100 Things to Disappear First In a Disaster
You might have seen this list floating around the internet. I don’t know who first created it. Nor do I know when. However, I thought it brought up some interesting points.
I took the liberty of reformatting it when I found it skipped items 14 and 15. Additionally, I added a couple to make 100.
One way or another this list of 100 things to disappear first is a good starting point when deciding what types of things you need to store in the event of a catastrophic disaster.
It also lets you know the types of things that everyone else will try to horde or grab during that last panic shopping trip.
Next, I also deleted some comments about how to use a few of the items. Mostly, because they were not detailed enough to be practical.
This list is not meant to be a purchasing guide. Rather it is to help you realize that when disasters occur, you might not have time to run to the store. Especially when everyone else is grabbing up these 100 items (and anything else they need).
Take this list with a grain of salt.
Please comment with any other items you think might disappear off the store shelves in an emergency.
Here is the List
- Vitamins
- Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch
- Milk – Powdered & Condensed
- Flour, yeast & salt
- Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
- Tuna Fish (in oil)
- Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
- Rice – Beans – Wheat
- Vegetable Oil (for cooking)
- Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
- Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
- Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
- Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
- Teas
- Chewing gum/candies
- Generators
- Water Filters/Purifiers
- Portable Toilets
- Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
- Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (CLEAR oil is best)
- Coleman Fuel.
- Ammunition
- Guns
- Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
- Hand Tools
- Charcoal, Lighter Fluid
- Water Containers
- Propane Cylinders
- Survival Guide Book.
- Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc.
- Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
- Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
- Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
- Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder
- Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
- Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
- Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
- Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty
- Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
- Garbage Bags
- Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
- Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid)
- Clothes pins/line/hangers
- Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
- Fire Extinguishers
- First aid kits
- Batteries (all sizes)
- Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
- Matches. {“Strike Anywhere” preferred.)
- Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
- Insulated ice chests Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
- Flashlights/Lightsticks & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
- Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
- Garbage cans Plastic
- Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
- Cast iron cookware
- Fishing supplies/tools
- Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
- Duct Tape
- Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
- Candles
- Laundry Detergent (liquid)
- Backpacks, Duffel Bags
- Garden tools & supplies
- Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
- Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
- Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
- Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
- Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
- Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
- Board Games, Cards, Dice
- d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
- Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
- Paper plates/cups/utensils
- Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap
- Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
- Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
- Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
- Reading glasses
- “Survival-in-a-Can”
- Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
- Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
- Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
- Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
- Lumber (all types)
- Wagons & carts
- Cots & Inflatable mattress’s
- Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
- Lantern Hangers
- Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
- Coffee
- Cigarettes
- Wine/Liquors
- Paraffin wax
- Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
- Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
- Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
- Medicine
- Goats/chickens
This list is useful in two ways:
First, by knowing the 100 things to disappear first you can either ensure you have what you need
Secondly, you can have extras to set your self up with the resources to trade.
Lastly, If you decide to go the trading route, remember that when people have nothing, they may be willing to try to take from those that have something. Also from a bartering perspective small and portable is more useful than large and bulky.
In conclusion, when I first got into disaster preparedness, I stocked up on small 100 ml bottles of liquor – it was small and portable, large enough to be valuable, but not so large as it was expensive.