There are so many reasons why it’s important to have a essential items in stock for an emergency. Whether it’s a medical pandemic, an extended power outage or a natural disaster, shortages can and do happen!
I used to roll my eyes at “Preppers”, but I’ve come a long way this year. I mean, HELLO, if you’ve made it this far into 2021 and still believe that nothing will ever happen to you, I don’t even know what to tell you. LOL
When we face these emergencies, it can be very overwhelming because finding everything we need in one day can be very expensive, and necessary items can be hard to come by!
This is why it’s so important to stockpile the items that you’ll need to survive at least 2-4 weeks, or longer!
I don’t think you should go out and purchase all of these items in one day, but it’s worthwhile to stockpile these items over time to ensure that you’ll have what you need in an emergency situation.
DISLAIMER: In light of Covid-19, I do not agree with going to the store and purchasing more than your family needs. That type of stockpiling takes from other people in need of items.
However, creating an Emergency stockpile when the country is not in a state of emergency is a responsible thing to do!
We should never live in fear of a disaster, and being prepared for the worst allows us to not panic when the time comes!
This list includes food, natural medication & supplements, survival essentials, cleaning supplies and more necessities to stock for an emergency!
CREATE AN EMERGENCY BINDER
I’ve created an Emergency Binder printable that includes everything you need!
This will help you start your own food storage, have a safe place for account numbers, insurance information. There are prompts to create evacuation plans and talk about emergency scenarios with your family.
BUILD A FOUNDATION OF HEALTH
When preparing for an emergency we always think of things we need to buy. And while those are important, it’s equally important to establish a foundation of health in your family.
There are always things that are going to be outside of our control. Maybe you’ve dealt with chronic or genetic health issues. I get that! But learning to take ownership on the things you can control is important!
What builds our foundation of health? (Hint: It’s not wearing a mask + avoiding people *gasp*)
- Drink enough water every day (half your bodyweight in ounces. So a 200lb person should drink 100oz of water EVERY DAY)
- At least 7-8 hours of sleep. Your body NEEDS enough sleep. That’s when it digests food, repairs cells and other vital processes to keep us healthy!
- Eat nutritious food. Replace packaged + processed foods with real, whole foods from the Earth.
- Get outside daily. Nature is healing – physically, mentally and emotionally.
- Adequate Vitamin D. Most people are unfortunately deficient in Vitamin D. The best way to get it is to spend 20-30 minutes outside every day. But if you’re like me and live in a cold climate that gets harder in the winter, so a supplement becomes necessary!
- Exercise. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym every day. But get in the habit of moving your body daily in a way that you enjoy! Maybe that’s a 20 minute Youtube workout, a Yoga class, a walk after dinner. Or maybe you do love spending an hour at the gym! The goal is to move your body to stay strong, and keep blood flowing.
FINANCIAL PREPARATION
One of the main reasons we feel panicked in an emergency is because we are out of control. For me, feeling out of control financially is one of the highest levels of stress.
The basic foundation of emergency preparedness is independence + self-sufficiency. And there’s no better way to do that than be financially independent.
Work towards a lifestyle where you aren’t dependent on the government, or even one stream of income/job.
Is there anything you can do to create an additional stream of income? Can you put more money into savings?
Most of us can’t become financially independent overnight. But we can begin to make decisions that put us on the right track for the future.
FOOD
I believe in eating a mostly whole-food diet with little to no processed food. However, obviously it isn’t possible to stockpile these types of items!
For a more detailed post on the pantry staples we keep stocked head over to this post!
I do still believe in the importance of stocking healthy foods, and very much think that’s possible! Of course, having a deep chest freezer is a good idea in order to always keep a little bit of extra food on hand! This is the deep freezer we have!
I think it’s important to note that you should keep food on hand that you’ll actually eat! If no one in your family likes sardines, don’t buy 5 cases of sardines! Stock up on the food you know you will eat!
