100 Items That Will Disappear First In The U. S. When The SHTF (updated)

We saw it with Sandy, and now you are seeing it with the severe winter storms this year. We saw it with Covid, the un-prepared hoards of people buying anything and everything off of the store shelves. (remember the toilet paper run of 2020)

Natural disasters happen. It’s Mother Nature. Do you think you could last a few days, weeks, or even months without the basics of food, water, gas and electricity?

What is your plan? Do you have food insurance built up? Water? Fuel? Etc…

100 items that will disappear

You can start small and build up your supplies over time. You may even have many of theses items already.

Below is a list of the 100 items most likely to disappear in a disaster scenario:

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY – note – food grade if for drinking.

stock up in preparation

14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Hair-care/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {“Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Work-boots, belts, Levi’s & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soup-base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. “Survival-in-a-Can”
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/Candy/Chocolate
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & Bandanas, cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/Chickens/Rabbits

Some Thoughts From a Sarajevo War Survivor:

Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war – death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. But you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a water well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold‘s.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity – it’s the easiest to
do without (unless you’re in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy – it makes a lot of
the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
enough heat to “warm”, not to cook. It’s cheap too, especially if you buy it in
bulk.
6. Bring some books – escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
valuable as the war continues. Sure, it’s great to have a lot of survival
guides, but you’ll figure most of that out on your own anyway – trust me, you’ll
have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you’re human can fade pretty fast. I can’t tell you how many
people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

Get Rid Of Several Problems With The Use Of Essential Oils

essential oils for preppers

Health trends do come and go, but the use of essential oils is used extensively and reliably in medicine for many thousands of years. Essential oil therapy or aromatherapy can be recognized as the medicinal utilization of naturally mined plant aromas for promoting emotional and physical well-being. The use of aromatic plant extracts is very old as they are highly used for soothing skins, treating burns, relaxing your mind, and also lessening stress. Essential oils for babies who are older than three months are highly helpful in calming anxiety, encouraging sleep, and even relieving signs of colic.

However, before you apply these oils on babies, you must have a detailed understanding of the application processes as well as appropriate dilution ratios. As essential oils are hugely available, it becomes very important to go through the product levels well for ensuring that you have been using nothing short of unadulterated, genuine, and pure essential oils. When an essential oil gets premixed with alcohol, then it turns irritating. This is why; you should avert artificial fragrances that are entirely different from an essential oil as these synthetic fragrances can turn harmful to your health and can be irritating too on your skin.

Some useful essential oils for babies

Chamomile – These essential oils are gentle and help babies in having a sound sleep. Chamomile is equipped with natural comforting effects and it is used for treating insomnia in babies as well as adults. When you use chamomile along with lavender, then it will be able to soothe the signs of colic.

Distilled lemon – This is capable of helping mood and energy levels and it is also excellent for a post-nap wakeup call. People prefer distilled lemon as it doesn’t result in skin irritation.

Dill – Dill’s oil is antispasmodic and calming and it helps in soothing indigestion. For using this oil, dilute it in a ratio of a drop/teaspoon of carrier oil. After this, you can apply it on your baby’s skin.

Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus happens to be a natural expectorant which can help in unclogging respiratory congestion. Due to this reason, eucalyptus is preferred during the winter months.

Lavender – Lavender has numerous sedative and calming effects. An oil massage of lavender is helpful in relaxing a fussy baby besides encouraging his sleep.Again, you can use lavender on insect bites for lessening itchiness.

Tea tree – Tea tree happens to be an antifungal, antimicrobial, and disinfectant. When you add some drops of this oil to unscented oil, it will help in lessening fungal infections and diaper rash.

Safety rules regarding essential oils

It is highly important to select essential oils which are absolutely safe for babies and for the safety of these oils you have to follow some rules like:

  • Store essential oils in a dry and safe place.
  • Don’t allow direct sunlight to fall on the essential oil and use within date.
  • You must follow the correct instructions.

As with everything else, you must have a consultation with a medical professional regarding baby essential oils which would be ideal for use on your baby. You must be particularly careful if your child suffers from breathing problems or asthma.

What Are The Best Prepper and Survival Websites?

