TIP 72 Items That Will Disappear First When The SHTF

I don't think anyone here is this prepared! A good list to think about, tho, and a good reminder. MMJ


http://sevenpod.com/index.php/2018/...tems-that-will-disappear-first-when-the-shtf/


When the SHTF People Will Start Panicking And Looting: 72 Items That Will Disappear First When The SHTF
May 29, 2018 sevenpod

There are many “xx items that go first after SHTF” lists out there on the internet. Most are the same old outdated stuff rehashed over and over. Some are just terrible, written by bloggers looking for something else to write, and some are decent but usually contain items specific to one scenario or another that may not apply to other situations.

Eventually everything will be gone if you wait long enough, but if you look at actual events such as a major hurricane here in the USA, the Greece financial meltdown, the collapse of USSR, the war in Syria, the situation in Venezuela, or any poor country that has been hit by a major disaster you’ll quickly see a pattern of items that disappear at the very beginning of a panic buying rush.

I have tried to condensed this pattern down to only 72 items and categorized them, here they are in no particular order.

Food & Supplies

Bottled Water will be the first to go without fail.

Canned Foods. People will just shove them into their carts without even looking at the labels. Another good barter item.

Rice, Beans, Wheat, Flour and Yeast. All these basic ingredients will be traded in mass and quickly hoarded.
Other grains whether marked for human or animal consumption will be hoarded quickly.

Water Filters/Purifiers including bleach will be impossible to find after the first few days.

Charcoal. Anyone without access to firewood will begin hoarding this immediately as they will see it as the only way to cook their food.

Deer and wild game may be shot and wiped from your local area quickly. This is a heavily debated topic but at the very least all the non-hunters trampling through the woods will make them harder to find.

Chickens, goats, cows, pigs and all other other forms of livestock will be worth their weight in gold, if not more. They will be hidden, hoarded, stolen, slaughtered, traded and sold quickly.

Cooking Oils will go fast. They can also be used to make oil lamps.

Milk, both powdered and condensed.

Salt is a precious and portable commodity. Salt has long been a cornerstone of economies throughout history. Greek slave traders often bartered salt for slaves, giving rise to the expression that someone was “not worth his salt.” Roman legionnaires were paid with salt—salarium, the Latin origin of the word “salary.” It is a vital nutrient and is used to preserve meat. At less than $.40 a pound salt makes a great barter item to stock up on, especially if it goes back to its pre-modern prices.

Cast iron pots and dutch ovens are long lasting and are made to be used over an open fire.

Gardening Supplies such as seeds, books, and tools.

Canning supplies including the jars, lids, pressure cookers, pectin, and other supplies. Most stores do not many canning supplies (even walmart has at best one shelf full, so just a small handful of people could easily clean out an entire store.

Jerky and other long lasting meats. Could snappin’ into a slim-jim save your life? Doubt it, I think roadkill has more nutrients (and more meat).

Teas, Coffee, Gatoraide and Koolaides. Instant, ground, bagged, and the pouches will go fast but not as fast as other items.

Hygiene supplies such as shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, mouthwash, floss, etc

First aid kits

OTC meds. Tylenol, Advil, cold & flu, cough syrup. Caffeine and sugar withdrawals are going to make everyone feel like crap at first. Expect heavy pain reliever use the first few weeks (especially for headaches and general soreness).

Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, and Toilet Paper. Did I mention toilet paper?

Vitamins and Herbal Supplements. Taking a daily vitamin could mean the different between surviving comfortably or dying from a nutrient deficiency disease such as scurvy.

Wine/Liquors will not be on the shelves for long. They are also good bartering tools, can be used medicinally, and are useful for making many herbal medicines (vodka is good for this)

Gas masks, if they can be found, will fly off the shelves because of tear gas etc, and for the non-preppers, the “cool factor” of having a piece of actual survival gear will compel them to grab one.

Baby/Toddler Supplies Things like formula, cloth diapers, wash cloths, and even cheap toys can mean a lot as barter items if you do not need them yourself.

More Advanced Surgical and Medicinal Items. I’m dealing mostly with store bought items in this list but hospitals, urgent care, and veterinary clinics will be cleaned out quickly once they are shut down.

Camping & Outdoor

Guns, cleaning kits, ammo, misc hunting and camping supplies. Pretty much anything in hunting and camping isles will be cleaned out and gone almost immediately.

Flashlights, lanterns, and glowsticks. And don’t forget the batteries or fuel.

Bow saws, axes and hatchets, wedges, machetes, hunting knives, sharpening stones and honing oil.