- Dried or Canned Beans (lentils, chickpeas, black beans, etc)
- Pasta Sauce
- Pasta
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Rolled Oats
- Chicken Broth
- Canned Tomatoes
- Canned Beans, Corn, Veggies (Avoid added sugars)
- Canned Soups
- Crackers
- Peanut Butter
- Salsa
- Canned Tuna/Salmon
- Coconut Milk
- Fermented Foods – Sauerkraut, Kimchi, etc are shelf stable for many years and very nutritious!
- Ketchup
- Dried or freeze dried fruit
- Himalayan Salt/Mineral Salt (this one is full of minerals your body needs!)
- Cooking Oil (Olive/Coconut/Avocado)
- Coffee Beans
- Tea Bags
- Flour (you can make sourdough bread with just flour, water and salt!)
- Bottled Water or a Water Filter (This water filter is perfect even if you lose power!)
- Microgreen/Sprouting Seeds
- Granola Bars
- Trail Mix
- Electrolyte drinks (coconut water, or water with a small amount of salt work great and don’t have lots of sugars & dyes!)
- Baking Soda (for cleaning or baking!)
- White or Apple Cider Vinegar (my personal favourite)
- Raw Honey (Has lots of healing properties)
- Food for pets
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towel
- Aluminum Foil
PERISHABLE FOOD
In many cases, you may have an idea of the emergency before it actually hits. This is a good opportunity to stock up on some perishable items that you may not already have that still have a decently long shelf life (In the opportunity that you’ll remain in your house or a family member’s home).
- Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrots
- Milk
- Cheese
- Butter
- Apples
- Oranges
- Garlic
- Ginger
If you anticipate having access to a freezer…..
- Frozen Fruits
- Frozen Veggies
- Frozen Spinach
- Full Chicken (great to make broth, soup, etc)
- Chicken Breast
- Ground Beef
- Bread
MEDICAL/HYGIENE SUPPLIES
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Feminine Hygiene Products ( I recommend a menstrual cup!)
- Ibuprofen
- Bandaids
- Bandages
- Sterile Wipes
- Epsom Salts
- Thermometer
- Chapstick
- Biodegradable Soap (Castile Soap)
- Biodegradable Shampoo
- Biodegradable Dish soap (your dishwasher could stop working)
- All-purpose house cleaner ( I love Doterra’s natural cleaner)
- Condoms or other family planning
- 1 month of any prescription medications you take
- 1 month of any medications your pets need
- Eye Contacts & Contact solution
SUPPLEMENTS
I very rarely use Western Medicine in my home, and while I understand that there is a time and place for it, I much prefer the natural route!
If you choose to stockpile natural supplements, be sure you also know how to utilize them! I talked more in detail about the items I keep stocked in my holistic medicine cabinet here.
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin A
- Elderberry Syrup / Dried Elderberries
- Zinc
- Collodial Silver
- Oscillococcinum
- Probiotics
- Essential Oils (Helpful ones would be Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Oregano, Tea Tree, Frankincense, On Guard Blend, Breathe Blend, Purify Blend)
SURVIVAL SUPPLIES
If you’re an avid camper like myself, you likely have most of these! Make sure they are accessible to you in case of an emergency. If you aren’t a camper, take some time to not only collect these items, but make sure you know how to use them properly! Survival skills like creating or cooking over a fire are very important to learn!
Many of these I keep in our Emergency Car Kit!
- Sleeping Bags/Blankets
- Cooking Stove (We love this compact one!)
- Fuel for stove
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Extra Gasoline for car
- Matches
- Sunscreen (non-toxic of course)
- Bug Spray
- Plastic Tarp
- Rope (for clothesline, etc)
- Manual Can Opener
- Deck of cards for entertainment
- Shovel
- Duct Tape
- Thread & needle
- Tent
- Extra set of clothes including socks, shoes, jackets
Are you ready to put together your own Emergency Binder? I’ve done all the work for you!
I hope this list of 100 things to stock for an emergency helps you feel more prepared just in case!
