Prepare: Last Minute Emergency Preparedness Purchases

Preparing for an emergency, both long and short term is an ongoing process. It is not something we run to the mall or grocery store and complete in a single day. Food for months or even years cannot be obtained with one trip to Kroger for instance.

We know it, but here is something that bothers me when push comes to shove.

If you watch or read survival themed fiction, it seems the main characters never act fast enough. The dawdle on the phone or at work when time is precious and seconds count. They go home and set to work on some long term project like "I had better get the trailer out and make it still works in case my best pal and his family come over. Oh, and I better inventory my tools and make sure they are all in their places".

What is up with that?

So I am at work, or at home with the family. The TV is on and the news cuts in and announces "Big natural disaster/Nukes flying/aliens have landed!"

The last thing I am going to do is clean out the garage! For crying out loud, I have plenty of stuff on hand, but if you knew the supply of Charmin was about to get real low real fast and permanently, wouldn't you run down the street and get a few rolls?

So, the emergency crisis happens, I jump in the car and head to the nearest grocers first. Food is king. I am going to bet that most people are in "deer in headlights" mode and staring at CNN OR on the phone with Aunt Sally in Schenectady OR talking with their coworkers about how this will affect the quarterly budget. Unlike the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1961, most Americans don't think to stock up on canned goods like they used too.

At the grocers, I go for substance.
- Bulk food like flour, sugar, salt, oil.
- Lots of canned foods
- Protein bars, Slim Fast (canned protein source), protein and weight gain powder.
- Bulk pasta, rice and beans, all dried.
- Quick ready to eat convinience foods.
- Drinks like coffee, tea bags, powdered cocoa and Tang.
- Over the counter medicines, aspirin, cold, flu and stomach preparations are high on the list.
- Vitamins
- Toilet paper, paper towels, feminine products, diapers, wipes.
- Dog and cat food, dry in big bags
- Bottled water but more important, filters and bleach.
- Bottled gas if they have it, matches, batteries

Once that is done, I go to the gas station and fill up. Gasoline is one of the first things to go in a major emergency, but most people will be coming from work. The suburban stations, those not near a major road, highway or freeway will be the best bet. If there is a line, I take my chances on hitting another neighborhood station rather than the big discount chain.

Next, I get cash. Cash is the currency of choice in an emergency, but you can't eat it or run your car on it so get it last.
Depending upon how much I have in the bank, I may hit an ATM several times (at grocers, gas station and elsewhere) before they run out of cash.

Then I go the final destination for my emergency preparedness run, the gun or sporting goods store. Most people will be at the grocers at this time while I buy bricks of .22, boxes of 12 gauge and what little center fire they have available in my calibers.

Then I go home.

In a last minute emergency scenario, getting away may be the only option. But the concept that rioting and looting will happen in seconds is not realistic short of aliens landing en masse or the Rapture. But you have to think fast and get what you need in the right order. It sure beats sitting at home or the office fooling around with trivial projects which can be done after supplies have been obtained.

SHTF: Real Last Minute End Of The World Grocery List

The SHTF.. Zombies are running in the streets.. Nuclear weapons have exploded..

So you have one last chance to hit the grocery stores and add to your stocks at home.

Hopefully, you already have a multi-month supply of food on hand. There is no way one trip to Kroger or Safeway, (along with everyone else) is going to leave you with enough to survive the coming months and years.

Here are some things to grab while the getting is good and everyone else is grabbing beer, cigarettes, candy and liquor.

Food preservation -
Canning jars
Canning rings and lids
Canning salt
Salt, kosher, regular, rock and sea salt
Vinegar

Paper products -
Paper towels
Paper napkins
Paper plates
Toilet paper
Feminine products

Cleaning supplies -
Bleach
Lysol (spray)
Mr. Clean, Pine sol or similar type product
Sponges
Mop heads
Tub and tile cleaner
Ammonia

Cooking oil and lard -
Vegetable oil
Crisco or similar type product
Olive oil (often overlooked in the ethnic food sections)
Pam or other cooking spray

Food packaging -
Zip lock bags
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Plastic bags
Food saver bags

Medical -
Aspirin
Vitamins
OTC cold remedies
Stomach and digestion medicine
Herbal supplements
Bandages, first aid supplies
Sunblock
Insect repellent
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide

House and home -
Mouse and rat traps
Borax
Insect spray
WD-40
Liquid plumber

Fuel and lighting -
Matches and lighters
Camp fuel (if available)
Charcoal (use first, does not last long).
Lamp oil (citronella for instance)
Batteries (will be going fast and first, check the check out aisles).
Flashlights (same as batteries but necessary).

