slo’s MONDAY 1/8 poll - Excess Food (for storms)

[slo]

I really wasn’t sure how to title this poll for today’s topic and I know this topic won’t apply to everyone, and if it doesn’t apply, please play along.

Many of us get snow storms this time of year and for us in the Chicago area, our first one is tomorrow. I know the grocery stores are going to be jammed with people panic shopping - it always happens. One time I had to go to the store for something I was making for dinner and the lines to check out were so long . I always think to myself, do all these people not have enough food to survive, to get them through one day, maybe two, if the snow is that bad (it’s rarely that bad). I don’t keep tons of extra food at home, but I certainly have enough to survive 1 or 2 days, even if that means a bowl of cereal (with or without milk). Many of you may not get snow, but you may get hurricanes or other types of storms.

So I’m curious…..

Do you have enough food to survive a few days if you are stuck in your home?
(multiple choice)



For Me…..Yes, I have enough food for a few days or longer. I‘m not going to be making great meals, but I definitely have things to eat in order to survive. I’m not someone that goes to a grocery store before a storm unless it’s my normal grocery shopping day, and even then I may not go, because I don’t want to deal with the crowds and standing in line for a 1/2 hour to check out.

 

[Kitty 34]

The store I go to is in another town so I always have stocked up cupboards. I only shop once a week anyway.

 

[kanerf]

I do have a variety of canned foods and even some emergency rations down in the basement. I live in Western PA so we do get some major snow storms at times.

 

[Meriweather]

I do not live where we get bad storms,
I could go a long time without a grocery store. I do regular shopping once a week and always stock up on things that are on sale.
My chest freezer is full. My pantry is full.

 

[lanejudy]

I go grocery shopping about twice a month with an occasional quick stop for something specific. I refuse to shop right before a storm. I tell my family “we have plenty of food to eat. It may not be your favorite meal but you won’t starve.”

 

[PollyannaMom]

I do live somewhere with bad storms, but I don't usually participate in the "shop right before a storm" frenzy. We have food on hand, even if it wouldn't be what I would normally cook if it wasn't stormy.

 

[Babs Johnson]

Even without electricity, we have enough non perishables to last at least two weeks.

They might be weird combinations toward the end of that period, but we wouldn’t starve.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

We get our share of bad storms here, but I rarely shop in anticipation of storms. We have enough food around here to last us for a long time if necessary.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I live where we get snow. I have an extra freezer and plenty of food. I also get all my dairy delivered so I don’t buy my milk at a grocery store. I do not normally shop before a storm unless it’s my regular weekly shopping and I usually try to move that if a storm is coming. We got the snow storm in the northeast Saturday night into Sunday. Friday I ran out for fresh parsley to can pasta sauce. It was insane at Whole Foods. I could have sold my parking spot when I left. People had heaping carts. Where I live the roads are always cleared in a day so I don’t get the panic shopping. It’s not like we are snowed in for a week.

 

[Babs Johnson]

I go grocery shopping about twice a month with an occasional quick stop for something specific. I refuse to shop right before a storm. I tell my family “we have plenty of food to eat. It may not be your favorite meal but you won’t starve.”

Even if we’re running out of our normal supply of milk and bread before a storm, I don’t like to go out and buy them. I don’t want others to think I’m panic buying.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We don’t get big storms like that. Like once every 15-20 years there is a blizzard warning. I guess we would do a grocery shop beforehand.
Have never lost power due to storm for any length of time.

 

[CGB]

We lost power a few years ago for a week due to an ice storm. So yes... it does happen here. I keep a stocked pantry and freezer (for financial reasons mainly) that I use on a rotating basis. I replenish items I use when they're on sale to make it cost-effective when I do my weekly shops. However, it definitely brings a peace of mind when weather takes a turn for the worst.

 

[jo-jo]

I voted I shop before a storm and other.

We don't get a lot of bad storms, but yes if we were getting a foot or more, I would do some shopping. It's not just being "locked" in for a day or two, but depending on the weather, do we feel safe driving/walking in the aftermath.

Like most people , we could eat for a few weeks just on food in the house, but the stuff that goes bad quickly like fresh veggies and yes eggs, I'd shop for that. We do eat eggs most mornings.

Back when I was a grocery store cashier, people would buy an overflowing cart of food with a forecast of 6 inches.

If I lived in a place with real snow all the time, I'd be a big fan of grocery home delivery.

Just to add.....If a storm is a chance on Friday, I'll check what we need and go on Tues. Chances are the storm will be rain, but it's not like I'm buying enough eggs for 6 weeks. I don't shop Thur night carrying my groceries thru the store in a box cause all the carts are gone.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

You could grocery shop at my house !! We get storms of all kinds and have been without power for days before
Growing up as a kid we did not have food in the house as a result of that I keep a very stocked pantry in a very stocked freezer my kids often commented why do we have so much food it is a result of my childhood so you will never starve in my house I keep plenty of food I could probably feed For 30 or more days
What’s really ironic is the last two storms I have ran out of milk and had to go buy it right before the storm and I hate doing that then it looks like I’m panic shopping
I just placed an order for milk and eggs because I’m out of them and they’re calling for snow tonight and I just cringed but I’m out of milk and eggs and I eat them frequently so I had to get them but like everybody else running to the store to get milk and eggs cause it’s gonna snow
I often wonder why everybody around here stacks up on bread milk and eggs when it snows I mean are they making French toast when it snows?? Around here they’ll never get to store again every time they call for snow
Most people I know have very little food in their house they may be able to go day maybe two and then they’re gonna run into issues I myself do not care to go to the grocery store that often to do my shopping once a month and then just pick up perishables as needed lately is right before snow storm

 

[ronandannette]

Nope - we don’t stockpile; I don’t know anybody who does. Winters here are harsh but we very rarely ever lose power and the City has a road-clearing protocol that runs 24/7 after major storms. Snow days at schools are also not really a thing and nobody is excused from their workplace. We all just carry on.

 

[tvguy]

Not storms, but as we just learned in the pandemic, there can be some product shortages, sometimes for legitimate reasons, and sometime just due to panic hoarding. Some items you can't stockpile, like it appears we are headed to another egg shortage due to bird flu.
We always have canned food and a couple boxes of shelf stable milk on hand (the milk for baking primarily), we could probably got 2 weeks without a trip to the store.
But I grew up during the cold war in the early 1960's in a City surrounded by 4 Air Force bases, 3 Army Depots and my parents always had a week of canned food and water in the trunk of both cars in case of war or natural disaster and an evacuation plan with a meeting point in another state.

 

[RedAngie]

Eh, I still have 95% of my Y2K stockpile of Spam and Pork & Beans.

 

[soccerdad72]

Always lived in an area where snowstorms were a regular occurrence, but never can recall a storm that I went out of my way to "stock up" on anything. Worst storms I can remember (outside of the Winters of '78 and '79 as a kid), we were maybe inside for a day or day and a half, then we'd dig ourselves out and move on with life as usual.

 

[GAN]

I'm in the Northeast so we can get some bad storms. I rarely if ever shop before a storm specifically because of the storm -I shop on specific days usually. I also don't have a great deal on-hand -just enough for maybe a week.... but I have GREAT neighbors!

 

[Moliphino]

We have a well stocked pantry and could last quite a while. Between the two of us, we're at a grocery store 2+ times a week, anyway, so no need for a special trip just for a storm.