This is based off the list going around the internet of the “100 items to disappear first in an emergency.”  There seemed to be no basis for it, just a so-called “its common sense – you’re an idiot if you don’t get it” list.  I’m sure most of those items disappear in an emergency, but for it to be useful; you need to understand why you would need them and how it all fits together.  This is based off LONG term survival without your utilities, or an easy way to get food.  I’ve underlined items that are generally considered essential, but you make disagree, so adjust it according to your needs. 
 
It is also based on being able to stay in your home during the emergency.  If you have to leave your home, then a completely different set of rules apply, and you will need different items than what are underlined below. 
 
First off, an emergency will mean that you don’t have your basic utilities such as electricity, water and sewer, and there will be no food at the grocery store.  This is important to understand because I regularly see comments from people like – “I’ve never needed an egg beater in 42 years so why would I need it in an emergency?”  This shows a lack of understanding what will happen in an emergency.  If there is no food at the store, you hopefully have prepared and have ingredients already saved to make bread and other basic foods.  Therefore, with no electricity, you will need an egg beater to mix up your ingredients to make bread so you can live (or make plans to get your food some other way so you don’t need the egg beater).  I hope that makes sense!   
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Secondly, you should not try to get every single item!  For example, pick 1-3 ways to heat your home (if that is where you are staying during the emergency).  You should start out by getting one way to cook, heat, and light your home, and once you get all the areas you need, then work on getting a second and possibly a third way to do those things.  You also should try to combine items in different categories to reduce overall costs.  For example get a lantern, heating head, and stove that all work off of propane and then you only have to stock up on propane cylinders.


Lighting – Pick a way to light your house and stock up on it! 

1. Lamp Oil, Wicks, and Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!) 
2. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much. *
3. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur. *
4. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.) 
5. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit*
6. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)*
7. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns 
8. Candles 
9. Lantern Hangers 
10. Paraffin wax*
11. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses. 

Heating – Pick a way to heat your house and stock up on it! (You need to make sure to vent your rooms (crack a window) so you don’t die from CO (carbon monoxide) poisoning!

1. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur)*
2. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit*
3. Paraffin wax*
4. Mini propane heater head (without this item, propane won't heat a room) 
5. Kerosene heater and kerosene 
6. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses. 

Cooking (heating food) – Pick a way to cook your food and stock up on it! (Also beware of CO poisoning when cooking inside!  ANY open flame!) 

1. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur. )*
2. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.*
3. Cook stoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)  
4. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit*
5. Charcoal (Gives off CO, you will die if you use it in your house) 
6. Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly) 
7. Solar stove (can cook and bake with it) 

Food, Water and Utensils 

1. Milk 
2. Bread 
3. Eggs 
4. Hand operated can openers 
5. Hand egg beaters 
6. Whisks. 
7. Honey 
8. Syrups 
9. White & brown sugar 
10. Rice 
11. Beans 
12. Wheat 
13. Salt (season food, preserve food) 
14. Vegetable Oil, Lard, Crisco, etc (for cooking) without it food will burn; must be boiled instead. 
15. Clean Water, Water Filters/Purifiers 
16. Water Containers (Urgent item to obtain) any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking. 
17. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)  
18. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item) 
19. Milk – Regular, Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months) 
20. Tuna Fish 
21. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies 
22. Flour, and yeast 
23. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient) 
24. Canned Food: Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, meats, GRAVY, etc. 
25. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks) 
26. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Kool aid/Crystal Light/Punch (water enhancers) 
27. Soy sauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soup base 
28. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky 
29. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts 

​Food Manufacturing & Processing 

1. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid/Heirloom/Non-GMO) (A MUST- you will only get one season of plants without them) 
2. Garden tools & supplies 
3. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) 
4. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax) 
5. Rain barrels (capture water for washing, boiling) 

Clothing, Medical & Hygiene Maintenance 

1. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. Ointments/aspirin, etc.  
2. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)  
3. Hygiene – Men & Women (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, floss, mouthwash , nail clippers, hair care, skin products, ) 
4. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)  
5. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST) 
6. Work/hiking boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts (all extra) 
7. Laundry Detergent 
8. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies 
9. Baby wipes, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water) 
10. OTC meds & Vitamins (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Pepto, cold/flu, allergy, multi-vitamin, etc.) Go HERE for more info
11. First aid kits - Go HERE
12. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave) 
13. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras) 
14. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc. 
15. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens 
16. Hats, sun hats, & cotton neckerchiefs 
17. Portable Toilets 
18. Sunscreen, sun clothing (keep the sun off your skin) 
19. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc. 
20. Snow gear (especially snow shoes, etc. (make sure they are waterproof)) 
21. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams 
22. Paper towels (for washing, cleaning, etc without having to wash rags) 
23. Soap of all kinds (hand, body, dish, etc) 

Tools & Repair/Construction Supplies 

1. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil) 
2. Chain saw and parts (extra gas, oil, chains, etc) 
3. Duct Tape 
4. Dust masks 
5. Tarps/sheeting 
6. Stakes/spikes 
7. Twine/rope 
8. Nails/screws 
9. Hammers, sledge hammers, screwdrivers 
10. Glue 
11. Nuts & bolts 
12. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel 
13. Lumber (especially plywood, OSB, etc) 
14. Wagons & carts (for transportation) 
15. Screen Patches 

Miscellaneous 

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Risky and noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc. Gas storage? )
2. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.  Go HERE
3. Antifreeze – Keeps drains from freezing 
4. Car battery chargers 
5. Survival Guide Book/Boy Scout Handbook 
6. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal) 
7. Garbage Bags (impossible to have too many) 
8. Toilet Paper, Kleenex 
9. Fire Extinguishers (or a large box of Baking Soda in every room) 
10. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates) 
11. Matches. ("Strike Anywhere", boxed, wooden), lighters and fluid/butane 
12. Fire Starters – flint/steel, lighters, magnifying glass, etc 
13. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators 
14. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in wintertime) 
15. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels) 
16. Fishing supplies/tools 
17. Backpacks, Duffel Bags 
18. Bicycles, & Parts—Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc. 
19. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats 
20. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered) 
21. Board Games, Entertainment items 
22. D-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer, Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets 
23. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels) 
24. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit 
25. Cots & Inflatable mattress's 
26. Cash (small bills)  

If you are on city sewer, be careful about using your drains. They can get clogged and back sewage up into your house making it uninhabitable.

I was constantly referring to my “Preparedness Organizer” during this time. It has lists of how many amps different appliances use, what circuit breakers control what, generator information, contact phone numbers, how much bleach to add to purify water, radio frequencies and codes, and a ton of other useful information. It also has a notes section where I write down things I need to change for next time. Many folks have that information available, but not all organized in one place. 

Food - I need to prepare some kind of menu ahead of time based on several criteria: Meals that can be prepared inside, meals that must be prepared outside (gas grill), meals that include something from the refrigerator (use immediately), and meals that include something from the freezer (use up ASAP), and meals that use storage food (use at any time).