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Most people think of canned food and bottled water when they hear the word “prepping.” Those are certainly at the top of the list, but they’re far from the whole picture.
Long-term preparedness is about much more than filling a pantry. If the power goes out for days, stores close, or you need to rely on what you already have, everyday items can become just as valuable as food. The ability to repair, clean, preserve, and care for yourself and your family can make life far easier during an emergency.
Here are 15 supplies that deserve a place in every well-stocked emergency stash.
1. First Aid Supplies and Medications
A basic first aid kit is one of the first things every household should put together. Cuts, burns, sprains, and minor injuries can happen at any time, and you don’t want to be searching for bandages during an emergency.
Keep pain relievers, antihistamines, antiseptic, gauze, medical tape, burn cream, antibiotic ointment, and any prescription medications your family depends on. Check expiration dates every year and replace items as needed.
2. Personal Hygiene Products
Soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, and other everyday essentials are easy to overlook until they’re suddenly unavailable.
If you enjoy making things yourself, it may also be worth keeping supplies for homemade soap, including lye, oils, and molds.
Related: This Is What Happens When You Put a Bar of Soap in Your Garden
3. Heirloom Seeds
A packet of seeds can produce food for an entire season, and heirloom varieties give you the option to save seeds from each harvest for future planting.
Choose vegetables, fruits, and herbs that grow well where you live. Reliable crops like beans, tomatoes, squash, carrots, lettuce, and herbs are good additions to any garden.
Related: How to Start Seeds Indoors
4. Fuel
Cooking, heating, and running equipment all depend on having fuel available.
Depending on your setup, that could mean propane, seasoned firewood, charcoal, kerosene, or gasoline stored safely in approved containers. If you own a generator, keep enough fuel on hand to run it during extended outages.
Related: 12 Ways to Recycle Wood Ash from Your Fireplace, Firepit or Wood Burning Stove
5. Emergency Lighting
Losing electricity is much easier to handle if you have dependable lighting.
Rechargeable LED lanterns, solar lights, flashlights, headlamps, and extra batteries are practical choices. Candles and oil lamps can still be useful, but they should always be used with care.
6. Sewing Kit and Extra Fabric
Small repairs can help clothing, blankets, and other household items last much longer.
A sewing kit with needles, thread, scissors, buttons, safety pins, and fabric patches takes up very little space but can be surprisingly useful. Extra fabric is helpful for larger repairs or simple sewing projects.
7. Yarn and Knitting or Crochet Supplies
If you knit or crochet, keeping extra yarn and tools on hand gives you a way to make warm hats, scarves, socks, blankets, and other useful items.
Wool yarn is especially popular because it stays warm even when damp and holds up well over time.
8. Canning and Fermenting Supplies
Home food preservation becomes much easier if you already have the supplies you need.
Keep extra canning jars, replacement lids, rings, and basic fermenting equipment available. Lids eventually wear out, so having extras can save a last-minute trip to the store during harvest season.
9. Cheese-Making Supplies
If you raise dairy animals or have regular access to fresh milk, simple cheese-making supplies can be worthwhile.
Cheesecloth, rennet, thermometers, and cheese molds allow you to turn fresh milk into food that stores much longer than milk alone.
10. Basic Tools and Rope
Every emergency kit should include a reliable set of hand tools.
A hammer, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers, utility knife, nails, screws, duct tape, and a sturdy roll of rope or paracord can help with repairs, temporary shelters, moving equipment, and countless other jobs.
11. Water Filters and Purification Tablets
Having stored water is important, but eventually you’ll need a way to make new water safe to drink.
Portable water filters and purification tablets provide two dependable options. If you collect rainwater, a proper filtration system can make that water much more useful for everyday needs.
Related: 20 Hidden Water Sources That Can Keep You Alive in an Emergency
12. Tarps and Plastic Sheeting
Tarps are some of the most versatile supplies you can own.
They work well for covering firewood, protecting equipment, making temporary shelters, collecting rainwater, covering damaged roofs, or shielding garden beds from rough weather. Heavy-duty plastic sheeting is equally useful for many of the same jobs.
13. Fire Extinguishers
Emergency planning should always include fire safety.
Keep fire extinguishers in places where fires are most likely to start, including the kitchen, garage, workshop, and near heating equipment. Check the pressure gauge regularly and replace or recharge them when needed.
14. Animal Feed
If you have pets, chickens, rabbits, goats, or other livestock, don’t forget to prepare for them too.
Store enough feed to cover emergencies, especially during winter or periods when supplies may be difficult to replace. Many homesteaders also keep extra seed for growing livestock feed later in the season.
15. Emergency Radio and Entertainment
A battery-powered, solar-powered, or hand-crank emergency radio can provide weather alerts, emergency updates, and important information if phone service or the internet becomes unavailable.
Long power outages can also become mentally exhausting. A deck of cards, board games, books, puzzles, coloring supplies, or other simple activities can help pass the time and keep everyone occupied until things return to normal.