Fishing supplies/toolsHunting wild game requires more knowledge than fishing. Everyone knows or can quickly learn how to fish.

Camo and hunting clothes, kevlar body armor.

Bug traps and sprays, and mice traps. mmmmm, rat stew.

Tarps, plastic rolls, stakes, duct tape, twine, nails, rope, hammers and spikes or anything that can be used to fasten down something or improvise a shelter.

Survival and medical related magazines, books and guides. All those lacking even the basic skills needed to grow food and survive will look for any information available.

Wagons, wheelbarrows and carts (including shopping carts) will become a great way to transport things around.

Gasoline Containers or anything that could be a gas or water container.

Lumber and other building supplies.

Clothes pins/line/hangers are often overlooked but important prepping items. They make life without a washing machine and dryer much easier.

Insulated ice chests are half decent makeshift baskets and can keep items from freezing in the winter.

Gloves. Gloves, gloves, and more gloves. They can keep you warm and protect your hands.

Work boots, belts, blue jeans, thick socks.

Cold weather clothing and weather clothing. Look for wool or polyester. Avoid cotton in the winter.


Household Odds & Ins

Candles Lots of them, but unscented and long burning. Stocking up on scented candles can be a real mistake. That fresh linen smell or peppermint orange will really get annoying after several weeks of daily use.

Bleach. Make sure you get plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite bleach. Read the labels because, yes, you will be using this to purify your drinking water.

Knives & Sharpening tools are worth mentioning on their own. Carbon steel knives are better than stainless. Sharpening stones are a must. Possibly the best all around knife you could ever buy is a high carbon steel Mora knife ($10 on Amazon with free shipping). The material is harder than stainless steel and they have a Scandinavian grind that makes them extremely sharp, durable, and even easier to resharpen than most knives.

Backpacks, Duffel Bags. Don’t miss this. Everyone in your house should have at least one good quality good backpack or even a hiking bag. Hauling, supply runs, and bugging out are some of their many uses. Duffle bags might be cheaper but are a real pain to walk with compared to a backpack.

Large garbage cans and garbage bags can be used for trash, storage, water collection, hauling goods etc. Garbage bags have dozens and dozens of uses, the thick 55 gallon size being the best.

Cleaning and disinfecting supplies

Paper, pads, pencils, sharpeners, pens, and solar calculators

Sleeping Bags, Blankets, Pillows, Mats and Inflatable Mattresses. A manually operated handheld pump is a must if you want an inflatable mattress.

Buckets of all sizes and shapes. They will be used extensively.You never know how bad you need a container until you do not have one.

Plastic Wrap and Insulation

Glue, duct tape, nails, nuts, bolts, screws

Portable Toilets or 5 gallon bucket toilet lids.

Weapons, not just guns and ammo but also pepper spray, knives, clubs, bats, tasers, slingshots, pellet rifles.

Washboards, plungers, mop buckets with a wringer for your laundry.

Aluminum foil. The regular and heavy duty kinds can be used for cooking and to harness some power from the sun for purifying water and cooking.

Brooms, shovels, rakes, pitchforks, pick axes, hoes, general gardening tools.

Animal Control Products such as cage traps, dog collars and runners, etc.

Have you ever thought about living without electricity, internet or mobiles? We can guarantee that the majority of our readers can never imagine this kind of scenarios.
However, there are chances that this type of conditions arises in your life due to flooding, tornadoes, draught or even war.
How could you survive in this type of dangerous condition? We believe you should stay prepared by learning the essential skills needed to deal with these disasters, watching this video

Other Items Worth Having

Bibles. 83% percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, and many more will find their religion when the SHTF. Bibles will be in demand and can be used to barter items. A box of 100 small Bibles cost about $20.

Prescription medications. How will you continue your medications without a pharmacy?

Duct Tape and Electrical Tape can fix just about anything.

Bicycles with tires, tubes, repair kits, pumps, chains, etc Bikes will become extremely valuable as they are the most efficient method of transportation.

Hand pumps & siphons for gas, water, oil.

Cigarettes A good bartering item, but salt is probably a better one.

Generators will fly off the shelves. Buy now cause nothing will be available when they are needed. Options include solar, gas, diesel, propane, and kerosene. Generators are loud and people will kill over generators.

Seasoned Firewood seasoned for 6 – 12 months.

Lighters, matches, flint and steel fire starters, fire pistons A good rule of thumb is get 3x more than you think you will need. And just in case you never heard of fire piston, it is a handheld device that can start a fire with just air,so it makes a great addition to any plan.

