The following list is from our friend Tom over at Camping Survival.com, who put this together based on comments received from his fans and readers. The list is compiled in various categories and are things that they believe would be first to run out when people start to panic (not necessarily the things that you would need first, but the things that others would probably buy first).
Some items on the list may give you ideas for your own preps, before the shelves get cleared in a panic…
FOOD
1. Bread
2. Butter
3. Cereal
4. Coffee
5. Eggs
6. Flour
7. Fruit, canned and fresh
8. Honey
9. Meats, canned
10. Milk
11. Peanut butter
12. Pet food
13. Salt
14. Sugar
15. Vegetables, canned and root vegetables
16. Water
POWER AND LIGHT
17. Batteries
18. Candles
19. Charcoal
20. Coolers
21. Flashlights
22. Gasoline
23. Generators
24. Glow sticks
25. Ice
26. Lamp oil and oil lanterns
27. Lighter fluid
28. Matches
29. Propane, propane stoves
FUN
30. Alcohol, drinking
31. Beer
32. Cigarettes
33. Condoms
FIRST AID
34. Alcohol, rubbing
35. Antiseptic
36. Aspirin/pain relievers
37. Cold medicine
38. First aid kits
HYGIENE
39. Feminine hygiene products
40. Paper plates/napkins
41. Shampoo
42. Soap
43. Toilet paper
BABIES
44. Baby food/formula
45. Diapers
IMPROVISATION
46. Duct tape
47. Plastic bags
48. Plywood
49. Radios
50. Rope
Source: modernsurvivalblog.com
This is only a Top 50 list, also posted on the Camping Survival blog, of the items that people believe will fly off the shelves first during an emergency or panic. There are plenty of other items that are not listed, but hopefully this will get you thinking about it.
– Tom
Tom Sciacca is a former US Marine, a veteran of the Gulf War, a survival enthusiast and President of CampingSurvival.com.