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Disaster Supply Shortages
When a
natural disaster becomes public knowledge many disaster survival supplies
become short in supply. Store shelves and gas stations often are emptied in
a matter of of just hours (it may seem quicker). Often gasoline, drinking
water and food disappear first, along with batteries, flashlights, propane
and other supplies generally used for camping. These items are very valuable
during a disaster survival situation. Stock up on needed supplies well ahead
of time and keep them up to date. Below is a list of supplies that will
become immediately unavailable in some
cases or increasingly unavailable in other cases during a long term
disaster, where daily survival can become everyone's goal.
Three Items that will go fast
Flashlights & Batteries
Keep flashlights and plenty of batteries on hand for
emergencies. These will go fast!
Make sure you have flashlights that use both "D" cells and some that use
"AA" cells.
The "D" size batteries will go very fast before, after or during a disaster.
Sometimes plenty of "AA" batteries will be left behind for some time. Have
radios and flashlights that will operate on "AA" batteries.
Gasoline
Price gouging and long lines happen fast. Keep extra gas in
a 5 gal can for the lawn mower (unmixed) and your tank full. If you keep
your gas tank full in your commuter vehicle there won't be such an emergency
to get gas so you can get back to your home if disaster strikes while your
away. Extra gas is a must if you plan to use a generator (the amount depends
on the size of your generator).
100 Items That Soon Disappear
This list isn't in any certain order because different items may take on
greater priority depending on the type of disaster.
1. Generators
Choose a good generator ahead of time. You can live without
electricity forever if need be but life is much easier with it. If you plan
on running a refrigerator, air conditioner or freezer with the generator,
make sure it is rated to operate the appliance. Overloading the generator
will only cause it to burn out. You will also need
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Plenty of gas cans and gas
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Extension cords or other device to connect the generator to
appliances or other devices.
-
Check with the manufacturer if you want to operate computer
equipment.
-
Small generators use less gas, but will less, perhaps a lamp
and television.
-
Large generators operate most anything (not necessarily at
the same time) but are gas hogs.
-
Generators are often the target of thieves, protect it as
much as possible.
-
Do not operate in a enclosed space (garage, storage building , other
room) unless the exhaust is piped to the outdoors (check with manufacturer).
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
Learn about emergency water supplies
from gear suppliers.
Emergency Water Supplies
Soft drink containers including large bottles can be used to store water.
Learn about water treatment for
drinking here
3. Portable Toilets
Potable toilets can make life much easier in a disaster.
Keep plenty of plastic bags to dispose of waste or burry the waste and clean
the waste container with soap and water (does not need to be treated)
Learn to flush your
toilet when the water pressure is to low here
4. Seasoned Firewood
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Oil Lamps
(First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats and Slingshots
8. Hand-Can openers and hand egg beaters, whisks
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking)
12. Charcoal and Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)
13. Water containers
14. Mini Heater head or heaters (Propane or Kerosene)
Learn more about emergency heat in the Gear store
  
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders
I personally prefer propane, with a couple of bulk tanks
full for portable heat and the grill, and a few smaller tanks for emergency
cooking on my small Coleman camp stove.
A Propane cook stove or grill is a
necessity if your kitchen stove is electric!
17. Survival Books and Guides
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc.
Mantles are the woven pouch that allow the lantern to
produce light when the lantern is lit. Keep several sets of spare mantles
for your lantern. They will burn out with long term use.
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/baby aspirin, etc
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cook stoves
(Propane, Coleman and Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
Keeping your health up is critical. Keep plenty of good once
a day vitamins and buy prescriptions in bulk (ask to fill several months at
a time of your common prescription medicines. It keeps a supply on hand and
often costs less to fill). Keep track of these items if you need to
evacuate, Don't Forget Them!
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder for Heater Heads.
(Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item.)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Hair
care/Skin products
These products can disappear fast and never seem to be
around when needed.
Keep feminine items stocked ahead in case of an emergency.
Note to self:
(Wisdom I have come to understand in 19 years of marriage.)
These products are absolutely necessary to maintain any kind of normal life,
yes, including hair care and makeup! Don't skimp on these products for your
wife, if you do, you may lose all will to survive (or may not survive) after
she runs short on these necessary items.
25. Thermal underwear
(Tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets and Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil Reg. and Heavy. Duty
(Great Cooking and Barter item)
28. Gasoline containers
(Plastic or Metal)
29. Garbage bags
(Impossible to have too many.)
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel
31. Milk - Powdered and Condensed
(Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)
32. Garden seeds
(Non-hybrid) (A MUST if you
expect a long term disaster)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
If you use Coleman items that are operated with Coleman fuel
you will need to repair the pumps occasionally. I personally prefer propane,
with a couple of bulk tanks full, and a few smaller tanks for emergency
cooking on my small Coleman camp stove.
A Propane cook stove or grill is a
necessity if your kitchen stove is electric!
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire extinguishers
(or.. in a pinch a large box of Baking soda in every room...)
37. First aid kits
Learn more about First Aid Kits in the Gear store
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
The first thing to go will be flashlights and batteries.
39. Garlic, spices and vinegar, baking supplies
40.Pet Food
In the US most pet food is edible for humans. I don't
recommend it but your pets may be happy if you keep plenty on hand.
41. Flour, yeast and salt
42. Matches
("Strike Anywhere" preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)
43. N- 95 Rated Respirator Filter Masks (in an Epidemic)
44. Insulated ice chests
(good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis and durable shirts
46. Flashlights/Light Sticks and torches, Lanterns
Any power outage or potential power
outage will make these disappear fast!
Stock up with good lights ahead of time. They are always useful.
47. Journals, Diaries and Scrapbooks, Notebooks, Paper, Pencils and Pens
(In a long term disaster)
48. Garbage cans Plastic
Preferably use cans with wheels, buy cans that will hold
water (yes I know if it rains and the lids aren't on good they will fill up
with water) or have a supply of heavy plastic drum liners to place in
the cans so that they can hold water. Water in bulk is useful for flushing
toilets (after it is used for cleaning or cooking), drinking, cleaning and
cooking. These can catch water runoff from roofs or be used for water
storage if they are clean! ( Water caught from a roof shouldn't be used for
drinking unless you spread clean plastic sheeting on the roof and funnel
only this water into your water supply. Non drinkable water can be used for
cleaning clothes and flushing toilets.)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail
clippers, Industrial strength hand cleaner, etc
Your family and neighbors will thank you. Secretly, once the
man in us gets our fill of living the real life (struggling to survive
against all odds), we will be happy to clean up and smell good. (This
secretly makes us look more manly to our family, friends and neighbors
since we still look great while life disintegrates around us. Note: Don't
look to great or your neighbors may break in to see what you have!).
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy,
efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams
53. Duct tape and Plastic Sheeting
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent
57. Backpacks and Duffle bags
58. Garden tools and supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics and sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach
(plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
Learn how to use it for survival here
62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives and Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags and blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games Cards, Dice
68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps and cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks...)
71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless and Anti-bacterial soap
(saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies
(razors and creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps and siphons
(for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soup base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Plenty of Soap for bathing and anti bacterial soap for dish washing and
other cleaning.
81. Roll-on Window Insulation
Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc.
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons and carts
87. Cots and Inflatable Mattresses
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts and bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Hand Warmers
94. Portable Radios
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats and cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens
The above items will be scarce during a major long term disaster. The
scarcity and timing will depend
Prepare ahead of time with a goal to imagine how you may be affected and
how to mitigate the effects of a shortage by using preparation, knowledge,
skill and an ability to use available resources to accomplish your task.
Plan - Prepare - Adapt
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