Batteries Buy all sizes and look at the expiration dates. Rechargeable batteries are ideal but more costly. Don’t forget about 12v car batteries and solar recharger stations.

Solar Power Most people cannot go full solar but a basic (and portable) system could be built for a few hundred dollars and could power a few basic necessities when necessary.

Smoke house and a root cellar can be invaluable for processing and storing food.

Gold and Silver will be the new currency when things begin to settle but not so much during an ongoing situation. Gold and silver coins don’t matter much when you have no food.

Motorcycles cheap(er), easy to maintain and gas goes a long way.

Extra items worth mentioning

A good manual or belt operated grain grinder would be a valuable tool. Put together a bug out bag (BOB) for every member of your family and set up multiple meeting areas around your neighborhood.

Walkie Talkies are great but remember to buy rechargeable batteries and a solar battery charger. Print out or copy any important documents you may need (especially ones online) now instead of later. Build any buildings you need ,such as a smoke house or root cellar, now instead of later. Stock up on some motor oil, it can be used to lubricate and protect metal items and tools.

Final Thoughts

These items will become so much more valuable after a SHTF situation happens, so now is the time to stock up on these things before something was to happen.
 

mzkitty

I give up.
I just finished reading I, Claudius earlier this week, and now I'm reading Winston Churchill's The Birth of Britain.

I have to say it's nice that people think they can keep the stuff they prep/hoard/stash, etc. In most instances throughout history, what happens is a bunch of guys have what you wanted, and they gang up, and then they come and kill you and take every freaking thing you saved. Doesn't matter if you have weapons, they will overrun you.

In Britain, a wealthy guy buried his family's silver because the Picts, Scots, and Saxons banded together and went against the rest of the people in Britain. This was in the year 367 and people did have nice things. Apparently they all got killed because they never came back and dug up their stuff. A farmer recently found it and it's in the British Museum now.
 

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Ractivist

Pride comes before the fall.....Pride month ended.
A prepper article, almost quaint these days........... just saying. Seems we focus on the news, mostly, these days.... I think that's a good sign. Glad majo posted this as a reminder, refresher. Now is the time to shore up, the world is going to flip soon enough..... everything seems to be falling in place as Prophesied.
 

parable

Senior Member
Have always had an interest in reading about survival. Began with “Mysterious Island.” I was a child of parents who did not escape any of the effects of the Depression. For myself and most of my friends with like thinking, there seems to be a narrow margin in time between when you can actually live where you want in order to survive, afford to get what you need to survive, and still have the the age and strength to use all that and hopefully, survive. More realistically, I think, is the post of mzkitty above.
 

Martinhouse

Deceased
A really nice thing about the baling twine is that it's made to stand up to lots of sun without deteriorating. Used to be years and years. Not sure if it's quite as good nowadays, but likely still better than anything else that's easy to find.

Think what a strong rope it would make if three strands were braided together!

It comes in other colors now and isn't as thick as it used to be. The light blue blends nicely with the gray of fencing...doesn't really catch the eye at all, like the orange and yellow do.
 

Green Co.

Administrator
_______________
Instead of baling wire or twine, for many years and uses, I've been using 14ga electric fence wire. Hell for strong, galvanized weather proof, so many uses. And not too expensive, around $40 for 2600' at our local farm supply.

For non-metal uses, I still like para-cord. I keep many 100's of feet, in the truck, RV, etc. Get the good stuff, not the imitation.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Instead of baling wire or twine, for many years and uses, I've been using 14ga electric fence wire. Hell for strong, galvanized weather proof, so many uses. And not too expensive, around $40 for 2600' at our local farm supply.

For non-metal uses, I still like para-cord. I keep many 100's of feet, in the truck, RV, etc. Get the good stuff, not the imitation.

IIRC (and I might be wrong... it's been many years since I've seen baling *wire*... for all its strength and repurposing uses, it had one fatal flaw... too often, cows ate pieces of the stuff and developed hardware disease, which was frequently fatal) baling wire was relatively "soft". Not a lot of "spring" to it, and fairly easily twisted or bent into shape by hand.

For sure, high tensile fencing wire doesn't have *that* property!

We've got enough of the latter, in gauges from 12 to some aluminum coated 15 gauge, that we aren't likely to run out anytime soon. Ditto the baling twine, although we still use the sisal twine (antique baker doesn't like plastic). I use the twine for marking garden rows, tying up livestock panels to t-posts for pea and bean supports, and a million other uses.

Heck, almost 40 years ago, one of our very first acts was to take a chainsaw and rip out all the old fashioned "scissors stanchions" the cheapskate moron who built the barn had installed. They were cow killers... no "give" to them, and cows would stomp on their udders or blow out tendons in their hocks or other joints attempting to stand up in a stanchion that didn't allow them to move forward or back.