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables -
Potatoes, onions, carrots, shallots, turnips, beets and any other root vegetable lasts a very long time - take what is left.
Apples and oranges if available

Cooking supplies -
Yeast
Baking powder
Baking soda (also a cleaner)
Flour (who is going to loot flour?)
Sugar
Salt
Dehydrated egg whites
Powdered milk
Baking mixes including corn bread, bisquick and pancake mix

Miscellaneous -
Protein powder
Protein bars
Weight loss drinks (full of protein)
Bullion cubes
Energy drinks
Tea bags
Coco

Most of the items on this list are "boring" to the average panicked looter. Remember, they will be grabbing comfort foods (soda, sweets), canned goods and expensive vices (liquor, beer, cigarettes, cigars, ice (of all things!) and chocolate.

Take what is available and keep in mind non-traditional outlets for food like convenience stores, dollar stores and truck stops.

Stay safe and don't bring children or elderly along during these forays.

Good luck and get ready!

Remember to comment and click below! I want your feedback!

SHTF: My end of the world grocery list - Pt. 2

I posted my end of the world, pre-TEOTWAWKI grocery list the other day and left off some key products. Read the original here...

I went grocery shopping over the weekend and saw all the things I left off the list that should be included. Yes, having a UHaul in the parking lot to load everything for an emergency would be helpful.

"Do you really have enough food stocked when the SHTF?"

So, part two of the "End of the World Grocery List for Emergency Supplies and Survival Food Storage".

- Oatmeal
- Peanut butter
- Dried fruit.
- Granola and other long lasting cereal (forget the Cap'n Crunch).
- Nuts, canned are best.
- Feminine products (for you, for the females in the household or for trade).
- Chocolate and honey.
- Laundry detergent
- Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide.
- Trash bags.

Also, why get canned soups rather than canned meat or vegetables first? Because canned soups can be served over rice and makes a filling complete meal. Canned meat by itself is.. well a can of meat.

Good luck,

SHTF: My end of the world grocery list

Uh-oh. The teevee says the poop has hit the oscillator! You have one chance to hit the Sooper Saver before the starving, rioting hoards clean it out. What to do?

My SHTF Shopping List gets you started.

Here we go!

Take the largest vehicle you own, bring all the cash you have on hand. Don't forget, if the banks are still running and the ATM machines are up, bring a credit card and debit card and use both first!

Once in the store, grab a cart (that's buggy for your foreigners and northerners).

Hit the baking aisle first. Grab flour, salt, sugar, cooking oil, yeast, corn meal, powdered milk and Crisco.

Head for the diet or health section. Grab the biggest containers of protein powder (you know for weight lifters) they have.

"Do you really have enough food stocked when the SHTF?"

Head for the pharmacy. Get aspirin, cold/flu remedies, children's medicines and vitamins, stomach remedies (especially diarrhea) and all the first aid supplies you see.

Head for hardware. Take all of the following: kitchen matches, cooking fuel, batteries.

Your cart should be full. Pay, load car, come back.

Go to paper products. Toilet paper - full cart. Get another cart and fill with bottled water. Every load after this get one case or two of water and put on bottom of cart.

Pay, come back.

Paper products again. Paper towels. Cleaning products - bleach, lysol, any other disinfectant products. Water filters if they have them.

Go to canned food aisle. Regular size cans of soups first. Cases of them if available. Get coffee, coco and tea.

Pay and come back.

Go to dry food aisle. Rice, beans, instant potatoes, pasta. The biggest bags.

Go to canned goods again. Now you can grab those cans of meat you wanted when you first came in.

Pay and load. Come back.

More canned food if time. Go to baby section if applicable or not. Get powdered formula. Get diapers. Great trade good.

Pay, load and drive away if the mobs are on top of you.

Avoid - booze, tobacco, produce, ice, DVD's, books, sodas.

Your list may vary, but start with the basics and make your way up to treats.

See End of the World Grocery List Part 2 here.