Emergency Preparedness Supplies 

(Non-Food Items)

 

Preparing for an emergency can be stressful but with a little planning and budgeting, you will have a prepared supply reserve in no time.    When planning for an emergency, the first thing to do is make a list of the items (non-food) that you use.  I will cover food items and evacuation items in another post.  Your thoughts for creating the checklist should center around what you would need for 2-3 months if you had to quarantine or if there is a disruption in supply chain for goods.  Please don’t forget about what you would need for pets in your Emergency Preparedness Supplies.

People do not long term think in times of nationwide emergency, 300 million people (estimated US adult population) are shopping for the same goods at the same time.  When you have a local emergency such as tornado, flood, earthquake, wild fire or hurricane, the impact is to a few regions, not an entire country.  Common supplies disappear at that time as well.  So in times when a nationwide emergency is occurring, imagine the entire country shopping for the same things at the same time.  That is why it is important to have important supplies stored for when you need it.

I also recommend taking the time to get your affairs in order and having a single location where important details of your life are written down.  Having this information on-line is handy but leaves you open to hacking.  You also may not have power, so have a written book.

 

 

Places To Store Emergency Preparedness Supplies

Many people do not store emergency supplies due to lack of storage space.  You have to be creative with storage when preparing.  I recommend the following storage options:

• Storage Tote(s) – purchase 1-2 large storage totes and label “Emergency Supplies”.  Store in the back of closets, under your shoes.  You can stack them in a corner and cover with a tablecloth and decorate on top.  Store in the garage, guest room or office.  Place something in every closet.
• If you have a home with a garage, consider buying storage shelves.  Heavy Duty racks work best and can store everything you need.
• Flat storage totes are great to store things under beds, couches and furniture.
• The back of bathroom cabinets and the floor of the pantry is another great place to store emergency supplies.
• Attics and/or basements.
• Utility closets or bottom of hall closets.  It is possible to have a storage tote in each closet.

 

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Emergency Preparedness Supplies Checklist

This list should be altered for you household and needs but here are the recommended items I stock up on year round when they are on sale.  Determine the number you would need in times of an emergency and if you had to stay home for an extended period of time.  Then as you shop throughout the year, replace the oldest with the newest never going under the number you would need for emergency preparedness.

For a nationwide emergency, it is not always what is available now, but what will be available in 4-6 months due to supply chain disruption.  Consider if you anticipate price increases due to the economic conditions.  Another thing to consider is a membership to a wholesale mega store such as Costco or Sams.  They have other benefits for travel, car rentals, insurance, home improvement and gasoline if your household is small.  Preparedness planning at bulk stores make it easy to shop.  In general, purchase 2 of each item for your supplies list.  That way you have what you need but there is enough for others to shop as well.  Here are my recommendations based on a family of four.

Final Thoughts On Supplies

Remember at a time of emergency, you are not operating from zero supplies.  You have some supplies that you use daily.  Take inventory of what you have and then prepare your shopping plan.  If you are starting during a non-emergency time, build these supplies into your shopping budget as you build your preparedness stockpile.

During times of emergency, check your inventory and go to the stores and get your supplies.  Keep calm and shop early at the first warnings for virus outbreaks or weather related warnings.  Worse case, you are stocked for future months of supplies and your shopping bill decreases.  Best case, you are prepared and you will have reduced anxiety in times of emergency.

It is also helpful to have a document holder that is fireproof and waterproof.  They are perfect if you had to evacuate suddenly as well.

If you have not finished your preparedness shopping and an emergency arises.  Be glad to have your checklist.  Increase your shopping budget and get the rest of the items on the list.  It is very important that your shop at the first warning, even if nothing happens more severe.  Everyone will be shopping too, so the goods you may need may become unavailable the longer you wait.  Stick to your list and keep calm.

 

Other Emergency Products To Consider

 

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