When you start planning to create a prepping essentials list, you need to think about the different items you will need.
Not every item will work for every natural disaster or man-made catastrophe but having a good list gives you options.
When you have options, you have a better chance of survival.
It is a good idea to make a checklist of those essential items you will need so that when you go to buy them, you won’t forget any.
The same idea goes when you need to pack those items in your car.
The following list is designed to help you pick the most essential items to help you and your family through tough times.
Prepping Essentials List
When you make up your list, make sure to think of how many of each item you will need.
Fuel will be done by gallons or pounds and other items will be by numbers.
#1. What fuel will be needed
You have a choice of gas, diesel, propane, and kerosene.
The last one is actually diesel fuel, just a lower grade.
Propane and gas are highly combustible so you have to store them carefully.
The fuel you will need will also be determined by how you will generate power.
#2. Generating power
Batteries will be needed for a wide assortment of electrical devices.
Make sure to get rechargeable ones and a charger for each type.
However, if you choose to use a generator then you need to decide if it will be a hand crank model (not very powerful) a gas model, or a diesel one.
If you are going the generator route, the more watts it produces the more power you will have.
Just remember that the higher wattage models will require more fuel.
Propane fuel is good for powering fridges, water heaters, stoves, and heating systems.
Usually, you will find propane-fueled appliances in an RV, and through different RV outlets.
They are very efficient if kept absolutely level.
Solar power is also an option as even during catastrophes, the sun will still shine and you can always have some sort of power.
You just need the right size of solar panels and batteries to harness that power.
Of course, your generating power situation will depend on your current location and other factors.
#3. Preparing your food
Not everyone can eat a cold meal 3 times a day.
You need to give some thought to how you will cook your food.
If you have an axe and there is a good supply of trees around, then a wood stove is great for cooking as well as heating your little shelter.
Or you can go with a propane stove but it won’t heat a large area.
It is portable and easy to move from one place to another.
Another option is a rocket stove but they are small and only handle one pot at a time.
The benefit is that they can burn almost anything.
A campfire is nice and it does a good job heating your food as well as heating your area.
But you need a fire starter, dry wood, and time to make this option work for you.
You have to watch out for the smoke as well.
#4. Storing water
Pots and pans are not even close to ideal, but if you have a good source of clean water continuously and nothing else to use, then use these.
However, most people stock up on 5-gallon plastic water jugs.
The reason for this is that they can be stacked in an out-of-the-way place, they are portable and easier to move, plus they can be sealed so nothing spills out.
If you are thinking of going to a 50-gallon water container think about the weight.
A full 50-gallon water container weighs over 400 pounds while a 5-gallon jug only weighs 41 pounds.
The latter is easier to move.
If you do not have water purifying pills or a filtration system in your situation, a little bleach will sterilize any rainwater you can get.
Anything water related is a vital part of your prepping essentials list.
#5. Buying food
Once the catastrophe hits you may not be able to get fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables, which means you will need to survive on other food items.
Canned foods are great for the long haul as are some dry goods.
Make sure the expiry dates on both are a long way off.
Also, you can buy freeze-dried food packets.
If they were good enough for the military, they will be good enough for your survival situation.
The key is to make sure you store those foods correctly in the proper containers so they last longer.
You can also do some canning as a precaution.
Those food items last a long time.
Just make sure to date them so you know when they were prepared.
The specific food items you buy will be up to your preferences.
Candy is not high on the priority list.
For dry goods go for items like rice, beans, wheat, dried pasta, and more. These items will last a long time as well.
The key to storing these items is to put them in a cool, dry dark spot where rats, etc., cannot get into.
Make sure the containers you put them in to seal up tight so those rats, etc., cannot smell the food.
Also, make sure to date everything so you always eat the oldest food items first and then replace what you have eaten.
#6. Clothing
Make sure to have enough clothing put away for everyone.
You will want spare clothes as well as clothing items for the different seasons in your region of the country.
Don’t forget to store up needles, threads, buttons, and other sewing supplies.
You may need them if the disaster lasts a long time.
Also, make sure to have:
- hats
- gloves
- good footwear
- scarves
- waterproof raincoats and pants
- and similar items.
Ski masks are good if your area gets really cold in the winter.
Don’t forget sunglasses and sunblock for the hot days.
Clothing should be moisture-wicking, lightweight, breathable, made for the wind and other weather elements, and so on.
#7. Nighttime prepping items
No matter where you live, it does get cooler and colder at night.
You should have a good supply of pillows, blankets, and even sleeping bags so you and your family can stay warm.
If your heating system fails, then you will face some bone-chilling nights and you need to prepare for that emergency.
#8. Tools and equipment
If you have the room and you should make room, the following items will come in handy when normal utilities are not working:
- Waterproofed matches (a little melted wax will take care of that)
- Electric lighter or other fire-starting tools
- Solar charger to ease the use of your generator
- Fire starting materials (this can be paper, tinder, dry grass and so on. You may need a good supply of his)
- Magnifying glass (this is for when all fire-starting tools won’t work or are gone)
- Shovel (to dig latrines or holes for hygienic purposes)
- Hammer
- Knives (hunting size)
- Pliers
- Saws
- Hand pump
- Flashlights (LED and some can be solar charged or rechargeable battery operated)
- Glow sticks
- Lanterns
- Duct tape
- Scissors
#9. First aid kits
You never know when you will get sick, a cut or the cut gets infected, and so on.
Having enough first aid items on hand will help preserve lives.
These items include:
- More than enough bandages, band-aids, and gauze
- Rubbing alcohol
- Personal medications
- Antibiotics
- Surgical tape
- Aspirin or other pain killers
- Super glue
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Tourniquets
- Tweezers and nail clippers
- Insect repellent
#10. Personal hygiene products
Always important and these include:
- toilet paper
- feminine products
- soap (which can be used to wash your hair as shampoo and conditioner bottles take up a lot of space)
- razor and blades
- toothpaste and toothbrushes
- and so on
#11. Communication devices
Walkie-talkies may be old-fashioned but without cellphone service, they come in handy.
Also consider:
- cell phones
- batteries
- chargers just in case you still have a signal
- battery-operated or hand crank radios (make sure they are stereo)
- and a CB or Ham radio.
Being able to communicate with each other will help your survival chances grow higher.
#12. Self-defense
You may be non-violent but there is a host of people who are not.
You need to defend your family and that defense includes guns, ammunition, bow and arrows, door protection armor, and so on
Some Final Words
This prepping essentials list article covers a vast amount of objects.
It will take time to figure out what you will need.
Then acquire those items you want slowly so as not to raise any suspicion.
Also, make sure you have enough cash on hand as banking systems will be down and everyone will want cash when you need to buy something.
This is not a complete prepping essentials list and you should be able to think of other items you will need.
Just make sure to store everything properly so it will be ready when you need them.
Originally posted 2022-10-16 14:17:37.
