1. Have enough canned goods. Canned goods don't have to be cooked or heated - of course, they're better heated, but if you're out of power, cold green beans are better than having nothing at all. Green Beans, corn, refried beans, black beans, squash, mixed vegetables, tomatoes, soups, etc. (Purchase the foods that you and your family will actually eat.)
2. Cast iron skillets. You can cook with cast iron over an open fire. We currently cook most of our food with cast iron.
3. Enough flashlights and batteries for each person in the family. Have a few good quality flashlights and a battery charger.
4. Candles, matches and candle holders. When we lived in Florida through some of the really bad storms, we learned to go to the dollar stores ahead of time and buy plenty of candles & candle holders. We had enough candles to light up every room in the house, to include the bathrooms. Oil lamps work great, as well as Coleman Lanterns & flashlights.
4. Plenty of Distilled Water and bottled water.
5. I know that people laugh about peanut butter, but this is very important. Peanut butter has a lot of protein and will keep you from getting hungry. If the power is out, a peanut butter sandwich will keep you from having a low blood sugar attack. Having plenty of Ritz crackers, bread and unsalted peanuts on hand will help as well. Nuts (peanuts, cans of mixed nuts) are protein.
6. Having paper plates and plastic utensils on hand is a good idea if you can't use water to clean up dishes for a while.
7. Have plenty of blankets on hand in case the power goes out and you need to keep warm at night.
8. First Aid, Lotions, Soaps & Pain Relievers - Neosporin-type products, aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Band-Aids, Larger Bandages, Aloe Vera Gel, Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, AsperCreme (for sore muscles), Eye Wash, Refresh Tears for Dry Eyes, Arm & Hammer Saline Mist for Clogged Nasal Passages, Cetaphil Lotion, Bar Soaps such as Ivory, Sunscreen, Natural Bug Repellents, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, Body Wash & Shampoo, Baby Wipes (Fragrance-Free), Gold Bond Powder or generic (to prevent heat rash), Extra Toothbrushes & Toothpaste. (The Baby Wipes are great if you don't have access to water for whatever reason).
9. Vitamins we recommend - Nature Made Multi-Vitamins without all of the artificial ingredients, Magnesium 250 mg, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Zinc, Folic Acid, Kyolic Garlic (Helps fight viruses), Acidophilus (helps clear the bad bacteria out of your system) - GNC has a great acidophilus in a brown box and it doesn't have to be refrigerated $29.99 (sometimes on sale for about $22.99 - a 30 day supply).
10. Again, have a good supply of canned goods and items that don't have to be cooked, refrigerated or heated - maybe some jellies to add with the peanut butter. Flavored Oatmeal mixed with water will provide some energy. Gatorade will help replenish fluids. Think instant and quick & easy access to energy and protein such as protein bars. Think about the people in your family who suffer from low blood sugar and need a quick "pick-me-up".
11. Anti-bacterial wipes - just in case you don't have access to soap and water but need to clean your hands.
12. In case of a power outage (especially during the summer), have plenty of 100% cotton t-shirts, cotton undershirts, cotton underwear and cotton clothes on hand. Polyester doesn't breathe and a hot, humid summer is a LOT easier to manage while wearing cotton.
13. Women - first of all, you need to keep plenty of female products on hand. AND........Get used to comfortable shoes/tennis shoes and learn to manage without 4-inch heels, nail polish and designer everything. An economic collapse or natural disaster will be very, very difficult on high-maintenance women, especially those who are accustomed to luxury homes, luxury spas, high-end appliances, wealthy lifestyles, cars, etc. Get used to wearing a cotton t-shirt and a cap and being discreet. Learn to live without a selfie on Instagram. Stop posting your every purchase and/or move on Facebook. Not trying to insult or offend anyone, but high-maintenance people can make a bad situation even worse. People with lots of money may think that they are above disaster-related problems. However, there are a few things in life that even lots of money won't buy your way out of......be prepared.
14. Get used to cooking without the latest gadgets and high-end appliances. Learn to cook with cast iron and learn to eat simply.
15. Stop relying on GPS and learn to read an actual map. As a matter of fact, have the latest paper copy of a Rand-McNally Map in case of a power outage or the internet goes down.
16. Have plenty of neutral-colored clothing, such as earth tones - olive green, khaki, brown, taupe, or even dark colors such as black, charcoal gray or navy. Why? In the event of a collapse when people become unfriendly or even dangerous, you don't want to stand out like a sore thumb. You'll need to blend in and not draw attention to yourself. Don't walk around in designer clothes, carrying expensive designer handbags. What if you have to bug-out......and into the woods? Even a few camouflage prints would be helpful. You don't want to walk around in red, bright yellow or flashy prints. I'll go one step farther. If I were buying a new car today, I wouldn't even purchase something flashy or expensive. I would purchase a very neutral-colored vehicle that would blend in while parked in a parking lot. Flashy clothes, fancy jewelry, a pricey McMansion and expensive vehicle will instantly target you as someone of means with plenty of money and food.
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