52 Top rated survival and prepper websites and blogs

One of the very interesting aspects to the survival gear market in the United States is the fact that there are thousands and thousands of survival websites. This is likely due to the influence from the popular shows like Survivorman and Doomsday Preppers, but notwithstanding, the American populous has been prepping since before the country was founded, although there are certainly many more suppliers to choose from.

Despite the fact that we at Year Zero Survival sell survival gear and supplies, our customers often times want to know who some of the other high quality survival resources and prepper websites are. And with our continued focus on transparency and education at Year Zero Survival, here are a few websites to consider as you’re looking at survival gear and other outdoor supplies.

 

Hopefully many of you will find this list to be extremely helpful.

The following are 52 of the best prepper websites and blogs on the Internet…

  1. Survival Blog
  2. American Preppers Network
  3. The Survival Mom
  4. SHTFPlan.com
  5. Survival 4 Christians
  6. Urban Survival
  7. Backdoor Survival
  8. Off Grid Survival
  9. Modern Survival Online
  10. The Survivalist Blog
  11. Survivors Fortress
  12. Prepper Website
  13. The Survival Podcast
  14. Doom And Bloom
  15. Provident Living Today
  16. Prepper.org
  17. Prepared Christian
  18. SHTFblog.com
  19. Survival Cache
  20. Modern Survival Blog
  21. Rural Revolution
  22. Preparedness Advice Blog
  23. Prep-Blog.com
  24. Survival And Prosperity
  25. TEOTWAWKI Blog
  26. The Neighbor Network
  27. The Apartment Prepper
  28. Armageddon Online
  29. The Berkey Guy Blog
  30. The Home For Survival
  31. My Family Survival Plan
  32. Year Zero
  33. Prepper Dashboard
  34. Bacon And Eggs
  35. SHTF School
  36. Canadian Preppers Network
  37. Maximum Survival
  38. Survivor Jane
  39. Prepping To Survive
  40. SaltnPrepper
  41. SGTReport
  42. SHTF Wiki
  43. Jewish Preppers
  44. Survival Magazine
  45. Survival Week
  46. Prepper Forums
  47. Survivalist Boards
  48. Tactical Intelligence
  49. The Prepared Ninja
  50. Common Sense Homesteading
  51. Survivallife
  52. Geek Prepper
  53. Bunker Basics

So there are quite a few companies you may consider as you go about your survival research. Although I can’t say these companies are ‘the best’ in U.S. per se, they do have an established history of quality information and products.

Will You Be Prepared when the SHTF?

Of course, if you are looking to get premium quality survival products, we at Year Zero Survival are always ready to assist.

 

Happy Prepping!

 

Does It Really Take $50,000 To Be A Prepper?

What Does it Cost to Prepare

Scouring the internet for information on disaster preparedness sheds an interesting light on what most people think it costs to ready themselves for the unexpected. Guides abound on how to prepare with minimal investments – but most put the focus on unreliable foodstuffs, tools, and supplies.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are the complete “how to” guides, that claim to show a family how to prepare for any emergency. These guides tend to indicate that the total cost of preparing a family of four for a natural disaster ranges from $5,000 to over $50,000.

Does It Really Take $50,000 To Be A Survival Prepper?

Preparing for the Worst – Not As Expensive As Most Think

Preparing for a disaster doesn’t mean that you and your family could survive in an underground bunker for thirty years without ever accessing the outside world. It means preparing for the inevitable and unexpected emergencies that can arise at any time.

Disaster preparedness isn’t limited to hurricanes, blizzards, and failures of the national infrastructure. It extends into the smaller disasters that we encounter while going about our everyday lives – like getting stranded in a broken down vehicle in the middle of nowhere, or finding yourself injured while on a hike.

Preparing for these situations is relatively inexpensive. With the help of products like these Backpack Survival Kits it can be incredibly simple, too.

Would you have access to digital money in a disaster scenario? #Bitcoin

Preparing for Different Types of Emergencies

While the ideal disaster preparedness plan includes provisions for long periods of isolation from modern amenities (such as running water and food supplies), the majority of emergencies the average person will encounter require far less extensive planning.

Breakdown / Stranded Emergencies – If your vehicle were to break down, or if you found yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, what would you do? With a ready-made kit, like the Guardian Elite (which comes prepared in a sturdy, easy-to-carry back pack) you would have food, and first aid supplies on hand. Toss in a few bottles of water before you head out, and you’ll have that covered, too.

