(closest hospitals are 30 min away).Should we keep it furnished or move the furniture out?

Contractors aren't working right now and personally I'm trying to limit my trips to Home Depot and public stores/places for supplies, so it's slow going. 

@Theresa Harris a lot of stuff is still up there, furniture, CANS OF FOOD, an attic full of old toys...she left an AC on the floor with an towel under it...unplugged the fridge... all my grandmothers stuff is in the basement in boxes. 

As a result, you and every other REI that is limited to those same strategies arrive at the same place...fighting over the limited supply. 

I foresee a huge surge in supply of single family properties in the months after things open up again. 

My question is the city lax in issuing building permits (increasing supplies)?

By 2020, you will not be able to repair your R-22 system because the price of R-22 will be extremely expensive and supply decreases.The current HVAC standard coolant, r410a, costs about $3-$8 per pound.

Since you have multiple houses, you can buy cylinders of it on ebay, if you think supplying it yourself to the technician will be cheaper overall. 

Additionally those that can wait it out should have supply and demand on their side as many VR owners have already converted to LTRs thus reducing the supply once the flood gates open.

The demand seems to be higher than the supply = rising prices.