Emergency supplies are always good to have around. Just remember to watch expiration dates and rotate out the food and meds as they near those dates.

Storing water can be tricky. Those gallon jugs of water you get at the store...well let's just say watch them closely. The plastic jugs are biodegradable and WILL break down sooner than you think. We had one stored in a closet... it developed a pin sized hole and leaked all over the carpet and mold developed.

Great topic, Kitty! Looking forward to seeing ideas.

Ditto on the wet wipes.... and I'd add panty liners too for females.
It can save on extending laundry. (WalMart has these really low price).

Also some isopropyl alcohol (can do a camping wipe up on most of the skin without water)... This keeps forever. You can do your armpits quite well every 3-5 days or so in emergencies.

And 3% hydrogen peroxide...for private cleaning if water is scarce. This is also good for cuts or injuries, and even mouthwash diluted 1/2. This will keep a couple of years, less if opened often.

I keep this stuff upNorth on the island, as we cannot get off there often if bad weather.

Also some latex or other disposable gloves...some places sell them in 10's.

We use PUR filters in a pitcher for filtering water up there. Often we double filter it. Catches 99.9% of organisms, and not expensive.

Some foods now come in pouches... and they can have 2yr exp dates on them. Chicken of the Sea salmon and some chicken are available this way. Easier to keep than cans, and high protein.
As they near expiration, you can feed to the cats...they love it.(instead of throwing out).

Your emergency list is similar to our VACATION list for living on an island with no power! or water...heheheheheh

Add:

(1) crank/solar flashlight & radio combo

(2) kotex for wounds/lacerations

(3) two rulers to create a splint

(4) ace bandage

(5) alcohol wipes

(6) Thomas Guide map

(7) hat

(8) foil blanket

(9) solar panel (roll-up type) to charge your scooter & cell phone

Every fall I go thru my emergency area in the basement and rotate out the jars and cans that need to be used or tossed. I give generously to the local food bank. Anything expired is tossed.

I use those huge jugs of water like for a water cooler. They keep well and are stackable. I also have several unopened cases of poland spring water bottles. Easy to empty and refill. I have a hand pump for those big bottles to pump them into the little bottles when empty.

A basic first aid kit is good too. tylenol or advil, band aids, neosporin, and a sewing kit. If you need to stitch somebody up the sewing kit can work wonders. Super glue can close most wounds without need for sutures. Make sure you use bandages to hold it closed.

A hand crank radio/flash light is a great idea. no batteries needed.

We dont need to bathe everyday. We got used to it, and now are hooked on it. in the 50s they only washed their hair once a week. You are not going to a ball on Sunday, you are staying alive.

Have layers of clothes. they make layers of air pockets that will keep you as warm as a huge winter coat. Make sure you have spare socks and a pair of water tight boots. Wet feet in a house with no heat is a quick way to get chilled and sick.

Remember cats love boxes, and cardboard and newspapers. They can make a cave or fort out of the stuff and have a warm home without the need to blast the heat in your room. You can also put sweaters on them. They HATE it, but it will keep them warm without wasting fuel.

A propane grill for outdoor use only.

Those with a fireplace, dry wood, cast iron cooking utensils.

A non electric can opener

I don't wanna think about it. Waaaaaaaa..

Going back to putting head in sand..

Do you lot know something that I don't????????????????????????

What's happening over there??????????

saw my dentist a few months ago, and he wanted to fix a leaky filing. I asked if I could put it off for a while, and he said "as long as you do it before 2012. I said Huh? and he said Oh, dont you know the world is going to end. Civilization is going to collapse. The movie 2012 was just out and popular.

Do I think the world is going to end in 2012? nope, I think many have forecast the end of the world, and have been wrong, over and over, BUT I do think things like a 911 are possible. My husband and I spent two weeks in that hole digging and scraping and hauling and it was a mess! The world around us couldnt use their cell phones, the local water was cut off, the banks were off line, the stock market fell, and USA became a no fly zone. Stuff like that CAN happen. Katrina's can happen. I live in New Hampshire and 2 years ago, 2 weeks before Christmas we had a massive ice storm that knocked out power lines around the state. No power means no gas, no ATM, no freezers at the grocery store, no TV, no cable, no phones. We live in the boonies so we dont get cell service anyway. it was 2 weeks! before the power was back on. Christmas was dark in many houses. We lost power for one week, but didnt suffer.

prevention is the best medicine. If an ice storm hit today, and knocked out power state wide would you be able to wait one week for it to be fixed? If a security incident happened here, would you be able to survive not being able to get gas? or food from a store? or use an ATM or bank? You dont need 6 months worth of food, like you should have 6 months worth of savings, but you do need to be able to last long enough for your community to figure out how to help you, or get to you. how many in Katrina sat on their roof tops for days waving signs that said "Diabetic inside!" or "no food! please help!"

I was raised in the back woods of an indian reservation and grew up in a house without electric, water, and plumbing. I know I would survive because I have lived it. not by choice, by circumstance.