The Must Have Items in a Disaster

Call it hoarding if you will, however when it comes to disasters there are certain food items that you must have on hand. Otherwise they will be in scarce supply as the store runs out of these items because of those that weren't prepared run to the store because of the disaster. This is also just plain and simple good budgeting practice also.
However, even then you have to be smart. Only buy things you'd normally eat anyway so you can rotate.
You will notice I do not list anywhere those expensive freeze dried survival packs, because those things are just pure nonsense.

Grocery/Food Items

1. Rice/Wheat
   
2. Legumes: Pinto Beans, Black Beans, etc.
   
3. Oatmeal,
   
4. Cornmeal
   
5. Canned Fruits (shelf life usually 18-24 months)
6. Canned Vegetables (3 year shelf life printed on them-you'd survive if you had to eat them a ways past that date)
7. Soups/Stews
   
8. Milk – Canned/Evaporated, Powdered, Sweetened/Condensed
   
9. Eggs – Powdered (dried)
   
10. Peanut Butter – Nuts – Popcorn
    
11. Dehydrated Fruits & Vegetables [learn how to dehydrate your own]
    
12. Jerky
13. Trail Mix
    
14. Graham Crackers 
15. Saltines 
16. Pretzels/Chips
    
17. Chocolate – Cocoa 
18. Tang/Punch
    
19. Honey
20. Syrups
21. White Sugar
22. Brown Sugar
    
23. Salt/Spices and Baking Supplies
    
24. Soy Sauce
    
25. Vinegar
    
26. Bouillon Soup-base
    
27. Tuna Fish [packed in oil has more protein] (Shelf life usually 3-6 years)
    
28. Canned Meats (Shelf life usually 3-6 years)
29. Cooking Oil
    
30. Flour
31. Yeast
32. Salt
    
33. Coffee/ Teas
    
34. Bulk Herbs (used for seasoning),
    (Herbs can also be used for first aid, or treating minor medical issues)
    
35. Vitamins – Minerals – Supplements
36. bottled Water
[2.5 gallon jugs better then gallon]

There are other other items as well, that you would need in an emergency.

Salt for example has many other uses besides a seasoning. For example some use as medicine, mouthwash or even ice melt. Yes regular table salt will melt ice as much as rock salt will.

Other items (besides a generator) to stock up on include:

1. Toilet paper
   
2. Diapers (for infants)
   
3. Feminine Products (like Tampons and pads)
   
4. Paper Towels (for a multitude of uses)
   
5. Trash bags (idea - stock up on plastic shopping bags when you shop to use for trash to help prevent disease)
   
6. Soaps and Cleaners
   
7. Bleach
   
8. Coolers
   
9. Writing Paper/Index cards
   
10. Cotton Balls and Cotton Swabs
    
11. Pens, Pencils and manual pencil sharper (no electric or battery operated ones)
    
12. Can opener (Hand cranked/manual)
    
13. Nails, screws, hooks, wires, etc
    
14. Magnifying glass (could be used in place of matches)
    
15. Matches (keep dry)
    
16. Old newspapers (for fire-starter and wrapping items)
    
17. First Aid kit
    
18. Safety pins
    
19. Toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, etc
    
20. Nylon rope/clothes line
    
21. Hats and gloves
    
22. extra clothes
    
23. Blankets/Sheets
    
24. Extension cords
    
25. Games/Books
    
26. Cash (smaller bills like $5's as most people won't have change)
    
27. Sticky Notes
    
28. Snap top plastic containers
    
29. Storage bags (all sixes - sandwich, quart and gallon)
    
30. Tarps
31. Gas Cans [various sizes and could be used for water to]
32. Batteries
33. [Battery powered] Radio
34. Flashlights
    
    
    

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