We installed tie bars instead, but we were dead broke and for almost 15 years, those the bars were secured to the upright posts with baling twine! It worked, too, although we were grateful when we could finally afford to have a local ironsmith make custom brackets and we mounted them with 4" lag bolts.

However, we also "temporarily" used baling twine (four lengths of twine off two bales, so they were loops that were exactly the right length.. And 8 strands thick) and heavy iron snaps to tie the cows. The plan was to replace them with chains welded to the tie bar, eventually. However, we discovered that the twine ties worked very well, were easily replaced when they'd become worn and frayed (about every 2-3 years), but most important, if a big cow got hung up in the stall somehow, they would break before she strangled. We've long since abandoned any plans to replace them with chains!

The list in the OP fascinates me, because it's amazing how much of the stuff on there we do have, just because if our lifestyle as small farmers and homesteaders. Certainly not everything, but enough that we often don't need to see the inside of a grocery store for months, and I haven't bought clothing in probably 8 years. I know a lot of people would go nuts living this way, but I enjoy it. When (as has happened twice in the past week) bridal shower or wedding invitations show up in the mail, I don't think, "damn, where are we going to get the money to get presents?".. I think about what colors and patterns to use for hand quilted accessory items for their kitchen I'll make.

Summerthyme
 

Publius

TB Fanatic
Beer and wine if you know how to make you may find your self very popular, some people willing to trade anything for a bottle, you will have people working for you..
 

NoMoreLibs

Kill Commie's, Every Single One Of Them!
Ahhh, good doom shit for sure. A little boom, boom in Israel, down 400 points in the DOW, Trump getting screwed all the time, Sub-Zero Obama and Ofrah all oiled up, neekkeed and scissoring for the 2020 election and now this timely retread. I love it.

Get your act together, November (winter) is coming. 2020 will be here kicking you in the nuts (or ovaries if that's what you've been given) before you can blink.

And what? No ubiquitous 22LR on the list? I guess I can stop buying....cough, sputter, cough....almost finished it, just couldn't. No, don't stop buying 22LR.
 

Cacheman

Ultra MAGA!
A really nice thing about the baling twine is that it's made to stand up to lots of sun without deteriorating. Used to be years and years. Not sure if it's quite as good nowadays, but likely still better than anything else that's easy to find.

Think what a strong rope it would make if three strands were braided together!

It comes in other colors now and isn't as thick as it used to be. The light blue blends nicely with the gray of fencing...doesn't really catch the eye at all, like the orange and yellow do.

I bought a ropemaking machine from Lehmans Hardware years ago that will make either 3 or 4 strand rope, also looking on the internet there's alot of plans for making one yourself.
 

Martinhouse

Deceased
About ten years ago a friend of mine, who scrounges better than anyone else I know, brought me a huge wad of the blue and white baling twine. It was in a huge tangle and I think it was from a pile that the cattlemen leave by their gates when they set out a new big round bale of hay. Anyway, it was dirty and I had no idea where it had been, so I hung it on the back fence and forgot about it for about two or three years. I came across it, all clean from rain and weather and brought it in and spent a day and a half untangling it. I rolled it all into two huge balls of twine, tying on each untangled piece of twine as I was rolling. Each ball was nearly the size of a cocker ball and I'm still using it. It is still as clean and strong as brand-new, with no fraying from sun damage at all...there just doesn't seem to be any wear on it at all.

This twine is perfect for putting up fencing if you are working alone. It can be slip-knotted and pulled tight with one hand and then picked loose after the wire is twisted on. If you're not worried about anyone cutting the twice with a pocketknife, or animals chewing on it, it can be almost as permanent as twisted wire or those fasteners one uses with T-posts.
 

Dobbin

Faithful Steed
Wood for heat - at least in northern climates.

Owner has no more than two years standing in outdoor piles - and a third year in the shed. Leave wood outdoors in the exposed piles and in Owner's opinion the piles start to degrade.

One would do well to have wood pellets in stock at least for the winter coming - but don't pellet stoves generally have the downside of needing the electric grid to work? And pellet stoves do have the downside of technology. I've seen Owner's search history and the low price craigslist pellet stoves seem to always have an issue: either an auger motor burned out, a fan kaput, or (worst) the "motherboard" fried. If you're talented at fixing things mechanical like Owner, you might get a deal. Or you might not.

