Emergency Preparedness Business Booming Amid Coronavirus Concerns

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Record-breaking shipments of emergency preparedness items are flying off the shelf for one local business amid growing COVID-19 concerns.

Officials with Ready Wise, which specializes in freeze dry meals that last for years, said they are breaking records as a result of the coronavirus.

“Business has exploded. That may be an understatement. We have seen 10 times the sales,” said Brandon Ericksson, Ready Wise vice president.  

He said people are not ordering 72-hour kits, but much longer packages.

“Most people are wanting a three-month supply on hand,” he said. “They are really focusing on getting meals into their home in the event that maybe they can’t leave their home or the grocery stores don’t have the product because of supply issues.”

Ericksson said the prices of the packages vary from $39.99 to $10,000.

At Rhonda Hair’s South Jordan home, things were much calmer. KSL TV found her canning marmalade and chicken with a neighbor. Hair is an emergency preparedness specialist in her neighborhood and has years of expertise in food storage.

“It’s a lot cheaper. It’s convenient. We use it all the time to make to fast meals,” she said.

Here are her tips on what’s happening across the country.

1. Don’t panic.
2. Look through what you already have in your pantries.
3. Get the things you need or will actually eat. 
4. Do not stockpile just to have it.
5. Plan easy meals.

“Carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables and something to drink or flavor your water with that’s the just of it,” she said.

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