Where I am in Central Florida, it's business as usual. We now have 38 cases in our county. I went out for a fresh food WM grocery pickup yesterday for only the second time since this started. Walmart parking lot was just as packed as always. I saw no evidence of a line outside waiting to get in, no masks, and people with children with them. Same thing at Lowe's - parking lot packed even more than usual. Very little business at the fast food restaurants and gas stations. Line of cars at Walgreen's pharmacy drive-thru window. Neighbors still congregating for conversation up close and personal and in and out in their cars several times a day. Like nothing is happening.
Living in a hurricane state, I always have plenty of shelf stable food and water on hand in case of emergency. Perhaps when this is over, people will have learned the lesson that they need to keep a food supply for themselves and their families on hand at all times. It doesn't have to be that expensive. Just buy an extra can or two or box of pasta, pack of tp, etc., when buying regular groceries and slowly create a stockpile. I have two emergency WISE buckets of food, but I would prefer not to eat those unless a REAL food shortage, I have Mountain House meals, plenty of canned food, pasta, instant oatmeal, peanut butter, crackers, canned beans, ghee, powdered eggs, freeze-dried fruit, applesauce, Kraft mac and cheese, evaporated milk, coffee, instant creamer, condiments, juices, canned tuna and chicken, flour, yeast, sugar, etc.
You can still order shelf stable foods on Amazon and other online stores. You are going to pay a premium, but that's what happens when people don't prepare in advance. You can order food from QVC & HSN - overpriced, yes, but it's food. Sign up for a Schwan's account for food delivery, or one of the food/meal subscription boxes like Marley Spoon, Home Chef, etc. or Butcher Box for meat or one of the harvest boxes for fresh fruit and veg.
People are acting like they are going to lose their minds if they can't find toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer and now masks. There are far worse things than running out of toilet paper, but when this is over, make sure you always have a nice supply on hand and then you won't have to stress yourself out over it and expose yourself to a deadly disease trying to find some.
I also find it interesting how people can't stand to just stay at home. There's no place on earth I would rather be and can find endless projects and things to entertain myself with. No lines either.
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