100 Items To Have Before The Crap Hits The Fan

This was posted in 2008 in a fourm I go to off and on, I have posted this before but I think it needs to be seen again.

A list I give folks who show an interest in getting prepared... Now mind you nothing is in specific order of importance. Its the shock value of the list I try to get. After they've looked at it for a couple days you weed out the ones that are going to waste your time... The folks that ask questions are the ones that get it...

1. Generators: Good ones cost dearly. Diesel ones are the best. Gasoline storage can be a bit risky, Noisy... They will also be a target of thieves; maintenance etc. Permanent mounted propane units really are the best for stationary usage.

2. Water Filters/Purifiers: Berkley and Brookfield outback units have been used in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America for years.

3. Portable Toilets, buckets with lids, chamber pots. Something to remove wastes.. An Outhouse is probably best but a pain to move.

4. Seasoned Firewood: Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home use.

5. Lamps, lamp Oil, Wicks, spare globes and glass chimneys (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!) Kerosene works in most cloth wicked lamps.

6. Coleman Fuel: It is impossible to stockpile too much.

7. Guns, Ammunition, reloading equipment, casting equipment, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots. I also suggest a compound bow or crossbow with plenty of bolts and arrow shafts for taking larger game.

8. Hand operated can openers, egg beaters, whisks, grater, and other manually operated kitchen tools and accessories.

9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar. Again, something you cannot store too much of. Makes a great trade/barter item.

10. Rice - Beans – Wheat (If bought whole be sure to have a mill/grinder)

11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food easily burns and must be boiled etc. Three gallons of oil per person per year is about right.

12. Charcoal and Lighter Fluid. (Will become scarce suddenly)

13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade poly barrels if for drinking water. 2 and 3 liter soda bottles are best. Store at least 20 gallons per person per week. Don’t forget your pets either.

16. Propane Cylinders 20# and 30# (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur. If you have empties get them filled or exchanged.)

17. Survival Guide Book. Mostly for entertainment purposes..

18. Mantles for Aladdin lamps, Coleman lamps, and replacement cotton wicks for liquid/oil lamps (Without these items, longer-term lighting is difficult.)

19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula, ointments, aspirin, Tylenol, etc.

20. Washboards, Mop, mop Bucket w/wringer (for laundry and cleaning)

21. Cook stoves and lots of spares.(Propane, Coleman fuel & Kerosene)

22. Vitamins, trace minerals, stock up on vitamin C, Zinc, and Calcium.

23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)

24. Feminine Hygiene, Hair care items, Skin products.

25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)

26. Bow saws and extra blades, axes, hatchets, wedges, hack saws and extra blades. (also, whetstone and honing oil)

27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)

28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)

29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many)

30. Toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, and paper napkins. Toilet paper is cheap now but becomes very, very valuable when nobody can get any.

31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed. Follow rotational standards set forth by the expiration dates on the product. (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)

32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid and/or Heirloom) (AN ABSOLUTE MUST)

33. Clothes pins clothes line, clothes hangers (AN ABSOLUTE MUST)

34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit Get several along with cork filler seals.

35. Tuna Fish (in Oil and in Spring Water) Tuna in oil has higher density of nutrition.

36. Fire Extinguishers or a large box of Baking Soda in every room. Buckets of children’s play sand also.

37. First aid kits (Commercial or home-made) Include manuals if necessary. Nitrile gloves since some are allergic to latex.

38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates) You can never have too many batteries. Great trade and barter item.

39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies.

40. Have Dogs? Big Dogs require plenty of dog food both canned and dry, mostly dry. Great security so feed them well and keep treats if budget allows. Keep medications like flea treatments and heartworm pills for at least a year.

41. Bulk flour, yeast, beans, rice, sugar, pepper, & salt by the bag or box. Freeze the flour, beans, and rice for 48 hours before putting into final storage. It kills any bugs that might have gotten in to the bags. (Vacuum sealer is a good investment)

42. Matches {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first. Old chain Grocery stores are best source. BIC lighters, Zippo’s, and refillable butane lighters and an ample supply of butane and Ronsol/Zippo lighter fluid. You can use the “flint” from a BIC brand lighter after it runs out of fuel in your Zippo’s. Or use them in a 22lr HP projectile against hard targets with flammables around.

43. Writing paper, pads, pens and pencils, solar calculators, erasers,

44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Winter time.)

45. Work boots, belts, Levies & durable shirts. Good stuff not cheap.

46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns, Oil Lamps, LED head lamps and flashlights.

47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (Write down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times) Keep dry with heavy duty Ziploc freezer bags.

48. Garbage cans Metal or Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels) Appropriate sized trash bags as well. Steel drum for burning trash is also a recommended item as well.

