So I don't think we've discussed the "prepping" part of this thread for 100 pages or so. With many things being widely available again, have any of you made modifications to your prepping plans? Restocked stuff you ended up using? Adding new things? Changing quantities?
Talk seems to be revving up about Fall/Winter outbreaks as bad or worse than before. Whether that comes to pass in actuality, we know that thanks to the MSM, there will be a panic again regardless. I'll be curious to see what changes in "panic buying" occur, and if I have planned accordingly.
I rode through the lockdown with no real issues in my preps. I almost opened up some powdered milk and freeze dried potatoes, but both those ended up getting restocked in limited quantities just before I opened my supplies. After that (May maybe?), grocery stores were stocking enough of what I needed.
I didn't even go through 1/4 of my TP supply, and that is already restocked. I'm thinking there won't be as big an issue with TP if panic buying happens again. I think enough people panicked that enough people are sitting on enough of a supply that we don't hit that critical mass of hoarders outbuying supply. I did double my paper towel stores, since I actually almost ran out of those.
I did decide to increase my bottled water supply. Although as long as electricity flows, which is a high probability in a pandemic, I can get RO water via my well, I figured it still wouldn't hurt to have a few extra cases of bottled water.
I've added extra soap and cleansers and alcohol and stuff, which I didn't have stocked in my preps prior to the virus. I just had enough of them around the house for day to day stuff, not shortage anticipation. I didn't have enough N95 masks, which I actually mostly use for various dusty jobs around the farm. I still haven't restocked them because prices are still too high. I sent most of those I had to my 93 year old dad, since masks make sense for him and his risk group.
I've stocked extra pet food.
I still need to get a small chest freezer and stock it with meat and veggies and stuff. I haven't checked lately, but they have been hard to find at reasonable prices. I need to start looking again and get one before Winter.
I need to increase my fuel stores some, and more importantly, keep the cans of gas and diesel and kerosene (for kerosene heaters) I have closer to full. The propane tank for the house just got topped off last week, but I should buy another 40lb cylinder to have on hand. I could still see a fuel shortage being a panic thing, even if it didn't happen last time.