Temporarily Unavailable Food Supplies – Whether it’s a true natural disaster or merely a predicted blizzard, when the newsman warns that rough weather is moving in, everyone rushes to the grocery store and clears the shelves. Having a one month supply of food on hand would ensure that your family doesn’t go hungry, and with kits like the Meal Package, is not only affordable, but incredibly easy to store.

In both of the cases described above, your total investment is going to be far less than what you might expect. Since the kits are ready made and based on government recommendations for preparedness, you can also be sure that they’re relatively complete.

Don’t put off preparing for disaster because you don’t think you can afford it – it’s far less expensive than you think.

Please share your cost saving prepper and survival ideas in the comments below.


Top 11 Uses For Alcohol In A Post SHTF Scenario

One of the top items to add to your survival preps

There are hundreds, if not thousands of uses for alcohol in an disaster or emergency situation, but I these are MY top 11 uses.

  • Barter & Trade (use in place of money, which will be worthless)
  • Medical (antiseptic for wounds, sterilize needles, knives and other instruments)
  • Fuel for engines (use as fuel on small equipment, generators, etc)
  • Make herbal tinctures and elixirs
  • Solvent (use to clean guns, razors and other tools)
  • Numbing agent (if you need to knock someone out for dental or medical surgery)
  • Weapon (can be used to make accelerant bombs)
  • Morale booster (keep spirits up during difficult or cold times)
  • Attract a mate (set the mood, can be used to repopulate the human race)

Currently, in my preps I have 2 cases (12 bottles each case, one name brand & one of the cheap stuff): Vodka. Whiskey, Rum, Red Wine & High proof alcohol (Everclear). Granted this quantity of stock is not very mobile, and is best stored in a bugout or bug-in location.

What type of alcohol would/do you stock?

Save And Share This Infographic: What Is The Shelf Life Of Your Food?

Wasted food

According to a survey by the Food Marketing Institute, such confusion leads nine out of 10 Americans to needlessly throw away food. The survey found 90 percent of Americans “at least occasionally throw food away prematurely because they mistakenly interpret the date label to mean their food is unsafe” — and 25 percent say they always discard food on or before that date.

Related: Long Term Food Storage

The researchers blame “a lack of binding federal standards, and the resultant state and local variability in date labeling rules” for the inconsistency in date-labeling practices.”

In 2012, one national study estimated that 40 percent of the country’s food supply goes uneaten. The cost of that wasted food is about $165 billion, including $900 million in “expired” food.

A family of four, the study found, spends an average of $455 a year on food it doesn’t eat. The researchers recommend making “sell by” dates invisible to the consumer, and have the food industry establish a standard, uniform labeling system.

Types of FOOD dating

There are three types of dates on a food that is purchased. If the package says “Sell By,” be sure to purchase the food before the date listed. The “sell by” date tells the grocer how long to display the food. The food should remain good for a period of time once you get it home.

The “Best if Used By” is not a purchase or safety date. The date stamped after that term is the date the food should be used by for best flavor or quality. A “Use-By” date is the last date recommended for peak quality of the product.

All three terms are guides to help a purchaser determine the quality of the food. The food can be safe and of good quality after any of the three above open-dating terms are used.

This Infographic below explains a bit more:

FoodShelfLife-InfoGraphic3

[source]

How Much Is Too Much?

Long term food supplies is one of the 37 critical things you should hoard as a doomsday prepper

What do you use your Stockpile for?

I honestly use my stockpile every day! I use it for meal planning, everyday cooking, and keep enough on hand for a rainy day. No one wants to have to go to the store several times a week. It is nice to be prepared with grocery store staples right in the comfort of your own home, in addition to being prepared for any potential natural disasters. You can buy a little at a time or take advantage of stockpile sales like the one on right now at Year Zero Survival.

Order a bucket or two today!

Top Tip: Rotate your stockpile, so that you are using a ‘First in, First used’ format.

Water More Valuable Than Gold?

What Does a 20% Water Reduction Look Like?

At some point in the future, maybe the near future, fresh water will become a scarce commodity. In fact, many predict that it will surpass oil, gas and even gold as the most sought after commodity in the world. There are many things you can do to reduce waste or conserve what you have collected.

The infographic below outlines how much can be saved right now: