It’s hard to predict the future, and with a Black Swan event like Covid 19 nothing feels worse than wishing you’d been more prepared. People often blindly follow the news, and will literally clear the shelves of whatever news media tells them. With Purell selling over 10x MSRP, this guide can help you have items on hand ahead of time, so you’re not left to buy from price gougers.
Again, while hand sanitizer and toilet paper are selling out today, I believe we are only one or two news cycles away from people seeking out prepper items and driving up prices. This guide is based on my experience preparing living in a major New England city. It’s important to note that regionally, some items may be more/less vital than others, and I may have omitted things. Additionally, these items are best suited for 1-2 weeks. If you want to build out a long term bunker, there’s plenty of resources for that.
For this reason, it is imperative that you continue to do research to your own hyperlocal/family needs. Just as we can’t be sheep led to pasture by news media, one guide or person’s opinion should not be definitive. As a preface to this list, I will note most links are part of Amazon Affiliate. Dicks Sporting Goods also has some really great deals.
WATER: For obvious reasons, access to drinking water is crucial. While it is unlikely for water/sewer lines to go down, we have seen floods and hurricanes impact access to fresh drinking water. Besides plastic water bottles, I recommend Emergency Drinking Water Packets as well as a Life Straw per person you’re preparing with. While there are several ways to make water safe to drink (including adding drops of bleach to potentially hazardous water), these two options best suit a situation where access to clean water may be temporarily restricted.
Food: This is what prompted me to make this article. Overnight, “prepper” MREs have sold out and are reselling at a price premium. Fortunately, many of the companies that create MRE’s are government contractors, and because of supply chain concerns, the majority of the production is done in the USA to hedge some sort of global conflict making it impossible to supply armed forces with food.
There are a TON of shelf stable foods readily available at Grocery Store (Click here to get idea). Again, because we are preparing for a 1-2 week situation, you do not need to go overboard, and can have fun menu planning. This doesn’t have to be scary or daunting, and food and drink has long been a morale booster and currency for soldiers (There’s an awesome youtube Channel dedicated to this history).
For longer preparation, you can buy servings in bulk. Currently, many of these are trading at a price premium. Dicks Sporting Goods currently has an extra 10% off premade backpacking meals which comes out to $2.80ish per serving (most bags are 2.5 servings). I’ve had these too and they don’t suck.
For larger bulk, I personally own WISE company emergency food. While slightly marked up, you can find options at $2 a serving here.
Stove: If you have a gas stove at home, chances of your gas supply line going down in most situations are low, but the likelyhood of a power outage impacting your electric stove and ability to cook the aforementioned food is very real. There are MANY different stoves. I prefer stoves that can be easily packed (I keep packing/portability in mind with all purchases). This was something I did not previously own as a gas stove owner, but have since purchased since it would be miserable to have all those MRE (which rely on boiling water) and no means to cook them.
Linked are many different portable stoves. Make sure you check to see if they include butane as well. There are also propane stoves that work. If you own a propane grill, make sure you have extra propane.
First Aid: Another must have. First Aid preparation can be the difference between life and death. We can’t count on emergency responsiveness during a disaster situation. 911 can be inundated with calls. Having a properly stocked First Aid and medicine cabinet should be a no brainer, even if you are not preparing for a disaster. There are many premade kits that are very thorough, I recommend reading through contents and buying accordingly.
Light/Lighting: Having emergency lighting is extremely important. Whether it be a traditional flashlight powered by batteries, or candles, its good to have access to lighting. Useful for signaling as well, I personally have stock of both candles, flashlights, and batteries. Just as the flashlights and batteries go hand in hand, make sure you have lighters for the candles (additionally, do not buy scented candles. They can attract unwanted attention, insects, or animals). Lighters can also be used to starting fires in emergency situations.
Duct Tape: Useful to hundreds of things (just watch the Mythbusters episode on Duct Tape), having a few rolls on hand can help with your resourcefulness. I just bought NCAA branded Duck Tape (the Duck brand) because it was under retail for 10 yards, and don’t personally care how my Florida Gators tape looks so long as its the Duck Brand and 10 yards.
Fire Starter Kit/Tinder: Most survival kits that are premade will have some form of firestarting kit in them. If piecing together a kit yourself, click here to the myriad of options that may best suit your scenario.
Knife/MultiTool: A good knife or multitool can go a long way in being prepared. I recommend not going cheap on this item. There are many different options and kits, including knifes/hatchets with paracord handles, which add extra utility to the survival instrument. Click here to browse options
Contractor Bags/Tarps: Heavy duty bags or tarps can be used for a variety of purposes, including building shelters, making impromptu ponchos, keeping feet/shoes dry, storage, making makeshift splints etc. They’re cheap and worth having. Click to shop options
Backpack: Last but certainly not least on this list is a BACKPACK. What good are all the supplies if you have no way to transport them. Right now, the brand CABIN ZERO who make military esque bags are nearly 80% off. A 32L + bag would be my choice with plenty of compartments to organize supplies and access easily.