Owner himself on this board has advocated kerosene light backup, possibly long term. But he has had a re-think on this since his departure. Now I think he would shy away from Kerosene as "too dependent on oil markets." Meanwhile solar via battery storage has a similar marketplace reliance on battery life and replacement of same after the batteries go south? Think of "cordless tools." Which are the ultimate consumer convenience tool - with emphasis on "consumer." But perhaps better than a 1000 gallons of kerosene which when it is gone, is GONE?

Plus there is Owner's rule of "NO FIRE IN THE BARN EVER" - which includes his use of the welders. Wood floor yunno.

Dobbin
 

Shep

Contributing Member
I don't think anyone here is this prepared! A good list to think about, tho, and a good reminder. MMJ


http://sevenpod.com/index.php/2018/...tems-that-will-disappear-first-when-the-shtf/


When the SHTF People Will Start Panicking And Looting: 72 Items That Will Disappear First When The SHTF
May 29, 2018 sevenpod

There are many “xx items that go first after SHTF” lists out there on the internet. Most are the same old outdated stuff rehashed over and over. Some are just terrible, written by bloggers looking for something else to write, and some are decent but usually contain items specific to one scenario or another that may not apply to other situations.

Eventually everything will be gone if you wait long enough, but if you look at actual events such as a major hurricane here in the USA, the Greece financial meltdown, the collapse of USSR, the war in Syria, the situation in Venezuela, or any poor country that has been hit by a major disaster you’ll quickly see a pattern of items that disappear at the very beginning of a panic buying rush.

I have tried to condensed this pattern down to only 72 items and categorized them, here they are in no particular order.

Food & Supplies

Bottled Water will be the first to go without fail.

Canned Foods. People will just shove them into their carts without even looking at the labels. Another good barter item.

Rice, Beans, Wheat, Flour and Yeast. All these basic ingredients will be traded in mass and quickly hoarded.
Other grains whether marked for human or animal consumption will be hoarded quickly.

Water Filters/Purifiers including bleach will be impossible to find after the first few days.

Charcoal. Anyone without access to firewood will begin hoarding this immediately as they will see it as the only way to cook their food.

Deer and wild game may be shot and wiped from your local area quickly. This is a heavily debated topic but at the very least all the non-hunters trampling through the woods will make them harder to find.

Chickens, goats, cows, pigs and all other other forms of livestock will be worth their weight in gold, if not more. They will be hidden, hoarded, stolen, slaughtered, traded and sold quickly.

Cooking Oils will go fast. They can also be used to make oil lamps.

Milk, both powdered and condensed.

Salt is a precious and portable commodity. Salt has long been a cornerstone of economies throughout history. Greek slave traders often bartered salt for slaves, giving rise to the expression that someone was “not worth his salt.” Roman legionnaires were paid with salt—salarium, the Latin origin of the word “salary.” It is a vital nutrient and is used to preserve meat. At less than $.40 a pound salt makes a great barter item to stock up on, especially if it goes back to its pre-modern prices.

Cast iron pots and dutch ovens are long lasting and are made to be used over an open fire.

Gardening Supplies such as seeds, books, and tools.

Canning supplies including the jars, lids, pressure cookers, pectin, and other supplies. Most stores do not many canning supplies (even walmart has at best one shelf full, so just a small handful of people could easily clean out an entire store.

Jerky and other long lasting meats. Could snappin’ into a slim-jim save your life? Doubt it, I think roadkill has more nutrients (and more meat).

Teas, Coffee, Gatoraide and Koolaides. Instant, ground, bagged, and the pouches will go fast but not as fast as other items.

Hygiene supplies such as shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, mouthwash, floss, etc

First aid kits

OTC meds. Tylenol, Advil, cold & flu, cough syrup. Caffeine and sugar withdrawals are going to make everyone feel like crap at first. Expect heavy pain reliever use the first few weeks (especially for headaches and general soreness).

Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, and Toilet Paper. Did I mention toilet paper?

Vitamins and Herbal Supplements. Taking a daily vitamin could mean the different between surviving comfortably or dying from a nutrient deficiency disease such as scurvy.

Wine/Liquors will not be on the shelves for long. They are also good bartering tools, can be used medicinally, and are useful for making many herbal medicines (vodka is good for this)

Gas masks, if they can be found, will fly off the shelves because of tear gas etc, and for the non-preppers, the “cool factor” of having a piece of actual survival gear will compel them to grab one.

Baby/Toddler Supplies Things like formula, cloth diapers, wash cloths, and even cheap toys can mean a lot as barter items if you do not need them yourself.

More Advanced Surgical and Medicinal Items. I’m dealing mostly with store bought items in this list but hospitals, urgent care, and veterinary clinics will be cleaned out quickly once they are shut down.

Camping & Outdoor

Guns, cleaning kits, ammo, misc hunting and camping supplies. Pretty much anything in hunting and camping isles will be cleaned out and gone almost immediately.

Flashlights, lanterns, and glowsticks. And don’t forget the batteries or fuel.

Bow saws, axes and hatchets, wedges, machetes, hunting knives, sharpening stones and honing oil.

Fishing supplies/toolsHunting wild game requires more knowledge than fishing. Everyone knows or can quickly learn how to fish.

Camo and hunting clothes, kevlar body armor.

Bug traps and sprays, and mice traps. mmmmm, rat stew.

Tarps, plastic rolls, stakes, duct tape, twine, nails, rope, hammers and spikes or anything that can be used to fasten down something or improvise a shelter.

Survival and medical related magazines, books and guides. All those lacking even the basic skills needed to grow food and survive will look for any information available.

Wagons, wheelbarrows and carts (including shopping carts) will become a great way to transport things around.

Gasoline Containers or anything that could be a gas or water container.

Lumber and other building supplies.

Clothes pins/line/hangers are often overlooked but important prepping items. They make life without a washing machine and dryer much easier.

Insulated ice chests are half decent makeshift baskets and can keep items from freezing in the winter.

Gloves. Gloves, gloves, and more gloves. They can keep you warm and protect your hands.

Work boots, belts, blue jeans, thick socks.

Cold weather clothing and weather clothing. Look for wool or polyester. Avoid cotton in the winter.


Household Odds & Ins

Candles Lots of them, but unscented and long burning. Stocking up on scented candles can be a real mistake. That fresh linen smell or peppermint orange will really get annoying after several weeks of daily use.

Bleach. Make sure you get plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite bleach. Read the labels because, yes, you will be using this to purify your drinking water.

Knives & Sharpening tools are worth mentioning on their own. Carbon steel knives are better than stainless. Sharpening stones are a must. Possibly the best all around knife you could ever buy is a high carbon steel Mora knife ($10 on Amazon with free shipping). The material is harder than stainless steel and they have a Scandinavian grind that makes them extremely sharp, durable, and even easier to resharpen than most knives.

Backpacks, Duffel Bags. Don’t miss this. Everyone in your house should have at least one good quality good backpack or even a hiking bag. Hauling, supply runs, and bugging out are some of their many uses. Duffle bags might be cheaper but are a real pain to walk with compared to a backpack.

Large garbage cans and garbage bags can be used for trash, storage, water collection, hauling goods etc. Garbage bags have dozens and dozens of uses, the thick 55 gallon size being the best.

Cleaning and disinfecting supplies

Paper, pads, pencils, sharpeners, pens, and solar calculators

Sleeping Bags, Blankets, Pillows, Mats and Inflatable Mattresses. A manually operated handheld pump is a must if you want an inflatable mattress.

Buckets of all sizes and shapes. They will be used extensively.You never know how bad you need a container until you do not have one.

Plastic Wrap and Insulation

Glue, duct tape, nails, nuts, bolts, screws

Portable Toilets or 5 gallon bucket toilet lids.

Weapons, not just guns and ammo but also pepper spray, knives, clubs, bats, tasers, slingshots, pellet rifles.

Washboards, plungers, mop buckets with a wringer for your laundry.

Aluminum foil. The regular and heavy duty kinds can be used for cooking and to harness some power from the sun for purifying water and cooking.

Brooms, shovels, rakes, pitchforks, pick axes, hoes, general gardening tools.

Animal Control Products such as cage traps, dog collars and runners, etc.

Have you ever thought about living without electricity, internet or mobiles? We can guarantee that the majority of our readers can never imagine this kind of scenarios.
However, there are chances that this type of conditions arises in your life due to flooding, tornadoes, draught or even war.
How could you survive in this type of dangerous condition? We believe you should stay prepared by learning the essential skills needed to deal with these disasters, watching this video

Other Items Worth Having

Bibles. 83% percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, and many more will find their religion when the SHTF. Bibles will be in demand and can be used to barter items. A box of 100 small Bibles cost about $20.

Prescription medications. How will you continue your medications without a pharmacy?

Duct Tape and Electrical Tape can fix just about anything.

Bicycles with tires, tubes, repair kits, pumps, chains, etc Bikes will become extremely valuable as they are the most efficient method of transportation.

Hand pumps & siphons for gas, water, oil.

Cigarettes A good bartering item, but salt is probably a better one.

Generators will fly off the shelves. Buy now cause nothing will be available when they are needed. Options include solar, gas, diesel, propane, and kerosene. Generators are loud and people will kill over generators.

Seasoned Firewood seasoned for 6 – 12 months.

Lighters, matches, flint and steel fire starters, fire pistons A good rule of thumb is get 3x more than you think you will need. And just in case you never heard of fire piston, it is a handheld device that can start a fire with just air,so it makes a great addition to any plan.

Batteries Buy all sizes and look at the expiration dates. Rechargeable batteries are ideal but more costly. Don’t forget about 12v car batteries and solar recharger stations.

Solar Power Most people cannot go full solar but a basic (and portable) system could be built for a few hundred dollars and could power a few basic necessities when necessary.

Smoke house and a root cellar can be invaluable for processing and storing food.

Gold and Silver will be the new currency when things begin to settle but not so much during an ongoing situation. Gold and silver coins don’t matter much when you have no food.

Motorcycles cheap(er), easy to maintain and gas goes a long way.

Extra items worth mentioning

A good manual or belt operated grain grinder would be a valuable tool. Put together a bug out bag (BOB) for every member of your family and set up multiple meeting areas around your neighborhood.

Walkie Talkies are great but remember to buy rechargeable batteries and a solar battery charger. Print out or copy any important documents you may need (especially ones online) now instead of later. Build any buildings you need ,such as a smoke house or root cellar, now instead of later. Stock up on some motor oil, it can be used to lubricate and protect metal items and tools.

Final Thoughts

These items will become so much more valuable after a SHTF situation happens, so now is the time to stock up on these things before something was to happen.
Well that covers just about EVERYTHING! I must say that every time I pass any canning supplies I pick up at least 2 boxes of each size lids.

BTW one can reuse the lids. I’ve been doing that for years and we’re still upright and breathing. Sometimes you get a failure but when TSHTF it’s good to know.
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
I just finished reading I, Claudius earlier this week, and now I'm reading Winston Churchill's The Birth of Britain.

I have to say it's nice that people think they can keep the stuff they prep/hoard/stash, etc. In most instances throughout history, what happens is a bunch of guys have what you wanted, and they gang up, and then they come and kill you and take every freaking thing you saved. Doesn't matter if you have weapons, they will overrun you.

In Britain, a wealthy guy buried his family's silver because the Picts, Scots, and Saxons banded together and went against the rest of the people in Britain. This was in the year 367 and people did have nice things. Apparently they all got killed because they never came back and dug up their stuff. A farmer recently found it and it's in the British Museum now.
This has occurred to me more than once. That is why we have the plan b to run out the back with a bug out bag and go somewhere else if needed. We simply can not have enough people or preps to handle the hordes no matter what.

If things to TU, we will be forced out at some point. It is not a question of will it happen, but rather when will it happen?
 

jed turtle

a brother in the Lord
If yu know the horde is coming, yu and your neighbors can drop big trees into the road (top end pointing in their direction) to close the road and force them out of their vehicles, making them easy targets
 

SackLunch

Dirt roads take me home
Generator.
Buy a reliable one and use it.

An off-grid friend bought a dual fuel generator from a big box store. He's now on his fourth one in less than two years because they keep failing. The last one failed in less than four months.

The big box store is replacing them without cost, but that didn't charge his batteries or keep his well pump running for three weeks he had to wait for the big box store to get a replacement genetator in stock.
 

anna43

Veteran Member
Some of us are old and have health issues. I have no intention of becoming a refugee. If I'm going to die anyway, it will be fighting to stay in my home. This is something my late dh and I discussed when we first started prepping and this is the decision we made and it holds for me today.
 

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
in regard to wire >>> "tie wire" for rebar work prior to a concrete pour is great universal use wire - strong but plenty of flex & twist - available in the masonry section of the home improvement stores in small coils ....
 

rob0126

Veteran Member
If yu know the horde is coming, yu and your neighbors can drop big trees into the road (top end pointing in their direction) to close the road and force them out of their vehicles, making them easy targets

Or drop some road spikes in your driveway.
 
I'm the one who is dazed and confused, now.....how on earth did my old post appear, now?????? Altho I do agree it is still a good topic, I wasn't the one who posted it, again....that was 2 years ago...can someone else submit another's post as the OP....this was one I posted over 2 years ago! I'm stymied....not complaining, tho, since the topic is as relevant as ever. (the real MaJo)
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
It's just an old thread, resurrected when soneone apparently did a search on the subject and then replied rather than starting a new thread. It's fine...

Summerthyme
 

West

Senior
I'm the one who is dazed and confused, now.....how on earth did my old post appear, now?????? Altho I do agree it is still a good topic, I wasn't the one who posted it, again....that was 2 years ago...can someone else submit another's post as the OP....this was one I posted over 2 years ago! I'm stymied....not complaining, tho, since the topic is as relevant as ever. (the real MaJo)

Fish Hook bumped it.

I really like coconut oil, and it seems last. I think it takes less oil to fry stuff than other oils.

Atwood's a farm and garden store in our AO has gallon size boxes of bacon grease. I passed on it for fear that it would just go rancid fast.
 

kenny1659

Veteran Member
One small thing that could save your back down the road. Wheel barrows, hand carts, garden carts, and wagons with pneumatic tires, replace the tires with No-flat tires and solid tires. Metal wheels do not roll very well any pebble or stick will stop them.
 
Well, I may as well jump in, too! Just remembering that awhile back, FEMA warned that we should be prepared for having to go without power for (possibly) months. If it were really months, few of us would survive. But maybe for weeks, so if it were that, what would you stock up to have on hand...generators and gas supplies won't be good for that long!

I'm thankful to have been around for preparing for Y2K, since I even got a washer to enable me to wash clothes without electricity. And a scrub board. In fact, if you can get your hands on books on preparing for Y2K or even current ones on prepping, I highly recommend you do so.

Where would you hang your clothes after washing them...if you don't or can't have wash lines, can you see yourselves hanging the drippy garments over the backs off all your chairs? What about a collapsible dryer that some catalogs like Lehmans feature. Easy to store.

I went all out for Y2K...got rain barrels for each corner of the house, so there would be water to use for plant or flushing toilets. Got large plastic pails to store household water in. I almost made getting ready for Y2K a career! Sounds silly, now, but I don't regret it...it was good to feel being ready for whatever. I had just retired.

Oh, yes, got a really nice kerosene stove and plenty of kero. I know....you need to use it where you have some fresh air. That lovely stove is still sitting unused, taking up space. At my age, I don't expect to use it.

Be sure you have enough warm blankets. Candles. Propane would be useful with a propane stove. For Y2K, I even bought a Pyramid stove that could even burn pine cones! Never had to use the stove, it's still sitting up on top of a utility shelf.

Stock up on a good supply of paper plates, bowls, cups and plastic cutlery.

Lots of soaps (hand and liquid for dishes and clothes.)

In fact, if any of you can dig up some of the info we pored over to prepare for Y2K, that would be an excellent way to prepare for the threatened likely prolonged power outage.

What about plenty of candles, and for Y2K, I bought a couple of Aladdin lamps with the bottles of oil for them.

Recently, I heard a lady Dr. describe how, without being able to use flush toilets, what could be used. (This would not be practical for city residents.) She said for each person, have a 5 gallon pail. Put a layer of leaves on the bottom of it, and as the person uses the pail as his or her individual toilet, cover what you just did with another layer of leaves. Keep the pail covered with the lid. She said to repeat that with each "evacuation" and when the pail is full, dig a hole and bury it. She even said ideally, bury it near a tree, and that will nourish the tree! This was a lady Dr., and she said she tried it with her family, awhile back, and it worked fine.....(she lives in a country setting.)

Lastly, don't forget your pets....I have stocked up on quite a bit of dog food, just in case...if nothing else, I know the price will keep escalating.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Fish Hook bumped it.

I really like coconut oil, and it seems last. I think it takes less oil to fry stuff than other oils.

Atwood's a farm and garden store in our AO has gallon size boxes of bacon grease. I passed on it for fear that it would just go rancid fast.
I suspect if you read the label, they've added sone sort of antioxidant as a preservative. But since you get bacon grease every time you cook bacon, it's silly to buy it. I don't see any reason you couldn't save it by pouring it very hot into *sterilized*, DRY (I'd use the dishwasher sanitize cycle) jars and then sealing with sanitized canning lids. We use this for storing lard, and have found it stays fresh and doesn't get rancid for at least 2-3 years, stored cool and dark.

Summerthyme
 

Jackpine Savage

Veteran Member
Third on the baling twine, great stuff to have on hand. Just to add, there are several options, plastic or sisal. Different strengths, 110 up to 350lb.

My DD kept asking me for twine for projects. FYI, twine bales are meant to have the twine pulled from the center of the bale, and if you leave a bale laying around it will be a tangled mess. I found a food service frosting bucket the perfect size for a bale, cut a hole in the lid to pull the twine out of. That should keep her supplied for awhile. On the to do list is to fasten a blade to the bucket, somewhat protected.

 
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