100 Things to Disappear First In a Disaster

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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

1. Vitamins
2. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch
3. Milk – Powdered & Condensed
4. Flour, yeast & salt
5. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
6. Tuna Fish (in oil)
7. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
8. Rice – Beans – Wheat
9. Vegetable Oil (for cooking)
10. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
11. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
12. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
13. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
14. Teas
15. Chewing gum/candies
16. Generators
17. Water Filters/Purifiers
18. Portable Toilets
19. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
20. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (CLEAR oil is best)
21. Coleman Fuel.
22. Ammunition
23. Guns
24. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
25. Hand Tools
26. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid
27. Water Containers
28. Propane Cylinders
29. Survival Guide Book.
30. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc.
31. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
32. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
33. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
34. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder
35. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
36. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
37. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
38. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty
39. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
40. Garbage Bags
41. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
42. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid)
43. Clothes pins/line/hangers
44. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
45. Fire Extinguishers
46. First aid kits
47. Batteries (all sizes)
48. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
49. Matches. {“Strike Anywhere” preferred.)
50. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
51. Insulated ice chests Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
52. Flashlights/Lightsticks & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
53. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
54. Garbage cans Plastic
55. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
56. Cast iron cookware
57. Fishing supplies/tools
58. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
59. Duct Tape
60. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
61. Candles
62. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
63. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
64. Garden tools & supplies
65. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
66. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
67. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
68. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
69. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
70. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
71. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
72. Board Games, Cards, Dice
73. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
74. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
75. Paper plates/cups/utensils
76. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap
77. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
78. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
79. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
80. Reading glasses
81. “Survival-in-a-Can”
82. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
83. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
84. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
85. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
86. Lumber (all types)
87. Wagons & carts
88. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s
89. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
90. Lantern Hangers
91. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
98. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
99. Medicine
100. 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.