A cupboard with gas bottles, food and water cleaning equipment stands in the cellar of 'Prepper' ... [+]
Like animals preparing for winter there is a community of people that actually think hard about being ready for whatever life throws at them. These are "preppers" – a term that is often unfairly used in a negative way – but with the world all but in a lockdown mode, these individuals could now be having a moment, and even the last laugh.
However, rather than simply locking themselves away until things hopefully improve, many preppers are now sharing their knowledge via social media. This isn't exactly new either; many preppers have been warning that we could face such a crisis on YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms for years. Unfortunately with COVID-19 spreading their audience is growing fast.
The question many are asking is whether it is "too late" to stock up on supplies?
"It's not impossible, but it definitely is more difficult," warned Kris of City Prepping, who has more than 323,000 subscribers on his YouTube Channel.
"Right now people are cleaning out stores, which is causing havoc for others just trying to get the basics," added Kris. "Other typical 'survival' gear is either completely gone or on back order."
Stock Up, Don't Hoard
The very idea of being a prepper is simply to be prepared and that has long meant to have enough food, water, clothing and other essentials to survive for an extended period of time. While the "apocalypse" or some other end of world scenario is typically associated with preppers, this isn't really the case.
That myth is something preppers have been trying to dispel via social media even before the coronavirus outbreak.
"I am not preparing for any kind of 'end of the world' scenario like a nuclear war as I believe that to be un-survivable," explained David Armstrong, who talks about solar power, gardening canning, food storage and other homesteading topics on his YouTube Channel since 2011.
"I am prepared for everything from a serious hurricane to an economic depression," Armstrong added.
Another major misunderstanding is that a prepper is somehow hoarding.
"Actually it's just the opposite," said Armstrong. "People who prepare do it before the crisis so they don't have to go out during the crisis. Preppers actually reduce the demands on the system during a crisis."
Instead of worrying about toilet paper supplies or filling grocery cards with canned goods, as a prepper Armstrong stocked up on his supplies when there was no shortage – something he stressed should be done in his videos before the outbreak.
"Those who were smart enough to prepare years ago, will not be out during the crisis," he added. "Preppers typically don't stock up during a crisis as they are already prepared."
Information Vs. Misinformation on Social Media
Since the clock can't be turned back, the preppers on social media are now offering advice on what can actually be done now. This includes tips on how to stay healthy, how to determine fact from fiction and what to do if you and your loved ones get sick.
One of the big concerns is that the mainstream media may get as overwhelmed as other services, and this could result in the spread of misinformation, especially via social media.
"Gather information from as many reliable sources as you can and from that information, build a sight picture of the event as it unfolds," said Brad Harris, who has two YouTube channels including Full Spectrum Survival and Off Grid With Brad and Kelly.
On his YouTube channels, Harris has been dispelling more wisdom: "Make sure that you do not put yourself or your family at unnecessary risk; have enough over the counter medication to handle every member of your household getting ill; use available medical devices such as a pulse oximeter, which measures oxygen in your blood, a digital or manual blood pressure cuff, and a thermometer to monitor the progression of symptoms from home," he suggested.
When it comes to food purchases Harris told his viewers to ensure that these included canned fruits and vegetables as well as calorie dense staple goods such as rice, flour, grits, and oats. "These can each be ground down to make traditional flour for bread making," he explained.
Enduring Quarantine
The best way to beat COVID-19 is to not catch it, and preppers have been sharing their knowledge on the best ways to stay isolated.
"Avoid others at costs for this time period as there's really no other way than to avoid being part of the problem until a vaccine arrives," said City Prepping's Kris, who also offers tips on stretching resources. "That is a concept not many Americans are used to in these modern times of abundance. Disruption of the supply chain at this level is something we haven't seen in a long time."
In addition to being a tool for the spread of information, social media could also be a good way for everyone – not just preppers – to stay connected in the difficult days and possibly weeks to come.
"If you have loved ones in isolation, please reach out to them," said Harris. "Even if you just leave the phone line open and watch a show together from a remote location, this communication will provide each of you with wellness that cannot be matched."
Perhaps in a year – hopefully less – we can look back and take the wisdom of preppers a bit more seriously.
"As we face an unprecedented threat, an outbreak unlike anything that has been faced by our world in the past 100 years, we have to rely on the lessons that our grandparents used to ensure that our families could survive during times of hardship," said Harris. "From gathering food during times of plenty so that we would have food during times of scarcity to making sure that our local friends and family were well taken care of, we have forgotten these hard learned lessons that kept our grandparents strong through difficult times in life."
