Signs of the Apocalypse  

Panic is starting to set in in the Coronavirus Situation.  Media hype is adding to the confusion. 

This reminds me of the “Snow Apocalypse” experiences that I have lived through.  So, today, a trip through those experiences, a look at mass hysteria, and maybe a little crystal ball scanning.

For eighteen great years, I lived and taught at Dakota State University in Madison South Dakota.  For thirteen great years (after Dakota State) I lived and taught at Quinnipiac University in Hamden Connecticut.  Both cities are in areas that can get snow (although Connecticut seems to get more snow because of its proximity to the ocean.  

I was not familiar with the concept of hoarding for the weather (or for anything, really).  There was really only one major storm that I remember in South Dakota.  Madison is about 45 miles as the crow flies from Sioux Falls South Dakota.  For this particular storm, all the roads in and out of town were closed.  Madison became an island in a sea of white.  (And, while the community of Madison was isolated, I think of farm friends who were an island unto themselves).  

There were two grocery stores in Madison.  My family at that time had our teenage son and our almost teenage daughter, plus my wife and myself.  In terms of food and supplies, we went to the grocery store once a week for most shopping and maybe every few days for the little things we needed or wanted.  Lines were rarely long as we checked out our groceries and made it home.  I knew how to drive on snow, didn’t take chances, and lived pretty simply - plus I could walk to either of the grocery stores if needed.  I had winter clothes for shoveling and walking to school.  I had an Army Surplus face mask that was probably good to 50 degrees below zero.  

The day that I particularly remember was when we needed milk.  So I went to the store for milk - and all the milk was GONE - there was also no bread - no bottled water - and a lot of shelves were depleted.  I remember noticing that even the powdered milk shelf was empty!!!

On that particular storm, I remember stories from a student how he was stuck at the Prairie Junction gas station and cafe with many others.  This student lived in Sioux Falls and could neither get back to Sioux Falls (as Interstate 29 was closed) and couldn’t get back to Madison as highway 34 was closed.  He hunkered down with the others at this gas station/cafe just off the Interstate 29 and Highway 34 intersection.  The people slept on the floor or in the booths at the cafe.  

In Connecticut, it was a standard “joke” (although maybe not so funny), that as soon as the weather forecasters talked of the “big Nor’ easter” that Stop and Shop (the major grocery store) would have no milk, bread, frozen pizzas, bottled water, and depleted shelves.  We didn’t eat much bread, but even then, I thought “I need to get to the store and get bread because of this storm”.  

There were two storms that knocked us out.  Hurricane Sandy took down power lines and closed schools (and the University) down for a week.  A snowstorm in 2013 dropped over 30 inches of snow on Hamden/New Haven.  That storm also took out power lines.  We were fortunate in that we had an electrical generator (that was so noisy it kept the neighbors awake) and still had so power.  

So, to the current situation.  

“COVID-19, the disease that has sickened more than 100,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,400 people, has created legions of nervous hoarders who are loading up on canned goods, frozen dinners, toilet paper, and cleaning products. Many want to be prepared as they hear warnings about quarantines and watch a growing number of companies like Twitter, Microsoft, and Amazon ask their employees to work from home.” (from Fortune Magazine: https://fortune.com/2020/03/06/fear-of-coronavirus-sends-consumers-into-a-grocery-hoarding-frenzy/)

One can only imagine where this might lead.  Mothers might not be able to have diapers for their babies, milk, and bread, and other products will be in short supply.  

Aside - as I walked into my local HEB Grocery store yesterday, a lady coming out stopped me to say “They don’t have toilet paper!!”.  We talked a few minutes about hoarding.  

As a senior living alone, I’m in good shape.  I have about five rolls of toilet paper (from a package of twelve rolls bought some time ago).  I don’t drink much milk (and really only use milk on my oatmeal in the morning).  I don’t like bottled water (not from the water itself, but from the overuse of plastics).  I have good tap-water - and if push comes to shove, there are very few times that I MUST leave my apartment (going to church and social bridge come to mind!!!).  

But, things are getting scary - the annual, big conference, convention, party - South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin has been canceled, schools across the country have been closed.  I’ll look more at that tomorrow!!

So, what are you doing to prepare for the COVID-19/Coronavirus apocalypse?

Hugs!!

Karen

(Some humor.  There was a post on Twitter showing toilet paper in a frying pan - with the comment “It seems like this is a hot item.  How should I cook it?”.  Some answers including barbecue, others it is full of fiber and good for you, one mentioned a book “Twenty ways to cook toilet paper”.  Hopefully, we can still laugh at ourselves!!)