Have you seen this list titled 100 Items to Disappear First? It’s a collection of items that, in case of serious emergency, are likely to disappear first. Now, I don’t know who created this list* or how accurate it is, but it’s worth a look. If nothing else, just to make you think.
I tend to be less “prepper” and more interested in living a more self-reliant lifestyle, so while I think some of these items are absolutely of value for emergency situations, others make me raise my eyebrows a bit. This topic came up on a local self-sufficient living list and I was impressed with what Sue Barnett had to say. It is a bit localized, but I think that no matter where you live you’ll find something to think about.
Unless were are under siege of war, I don’t see a lot of items just disappearing. But they surely [will be] more and more expensive to buy or maintain. There will come a point where you find you cannot afford them, and thus cannot afford to live here. Sadly many people have already reached that point and moved to the mainland. But those people are only putting off total bankruptcy by living some place where it is cheaper rather than learning to be more self-sufficient. Being dependent upon things like propane, lamp oil, generators and gasoline, canned goods and imported food, power tools, etc. is inviting downfall. In my opinion, it would be wise [to] gradually wean oneself from such dependency.
Case in point was the comment about using a water producing machine. Now you are dependent upon a commercial product that needs maintenance and uses electricity. That translates into cash expenditures. While one may be able to afford that now, do you know how to live comfortably without it? Having that knowledge and willingness to do it may become vital. Personally I prefer to store my water in glass one gallon and liter jugs. This frees up money in the budget for other things and makes me more self reliant.
While I indulge in the use of power tools and equipment now, I have taken the time to learn how to live without them. I have experimented with using other forms of power – animal, treadle, bicycle, etc. I currently use wood for cooking livestock food and could easily use it for my own meals, and often do! I use solar for electricity, and although that will require cash imput sometime in the future, it has taught me to be frugal with my electric use. Plus I have no monthly electric bills. I use catchment water even though I could hook up to county if I wanted to. I have learned about solar for cooking and water heating.
I have gradually cut my ties with imported food. If your are concerned about the future and are able to garden at all, I would suggest at least learning about it. Food will become costly, as prices are already going up.
Stockpiling: my suggestion would be to be careful. I made mistakes in the past by not taking into account that I was changing my lifestyle. As I weaned away from commercial food I found myself with boxes of canned goods I no longer wanted. So now I try to be more careful to stockpile only those things I’m sure I will need. Also be careful about items that deteriorate. Vog and moisture ruined some of my things and taught me to take extra steps in the storing process. On my own stockpile list are hand tools, basic resource items such as specialty nails, screws, latches, locks, chain, rope, lithium grease, oil, and things that I cannot make myself. Medicine and medical supplies for both humans and animals. Bleach, baking soda, soaps. I have a few slabs of paraffin. Buckets. Tarps and rolls of plastic sheeting (a pleasant indulgence on my part). Clothing and blankets. Kitchen pots/pans and kitchen hand tools. Lumber. PCV pipe. … I try to think of what items I use frequently that I cannot make myself. And I try to envision projects I may need in the future, such as a hoop house to grow food in, repairs to the house, etc. I already have a nice library of how-to books. And I have acquired a secure source of firewood.
I would suggest gradually switching your lifestyle to becoming more self reliant now instead of waiting until you’re at the point of fiscal disaster. Even little changes can free up cash better spent elsewhere.
I have to agree with Sue. If we continue to lead a lifestyle that includes lots of packaged foods, convenience items, and pretzels (see list item 82), then sure, it’s going to be hard to do without in the event of an emergency. It’s what we’ll be used to and anything less than what we’re used to will feel like a hardship. On the other hand, if we alter our habits so that many of our needs can be met locally on a day to day basis – from our own gardens, to knowing a farmer – it will be much easier to adapt in a less than ideal situation. Becoming more self-reliant is good for us in emergencies and day to day life – not to mention better for the environment.
Reprinted with permission.
*I’m linking to a pdf version of this list, though I see that it’s been copied and shared without credit all over the web. If you’re the author and I’m linking to the wrong site, please let me know.
As a “survivor” of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne in 2004, I can tell you what disappeared first in our communities near Melbourne, FL/Cape Canaveral, FL:
1 – Generators <– Lowe’s and Home Depot had their inventories cleared up north and shipped them down to FL in 2004
2 – Lumber <– lumber was similarly diverted
3 – Tarps
4 – Gasoline <– I have memories of those digital interstate highway signs announcing “Last available gas in Florida” at about exit 250 on I-95 southbound. In other words, to go south of about Daytona Beach there were allegedly no more gas for vehicles.
5 – Perishable foods. Grocery stores had to purge all items that had to be kept at less than about 40F after they lost power for as little as an hour. Our local Publix grocery store had nothing in their meat, dairy and produce sections. I’m not sure that was completely necessary — the food waste was unbelievable!
That whole experience was very surreal — having to choose what to evacuate and what to leave behind. It certainly made us realize how little we actually NEED…and that we have a lot of junk!
@vollmerdp Patricia, you bring up a good point in that in SOME emergency situations, a garden might not survive and be there to feed your family. (By no means am I suggesting to rely on only a garden for emergency preparedness, but I do think it’s a smart step to take for those who can.)
@Attainable Sustainable Of course, it depends on the type of emergency. A city under siege (i.e. zombies, terrorists, etc.) = garden! Hurricanes, tornadoes, fire = non-perishables.FWIW — when we were on the east coast of FL, my vegetable gardening was such a FAIL. I had flowers galore, but my veggies were either in feast or famine for some reason. Many of my veggie plants had rotted from an abundance of rain in 2002 and 2003. So by 2004 I had given up. My worst gardening experience of the 7 places I’ve lived since college…
Being self-reliant IS being prepared!
Last Days Hippy: I totally agree. But I wonder if stockpiling enough pretzels and graham crackers to last through a zombie apocalypse is a smart use of energy – wouldn’t that energy be better spent in growing a garden?
Woot woot! Of all the relavant things on this list ( I live without candy now, I don’t think I’ll need it in a crisis) we are ready!
I totally believe in self-reliance, we try to grow/raise all our own food, but I’m having a hard time w/ chocolate….so I have a *few* buckets fully stocked!
The inserted quote totally makes sense. Making small, frequent lifestyle changes will gradually bring you to self-reliance more naturally than stockpiling. The stockpiles will eventually run out…
Amanda Richards: I say stockpiling chocolate can never be a bad choice.
We’ve been watching that survivalist show – it’s scary to think about, but good to be prepared.