49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail
Clippers, razors, shaving cream, etc

50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient) Cast iron Dutch ovens too.

51. Fishing supplies, rods and reels, lures, and tools. Worm bed in your yard is best source for bait.

52. Mosquito coils, repellent, sprays and creams

53. Duct Tape, Electrical tape, masking tape and lots of it.

54. Tarps, stakes, twine, nails, rope, spikes, ratchet straps

55. Candles Emergency type, not just fancy ones from the Hallmark store.

56. Laundry Detergent. Liquid and powder both have their uses.

57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags, Military Surplus Alice packs w/frames

58. Garden tools & supplies- Shovels, rakes, hoes, 10-10-10 fertilizer, powdered lime, etc.

59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies and a book if necessary.

60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, Stews, gravy, olives, pickles, etc.

61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) Pool “Shock” treatment will make gallons upon gallons of bleach.

62. Canning supplies- Jars, lids and bands, wax, pectin, pressure canning pot, hot jar clamp, canning thermometer, and a canning book or two. Pectin and paraffin wax also.

63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel, honing fluid

64. Bicycles...Extra tires, tubes, pumps, chains, etc

65. Sleeping Bags & blankets, pillows, mats, inflatable mattresses, extra sheet sets,

66. Carbon Monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. (Battery powered)

67. Boredom busting- Board Games, Cards, Dice, etc. But nothing that requires batteries like a Game Boy or Nintendo.

68. D-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer, or 22lr shot shells and a 22 pistol to take out mice and rats. Poison has other uses too..

69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets.

70. Paper plates/cups/utensils. (stock up, folks)

71. Baby wipes, bulk paper towels, essential oils, waterless & antibacterial soap. (saves a lot of water)

72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, ponchos, rain suits, etc.

73. FRS, GMRS, or CB radios for communication. A shortwave is best for long range communication.

74. Hand pumps & siphons. (for water and for fuels)

75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bullions, gravy, dry soup bases,

76. Reading glasses

77. Chocolate, Cocoa, Tang, Punch, Root beer extract, and coolaid. (Water enhancers)

78. V-8 Juice "Survival-in-a-Can"

79. Woolen clothing, scarves, ear-muffs, mittens, watch caps, baklavas’

80. Boy Scout Handbook also Scout Leaders Catalog

81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO) or window film like tint.

82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix, Beef Jerky, Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts, chips, dried potato fries, candy bars, any of your favorite candies or treats. Comfort foods.

83. A year’s supply of any medications you or a family member is on.

84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. A two week supply, at minimum, before having to wash.

85. Lumber of all types including plywood. Don’t forget nails, screws, bolts, glue, and exterior grade earth tone paints.

86. Wagons & carts. (For transport big, bulky, or heavy items to and from)

87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses for guests and family that pop in…

88. Gloves: Work, warming, gardening, etc.

89. Lantern Hangers, wall hooks, free standing Coleman style

90. Screen Patches, glue, epoxies, nails, screws, nuts & bolts

91. Teas (Any and all you like plus bulk up on sale branded teas for trade)

92. Coffee will be more valuable than gold in this Starbucks overly caffeinated world we live in. If you have to buy ground coffee in sealed cans that’s fine but I highly recommend whole beans vacuum sealed and a hand operated grinder. Be sure to have an old style coffee pot you can use over a fire.

93. Cigarettes (Your brands if you smoke, Generics or what ever is cheap at the time) See #97 also!

94. Wine, Liquors, and beer. (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)

95. Paraffin wax and bee’s wax

96. Toilet plunger, toilet repair kits, flapper valves

97. Chewing gum, hard candies, and pretzels if you have to quit smoking..

98. Atomizers and spray bottles are great for cooling off with and for bathing when water becomes scarce.

99. Hats, cotton neckerchiefs, gloves, and hand towels.

100. Goats/chickens- IMHO Chickens are best rapid feed to food conversion and the benefit of fresh eggs is so, so appealing. Imagine the trade values of fresh eggs.. Be sure to store up plenty of food for your animals.

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There are many horrible things that can happen during a war or complete shutdown of America’s infrastructure - Death of Parents, siblings, and friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold or boiling heat, fear, theft, direct attacks by people homeless and starving, and possibly sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. But you never no how long trouble will last, so locate nearby or develop your own renewable food sources.

2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.

3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.

4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest to do without (Especially if you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)

5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of the dry unappetizing things you’ve stocked to eat during a crisis somewhat edible. Only needs enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.

6. Have lots of books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more valuable as an event continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you'll have a lot of time on your hands.

7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you how many people who will trade a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in surviving if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.

8. Slow burning candles, oil lamps, oil candles, and matches, matches, matches