When I was growing up, my mom always kept an emergency stash of supplies on hand. Since we lived in Washington State (the anticipated home of the “next big one”), this made sense. My dad was also a big advocate of having a go-bag of sorts stored in the car trunk. After all, you never knew what could happen, where that something could happen, and what you may need. The end result? I am a bit of a prepper.
Not one of those hardcore ones that are ready for the world to end (though, let’s face it- they are on to something). While the world was running out of cleaning supplies, food, and toilet paper last year, my household was ready. Normally I always keep water and extra paper supplies on hand. I think it’s weird that people covet toilet paper but I also never run out because I shop in advance for things I never want to be caught pants down without. Thus, my prepper stock was already in good shape by the time the pandemic hit. As things started heating up across the country and in China, I started to prep almost instantly. I read articles about what supplies were low in different areas, compared emergency lists from the CDC and WHO, and planned ahead for what we would want to eat should the world come to a complete standstill. Needless to say, when everything shut down- the Arguello household was open to friends and family who needed anything from wipes to bleach to paper towels to ground beef.
To this day, there are certain things I keep in a corner of my pantry that are deemed part of the emergency staples. Canned beans, canned chicken, canned vegetables, pancake mix, bottled water, a bag of rice, and an emergency backpack are just some of the few things we have available. When I am out and see a particular cleaning item or pantry staple that I may not need in the moment, I always pause to think if I will eventually need it or if someone else might need it in the coming months. This thought process has helped to keep our supplies fresh and plentiful not only for ourselves, but for others as well. And I manage to do this without being a hoarder. Everything is somewhat tidy.
Buying everything you need all at once isn’t always practical. Whether the issue be space availability or financial, the bulk buying of emergency supplies can become, well, annoying. And if you wait too long, competitive. SO. Last year, toilet paper sold out (or if you are from WA state, every time it snows the toilet paper flies off the shelf). This year, the extreme weather conditions in Texas left its citizens looking for water, food, and warm clothing. My advice is to first, make a list. Make a list of everything and anything you would want if you were stuck at home and could not leave your house for a month. Sadly, this isn’t that far fetched. Next, categorize those items in a way that makes most sense to you. For example, our categories are:
- Food/Pantry
- Water
- Emergency Supplies (think first aid, masks, medicine, etc)
- Clothes for the seasons (tip: if you have kiddos in diapers- always have a pack or two of diapers that are a size up)
- List of all utility phone numbers and account information (because who knows- but that’s just the smart thing to do)
- Emergency docs (things like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other important paperwork should be kept in a fire safe place)
- On the run (this may sound scary but it’s sort of the most efficient way of keeping the most essential items together and in a place that you can throw in to your car and, well, run, should you need to)
This may seem extreme. I get it! It kind of is. Who wants to live their lives prepped like this at all times? Even I do not have all of the above organized and put away. I mean, we have all of it- just not put together in nice little boxes everywhere.
If the past year has taught me anything, it’s that prepping (in moderation- don’t go buy 50 freezers and then purchase the whole meat department at Costco to put in the said 50 freezers- that’s just excessive) is not a bad thing. Knowing what you have, what you don’t, what you want, and what you need is just common sense, right? Purchase things over time. Keep an eye on any expiration dates, be aware of any family changes, and adjust your stock/shopping schedule as needed.
As the world begins to return to “normal,” I encourage you not to forget about that initial panic that you felt 13 months ago. Keep a little bit of that with you. That feeling is what we learn from; it’s what we’ve grown on.
Shop away, my friends. And stay safe.
The Salty Exchange 