How To Create Your Own Emergency Stockpile

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Hurricanes, floods, evacuations, or global pandemics can happen without warning. But being prepared in advance with a 72-hour bug-out bag or knowing how to create your own emergency stockpile to “shelter in place” will reduce the stress tremendously in the time of need!

One year ago, we had an explosion that shook the house and rattled the windows at the solar plant three miles from my house. The vibration was felt 50 miles away.

The immediate area was evacuated, and I had the option to evacuate. But to see that huge plume of smoke in the air that looked like I could reach up and touch it, I chose to evacuate.

I was running around grabbing clothes, toiletries, pets, and such with no plan at all. Had no idea where to go, how long I’d be gone or even what to grab and take. What an uneasy feeling! That experience taught me a valuable lesson.

Being prepared for emergencies is critical! Having a bug-out bag or a bug-in plan is a great place to start. So many questions and confusion will be rushing through your head and honestly, it is hard to focus in times like this.

Of cours,e my emergency was an immediate evacuation need, but in other emergencies you may find yourself quarantined at home.

If you get stuck in your home with only the supplies that you have on hand, what would your situation look like?

Being Prepared Takes Time

For us, this shelter-in-place pandemic has not looked much different. But I also realize we are all on different levels of preparedness and may not grow green beans, carrots or broccoli, and tomatoes.

Much less, you may not yet can your own sauerkraut, tomatoes, carrots, pickles, etc. I do understand this.

This is why I’ve created a list for helping someone that does not yet do these things.

When To Create An Emergency Stockpile?

If you wait until the actual emergency is happening, you may find that when you arrive at the grocery store, the shelves may already be empty. Supply and demand means that items go quickly when disaster hits.

Everyone needs to have an emergency stockpile on hand at all times. And being prepared before disaster strikes allows you to buy cheaper and shop sales when they happen.

Buying ahead and buying in bulk will help with stockpiling on a budget. You can catch items on sale or by purchasing a few items at a time, which will make it much easier.

If the budget doesn’t allow you to have a stockpile on hand, I would highly recommend that you have a LIST of items you would need if you were to be without electricity, quarantined in your home for a time, or if unexpected weather happens.

How to Plan An Emergency Stockpile

I realize it is hard to plan for the unknown. But at least trying to prepare and creating an emergency stockpile is not just for preppers.

You will need to have a good list of the items you use most often. This includes not only food items but personal hygiene items and even supplies for animals.

Then you will need to know how much of each item you use in a 3-day period. For example, my family goes through a gallon of milk every 2 days.

So to be prepared for a 7-day period, I need to stockpile 3-4 gallons. And by the way, milk can be frozen, so no fear that it will expire before it is drunk.

We chose to begin prepping and working on being more self-sufficient after the recession in 2009. We ended up homeless, and since this time, we have been working diligently to have an emergency plan and making sure we have a plan in place.

Homesteading is a backup plan for every day. And when you are told to shelter in place, you are prepared.

Realizing that not everyone is a homesteader, I wanted to reach out and help with an emergency preparedness stockpile.

What Should You Stockpile For Emergencies?

Of course, food and shelter are the first two items that should be in your plan. But you need also to have a plan for being with or without electricity.

Emergency Items To Keep in The Pantry

FAQ’s: How much do you stockpile? What should you keep in your pantry at all times? What are good foods to stockpile?

Always keep shelf-stable staples on hand. Investing in nutritional foods and always having staples on hand can help you to cook from scratch when the grocery store may not be an option.

• Flour
• Cornmeal
• Sugar
• Salt
• Pepper
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Cooking Oils
• Spices
• Mustard
• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup

Food and Water to Stockpile

Depending on the type of disaster you are prepping for will determine what types of food you need to have on hand.

Stockpile canned foods, and high-energy foods such as meats, fruits, and nuts.

Keep on hand not only gallons of water but bottles of water as well.

Emergency Preparedness Food

• Rice
• Pasta
• Beans/Lentils
• Peanut Butter
• Milk (can be frozen)
• Bread (short shelf life, but it can be frozen)
• Dehydrated Fruits – Apples, Peaches, etc.
• Dried Meats – Jerky
• Canned Meats – Tuna, Chicken, Salmon,
• Crackers
• Water (1 gallon per person per day)

Hygiene Items:

• Hand Soap
• Body Soap
• Deodorant
• Unsweetened Electrolyte Sources
• Toothpaste & Brushes
• Feminine Hygiene Items

Health Supplies to Stockpile

Vitamins and Supplements that you take on a daily basis

Prescriptions for everyone in the family. (try to keep 2-3 months ahead on supply at all times

Pain Relievers for both adults and children

Band-Aids, gauze, medical tape, thermometer for checking fevers (we have this one), etc.

Non-Electricity Items for Emergencies

All these items are in the event of no electricity is available.

• Batteries
• Solar Chargers
• Flash Lights
• Oil Lanterns
• Lantern Oil
• Candles
• Matches
• Manual Can Opener
• Something to Cook on:
  • Camp Stove and Fuel Canisters
  • Gas Grill (we have this one) and Propane Tanks
  • Charcoal Grill and Charcoal

Of course, if you have kids or even animals, you’ll need to stock for them as well.

Kids Supplies

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Baby Powders
• Baby Soap & Shampoo
• Food in jars
• Crayons
• Coloring Books
• Easy kids activities

Animal Supplies

Depending on the types of animals that you have. But food dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, etc. And then keep an emergency stockpile of hay for cattle, horses, goats, etc.

Being Self-Sufficient Can Help In Crisis

Being self-sufficient means being more dependent on self and less dependent on society. As I mentioned, the explosion last year was eye-opening in addition to the recession of 2009.

Jobs lost, homes foreclosed, people losing their life’s savings….

Tips & Ideas to Learn for Becoming Self-Sufficient

Being self-sufficient can really help in times of disaster or pandemic. Here are just a few suggestions for getting started.

• Learning how to grow your own food so that in the event of job loss or disaster, you can start a garden and provide for your family.
• Learning how to preserve foods by canning, dehydrating, and even freezing.
• Owning Chickens – these can be two-fold. They provide both meat and eggs.

As I’ve mentioned, it’s impossible to plan every detail for a disaster, but having a plan in place and creating your own emergency stockpile will help tremendously in a time of need.

Have you thought of other items that should be kept in an emergency stockpile? I’d love for you to share your thoughts so I could add these to the list to help all of us.

More Homesteading Posts You’ll Be Interested In:

• Raising Baby Chicks Beginners Guide
• 13 Best Backyard Chicken Breeds for Beginners and Why
• When Can Chicks Go Outside to the Coop? Best Guide for Beginners
• 28 Realistic Ways to Make Money Homesteading
• How to Plan and Set Goals For Homesteading
• Best Books About Homesteading for Modern Homesteaders
• Setting Up a Brooder Box For Chicks

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