This is NOT all all-inclusive list, nor is everything on here
absolutely necessary.
These are guidelines, not rules. Some items, like a GPS unit, or UV lamp, are
listed for those who may have access to them,
or the funds to purchase them,
but hadn’t considered their use in an emergency.
Particularly lacking in detail are the heat and shelter listings; needs, desires,
and capabilities will vary widely.
Some items may have hyperlinks, to sites with more information, or sites that
sell the item.
EMERGENCY HEAT
Short-Term:
>Propane-fueled Indoor-Safe heater
>Chemical Hand Warmers
Long-Term:
>Woodstove
WATER
Short-Term:
>Large Trash Cans, with Food-Grade Liners
Long-Term:
>Working Well, in yard, shed, or basement
>Cistern(s) filled from rain gutters
>Water filter
In air-tight containers...
(1 gal. per person/animal per day)
(4 people for 1 month=120 gal.s)
(9 people/animals for 1 month = 270 gal.s?)
FYI: 1 gallon per person per day may be considered the minimum for survival.
It assumes that all water is used for drinking. It does not allow for sanitation
or cooking foods that use up water (rice). If necessary, some foods can be boiled
in water to cook, and then the water can be cooled and used as drinking water.
For living anything like a normal life, the amount is closer to 7 gallons per
per person, per day.
>Bleach: use 4 drops/qt. or 2 teaspoons/10 gal (store a measuring utensil)
for sterilizing water; you should try to have enough to sterilize all stored
water twice.
>Child's pool
If you have an hour or so warning, run a hose from your clothes washer's cold
water feed (or any faucet you can do this with) to any large rigid or inflatable
pool (if you have the floor space). If no pool is available, use trashcans lined
with trash bags; it's not the best for drinking, but it's better than having
no water at all. You can then have bulk water ready. Distribute this (into Rubbermaid
type bins or other containers) for washing dishes, bathing catch pan, etc. After
several (?) days, any open container should not be considered "clean".
SHELTER
>Cheap plastic hooded rain ponchos for everyone
>3 man tent (this is the absolute minimum; 3 man tents usually fit 2 people
with SOME gear)
FOODS/COOKING
It’s especially important to check and rotate your stock of food. While
items should be looked over and replaced as needed, food is one area where you
must pay close attention. A catchphrase in preparedness is “store what
you eat, so you’ll eat what you store”. This means to make sure
that all the things you store are things you will actually eat. Then, to rotate
your stock and keep it fresh, you can use items from it and replace them. It’s
best to keep your “stash” separate from your normal pantry area,
so you don’t tend to forget to replace items you use. You may even want to use
a checklist or clipboard, to keep track of “batches” of items you
move from one to the other. Also, any dry goods that can be frozen, should be
frozen and thawed 2-3 times, to kill off larvae/eggs that may be lurking.
>Stove (Your choice: Coleman, backpacking style, gas grill, “big-burner”
turkey fryer/CampChef cooker, or a charcoal based grill you can burn wood or
charcoal in)
>Fuel for stove listed above
>White Rice
(White Rice lasts for 8-10yr.s at 70F, Brown Rice lasts for 6 months)
(250 lb.s of rice is enough for one person to receive ~1200 calories a day for 1 year)
>Dry Beans
>Canned/Jarred Ready-To-Serve Items (Spam, PB&J, soups, Corned Beef,
Hash, Fruits, Tuna, Beef-A-Roni, etc; anything with an expiration date, at least
2 yr.s away)
>Nonfat Dry Milk
>Instant Mashed Potatoes
>Baking powder, baking soda, yeast
>Can openers (2 hand-powered - minimum)
>Pepper, Salt, Garlic Powder, >Spice assortment pack
>Paper plates, metal utensils (can burn plates for disposal)
>Also have some normal plates (line with paper plates)
>Ready-to-eat foods (pop-tarts, raisins, cheese, granola/energy/protein bars,
snack-paks, etc.)
>Assorted drink mix flavorings (with no cold drinks/soda, just plain water,
kids will appreciate it!)
>Coffee (instant & regular), tea, non-dairy creamer (powdered)
>Multiples of Masa Harina, Flour, pancake/biscuit mix, syrup
>Vanilla Flavoring, any others desired
>Quick oats, Quick grits, other grains, macaroni/pasta, sugar, instant/minute rice
>Honey (NEVER goes bad)
>Cooking Oil, lard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.
>Seeds (Buy HEIRLOOM seeds, for things you're willing to eat)
Long-Term:
>Heavy fishing line, hooks, net(s)
>Firearms, ammo, snares, etc. (if not for defense against people, then for hunting, wild/feral animals, etc.)
