Disclaimer: Focus on food and medical items.
The World Health Organization has officially declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic. What that announcement brings with it a lot of panic around the country as to what that means and what we need to have on hand if we are going to be staying at home for a prolonged period of time.
Here is what you need to focus on when getting provisions for your home, and you better get them fast, grocery stores and other retailers both brick and mortar and online are running out fast, if they haven't already.
Packaged Snacks
They are few and far between now, but packaged snacks are smart to have in your pantry as they don't go bad.
Products are quickly flying off the shelves as everyone wants to stock up. Retailers are restocking as often as they can.
Hand Sanitizer
All things antibacterial are necessary right now. Hand sanitizer being the first thing to be used up in the store, as our hands are the one thing that touches more surfaces than anything else, followed by our face.
This is the second step to preventing illness, the first being washing your hands for 20 seconds every time you eat, use the restroom, and basically touch anything that isn't cleaned by you.
Toilet Paper
In order to remain as hygienic as possible, keeping the restroom clean and yourself as well is a top priority. As such, toilet paper is an item that can prove to be very beneficial at home.
People are now hoarding the stuff at home, leaving aisles bare and others going to other retailers to try and find some for themselves.
Nonperishable Items
No surprise here, stock up on nonperishable food items like canned goods and frozen items so that you don't have to worry about an expiration date so you can get large quantities if you want to.
Canned foods, dried pasta and rice, frozen vegetables, and jarred fruit are good items to have in your pantry and freezer in these cases.
Other Medical Supplies
Contact lenses and solution, hearing-aid batteries, and other over-the-counter medicines like pain medication as well as cough and cold medicines.
Luckily, the shelf life on these kinds of medications is long so buying a few of them now is not going to go to waste.
First Aid Kit
In the event that something happens at home and you need to treat cuts, scrapes, or other superficial injuries, having a first aid kit is a game changer.
A kit should have antibiotic cream, bandages, gauze, scissors, thermometer, tweezer, and an emergency blanket.
Copies of Health Records
You may want to get your hands on a copy of your health records in case you need them and cannot get through to your healthcare provider.
Having a copy you can scan on your phone is an extra smart step.
Supply of Prescription Meds
If you take any sort of prescription medication regularly, make sure to have at least a 30-day supply on hand at home in case pharmacies were to shut down for any reason.
Better safe than sorry in instances of medications that can severely affect your well being if not taken regularly and properly.
Water
Bottled water was the first thing to fly off the shelves. While water is most likely not going to be affected, if you live in rural areas that have supply issues, you may want to stock up on enough water for a two-week quarantine.
The US Department of Homeland Security was the one to suggest the 14-day water supply provision.