preppers were right.

[Cyrano]

30. Can't help but wonder what's happening to those kids in cages

Trump kidnapped them at the border, put them in cages and then ignored them.

It's hard to see the whole picture today, but in the not to distant future, we will find out how much blood Trump has on his hands.

Who can doubt that Trump is as dangerous as the virus itself. And even if most of us didn't vote for him, America will have a lot to answer for.

[maryellen99]

31. I went to Meijer last night after seeing the pics of empty shelves

Hubby wanted to go after work today but I’m glad I talked him into going. TP shelves were bare as well as hand sanitizer and wipes. The chicken section in the meat dept was wiped out. But we were able to get what we wanted/needed. There was also a weird vibe while shopping.

[Cyrano]

32. Yep. The world is finding out what the word "pandemic" means

It's ugly, it's brutal, it's deadly.

And it's even worse when we have a brain dead non-caring beast in charge in the White House.

[smirkymonkey]

33. I don't understand the point of hand sanitizer if you aren't planning to leave the house.

I don't have any and don't plan on getting any. If for some reason I need to leave my apartment and go to the lobby/basement to get a package or mail, I will just use a Clorox wipe to touch anything. Almost everything else I need is being delivered and can be wiped down w/ Clorox spray/wipes as well.

[PasadenaTrudy]

37. wipes are sold out too

Do what you can. Those of us who drive a lot, like here in SoCal, may not be able to get to soap and water all day. I carry sanitizer in my purse and in my car.

[sarcasmo]

34. Thankfully I stocked my canned goods three weeks ago.