HEALTH
>Prescription drugs filled, and as much extra as possible
NOTE: MOST PRESCRIPTION AND OTC MEDS WILL LAST 5 YEARS OR MORE, regardless of
the expiration date marked on the packaging. Possible exceptions: TETRACYCLINE,
which MAY cause kidney damage if more than two years past its date. Water-purification
tablets and Mefloquine Hydrochloride, for malaria, routinely fail stability
testing beyond their expiration dates.
>Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen (others as available and as needed)
>Benadryl(Clear, if available)
>Eye Wash, Contact Solution,Sunglasses
>Veterinary Antibiotics and med.s
>Needle and very fine fishing line (sutures, clothing repair)
>Toothbrush(es), toothpaste (or baking soda & salt)
>Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide
>Pepto Bismol, Immodium/AntiDiarrheal, Antacids
>Multi-Vitamins, Vit C, etc.
>First aid kits (with everything that you know how to use)
>Iodine solution, like Betadine (16 ounces)- NOT TO BE INGESTED
>Ipecac, Laxatives, Charcoal (for poisoning)
>Any first-aid or medical books available
>Bleach (I know, it's listed elsewhere, but it's great for sickrooms)
>Mouthwash
>Vodka (can be used to make tinctures)
>It has been mentioned that it might be prudent, especially if you may offer
aid to others, to stock contraceptives
HYGIENE
>Trash Bags (Black, 20-30 Gallon or more, for waste disposal, solar water
heating, more)
>Trash Bags (Clear, 5 Gallon or more, for an emergency air hood, or many
other purposes.
storage)
>Pesticides - Roach Powder, Rat poison, Mouse traps
>5 gallon bucket and smaller garbage bags sized for it (for toilet)
>Toilet seat for the bucket (or use one from usual toilet)
>Toilet paper and, if needed, sanitary napkins, diapers, etc
>Baby wipes (saves water for personal hygiene use)
>Disinfectant Spray
>Antibacterial Soap
>Bleach (can be made from chlorine tablets for your pool)
>Dust filter masks
>Strong UV Lamp (may kill viruses & bacteria on dry non-porous objects)
*TOOLS – list may vary, according to your living situation
and expected repairs after disaster
>Generator
>12v car battery (keep batt. on trickle charger or solar charger)
>Solar battery charger for 12v car battery
>Power Inverter, 12v to 110v
>Corded VSR Drills(2) with bits, drill bits
>Extension cords (Heavy duty, 20' or longer)
>Circular Saw(s), extra blade(s) (possibly some masonry blades)
>Jigsaw or Sawzall
>Handsaw, hacksaw
>Measuring Tapes (2), 25-30 foot
>Hammer(s), Nails
>Screwdrivers - Philips & Slotted
>Deck Screws (1 5/8 to 2 inch preferred, others will be useful)
>2x4s, plywood sheets
>Hand Brace & Bits
>Kitchen Shears
>Fire extinguishers
>Rolls of plastic sheeting, duct tape, staple guns, staples, etc.
>Solar battery charger for rechargeable batteries
>Rechargeable batteries
>Flashlights (ideally LED) and more than one portable radio
>Oil Lamps/Lanterns, and lamp oil (burns cleaner than kerosene)
>Batteries for any vital equipment (multiple spares are best)
>Tea Lights, or other candles
>Ziploc Bags (AT LEAST 1 BOX EACH: Sandwich, Quart, Gallon. 2 Gallon - very
useful if available)
>Kitchen matches, disposable lighters
>Magnifying glass or "Page Magnifier" - start fires w/o matches
>Sterno
>Butane refill canisters
>Shovels - rounded point and straight-type (for digging, and scooping)
>20 lb. Propane tanks, and adapter(s) to refill smaller tanks (obviously,
only if you things that use propane)
>Chainsaw (gas preferred, w/fuel)
>Bolt cutters
RECOVERY
>Personal ID and documents, scanned to CD and printed, for each individual
>Address/Phone Book, updated on CD and printed out
>Photos, Keepsakes
>$300 or more in cash; small bills (5s, 10s, 20s)
>Local maps: city, county, state.
TECHNOLOGY/ELECTRONICS
(read FAQ's elsewhere on EMP protection)
>Spare cell phone (may still be able to dial 911)
>GPS Receiver (Satellites MAY not be affected by EMP)
>Laptop, Dot Matrix or Laser Printer, CD/DVD Burner
>Flash Drive or USB Hard Drive
>FRS or CB radios