Anyone who’s been a prepper for a while knows that there is no such thing as a “finished stockpile.” We’re all constantly finding things that we should be adding, some of them major additions, but many of them being small things that are commonly overlooked. Yet these small things can end up being important too, especially if we’re forced into a long-term survival situation.
While you may have thought of some of the items below, I have found them to be seriously lacking in many people’s prepping stockpile. So take a gander and see if there is anything that you’re missing.
Repair Parts
Anything you have can break. If that thing is something that’s critical to your survival, losing it might have dire repercussions. Therefore, it only makes sense to be ready to repair anything important that you might need.
Many manufacturers sell repair parts and kits for their products, especially for the components which can easily become damaged. Investing in these is usually a small investment, but adds a lot of security. Of course, it will be necessary to know how to make the repairs as well.
Manual Tools
We have become so accustomed to using power tools, especially cordless power tools, that few of us know how to do things without them. Can you cut a board without a power saw? Can you drill a hole? To be honest, even though I’m a woodworker, I find both doing either of those tasks as accurately with hand tools much harder than with my power tools.
But to do it, you’ve got to have the manual tools first. That means buying saws, drills and other tools which you might not use regularly, just to have them on hand. Look for vintage ones if you can, as those will probably be cheaper.
Home Repair Materials
Natural disasters always carry the risk of causing damage to our homes. Therefore, it makes sense to keep a few basic materials on hand, so that emergency repairs can be made. This isn’t restoring the home to like-new conditions; but rather, just making sure that it is weatherproof.
- Blue plastic tarps
- Roofing nails, with washers (to tack on the tarps)
- Plywood
- 2”x 4”s
- Fasteners
- Electrical tape & wire nuts
- Plumbing fittings to block off a broken pipe
Lime
Lime has long been used in outhouses and latrines to absorb odors. Typically, a scoopful a day is added, over the waste that is in the hole. Not having lime available will mean having a stinky outhouse, rather than one you can use, without gagging.
Sewing Supplies
Clothing tears, especially when you’re doing physical labor. I don’t know how many shirts I’ve ruined in my workshop, doing something that I thought would never harm my clothes. But I was wrong. I now have a nice stack of shirts that’s just for working in the workshop.
But in a time of crisis, getting a new shirt might be a whole lot harder than going to the nearest mall. We’re going to have to be ready to make do with what we have. So we’re going to have to be ready to repair it. While you’re at it, make sure you’ve got heavy needles, thread and braided strap, for repairing backpacks and other pieces of gear.
Plastic Bags
Useful for 1,000 things, from storing food to disposing of waste. Buy a goodly assortment of different sizes, quality ones, if you can.
Pest Control
Rodent and insect populations tend to increase in the wake of a disaster, mostly because their food supply increases. We have to be ready to deal with them coming into our homes, as the chances of them doing that, in search of food, will be increased. Living in a pest-free environment is important, as many of these pests can carry disease.
Cleaning Supplies
Part of keeping pests out of your home is keeping your home clean. Bugs and rodents are attracted to food, so if we have food spilling on the floor or counter and don’t have the necessary supplies to clean it up, we’re going to be creating a very attractive environment for those bugs.
Pet Food
For those who have pets, it’s important to keep a stockpile of food for those pets, just like it is for your family. Those pets can be a part of your survival strategy, either helping stand guard or keeping rodents at bay. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to have food for them and much better than using your family’s food to feed those pets.
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