Non food items to stockpile for emergencies – these are essentials. I know we talk about foods to store and stockpile but there are quite a few items that need to stored up for emergency purposes too.
I think 2020 has been a wake up call to many who never thought about “prepping” before. We watched as grocery store shelves quickly became and stayed bare for weeks.
Creating a stockpile is NOT about hoarding at the last minute. Hoarding during an emergency is part of the reason we had, and continue to see, the empty shelves.
Hoarding is a impulse reaction and we want to avoid that with careful planning and putting away of our essentials.
Non-Food Items to Stockpile
Now obviously when it comes to creating a stockpile food and water are your first priority. We can’t live without water and nutrients.
I am not a prepper, where do I start?
I don’t consider myself a “prepper” and honestly that term is more about Hollywood than reality. People have putting away for a rainy day for hundreds of years.
What do I do if I don’t have any money for stockpiling?
I understand that. But if you can give up one trip to fast food then you can build a stockpile for $10 a week!
SEE: How to Build a Stockpile for $10 a Week
Also Shopping Sale Cycles is a tremendous budget booster. Here are lists of what to be every month of the year:
What other things do I need to know about preparing for emergencies?
- Prepare for a Power Outage
- Stockpiling Medication a Guide to Help You
- The Perfect Pantry How to Stock Your Cupboards
- DIY Emergency Car Kit
List of Non-Food Items to Stockpile and Why
First Aid Items
One of the most important things you can have during an emergency is a well-stocked first aid kit and the knowledge of how to use it.
I do not recommend buying those ready-made kits you’ll find in stores though (but that’s better than nothing!). They are mostly band aids and not all that useful. Instead, put together a first aid kit customized to your family and their needs.
Include in it bandages of all types ranging from the tiny round ones up to the massive kind that wraps around an entire limb. Having a good variety of bandages will help you make sure that you can cover any wound.
Also, make sure that you have pain relief options that are suitable for kids and those that thin the blood and those that do not.
Cotton Swabs, aka Q-Tips, are also an important thing to have in your first aid kit. They have a variety of uses including cleaning wounds and they are also useful for more than just medical needs.
Finally, if you have any women in your house you should have their preferred feminine hygiene products. Talk with them in advance so you know that you’re getting what they like to use. You may want to consider switching to reusable versions rather than single use. This way there will be no worry about running out in an emergency.
Sewing Materials to Stockpile
You don’t need to have a sewing machine, but a small sewing kit with a needle, thread, and a few buttons is never a bad idea. This will allow you to patch up clothes that get damaged and replace buttons. In a bind, you can also transform a towel into a bag, something I witnessed once in real life!
Water Purification
Depending on the emergency your water supply may become contaminated because of a storm or some other reason. For this reason, there are a couple of things you should keep on hand.
The first of which is a Sawyer Mini. These are water filters that will screw onto some widely found plastic water bottles. They’re small which makes them great to put in your backpack if you have to leave in a hurry. I also like the LifeStraws.
If your budget allows, having a home purification system can be hugely beneficial. I would recommend the Royal Berkey or the like.
It isn’t a bad idea to keep some water purification tablets on hand as well and in your emergency car kit.
Stockpiling Personal Hygiene Products
We can’t talk about non-food items to stockpile without mentioning personal hygiene.
In an emergency situation, it is incredibly important that you can get clean. This will help prevent the spread of germs, stop bacterial from getting inside wounds, and other health concerns that could find you needed a doctor or even a hospital.
As we have seen in recent times toilet paper may actually end up being incredibly difficult to come by, so having some extra on hand is a good idea.
Baby wipes are also incredibly handy to have, even if you don’t have a baby. If you have an emergency that sees you without water those baby wipes might be the only way you can clean off the dirt and sweat. Hand sanitizer might also become difficult to find in an emergency situation. This is a must-have if you can’t wash yourself with soap and water. Also, have extra of your favorite shampoo and conditioner.
See how to make your own Hand Sanitizer and Shampoo Bars.
Non-Food Items to Stockpile Cleaning Supplies
Part of keeping yourself clean means keeping your surroundings clean. It’s incredibly difficult to keep yourself clean if your clothes aren’t clean, your blankets aren’t clean, and your dishes aren’t clean.
For that reason, it’s important that you have a supply of laundry detergent, dish soap, and other cleaning supplies. I would recommend that in addition to having your regular laundry detergent you also get detergent that can be used while hand washing.
You never know when the power will go out and you’ll have to wash things by hand.
- How to Wash Laundry Without Electricity
- How to Make Your Own Laundry Soap
- How to Line Dry Like a Boss
- DIY Lavender and Lemon Cleaner
Gadgets You Want for Emergencies
The last thing you want in an emergency is to discover that your battery is low. But, you won’t always be able to keep your devices fully charged.
For this reason, I recommend you have at least one battery pack, though it never hurts to have two. But, what will you charge them with once they run out of power themselves?
You’ll want to get a charger. You can get these in hand-crank form or the much less labor-intensive, solar charger. What you will want though is a hand crank radio so you can keep up on the latest news from the outside world.
Bags You Want to Stockpile
This one might sound a little bit strange but you can never have enough bags in an emergency. From large trash bags to contain hazardous materials (including bathroom…stuff) to small Ziploc bags that can have a million different uses.
You might also want to stock up on some insulated bags. They’ll help keep food cool while you’re transporting it.
Stockpiling Tools
A well-stocked toolbox is never a bad thing, especially in an emergency. What you put in it is entirely up to you but you should at least have a couple of screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, and some duct tape (See Duct Tape 911)
Lighting to Stockpile for Emergencies
In case the power goes out you will want to have multiple light sources and ways to light them. A camping lantern is a great place to start.
Having a variety of candles is also a plus, just make sure you smell for gas before you light them.
Have waterproof matches, regular matches, and lighters so you can always start a fire as well.
Emergency Supplies – List of All Non-Food Items to Stockpile and Store
Bandages
Pain Relief
Cotton Swabs
Feminine Hygiene Supplies
Needles
Thread
Buttons
Sawyer Mini, LifeStraw, Berkey
Water Purification Tablets
Toilet Paper
Baby Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Shampoo
Conditioner
Laundry Detergent
Hand Washing Laundry Detergent
Dish Soap
Battery Bank
Solar Charger
Hand Crank Radio
Large Trash Bags
Ziploc Bags (All Sizes)
Screwdrivers
Pliers
Duct Tape
Candles
Camping Lantern
Matches
Waterproof Matches
Lighters
Start today with simply putting away what you can of these non-food items to stockpile and you won’t be caught off-guard during an emergency or survival situation. Emergency preparedness isn’t about being a prepper but it is definitely about being prepared.
