Non Food Essentials for Emergency Preparedness

When considering emergency preparedness, it is crucial to have supplies ready for power outages or if you need to leave your home. Having a stocked food supply and clean drinking water is important; having non-food supplies is essential for staying safe and comfortable. 

This guide will provide you with non-food emergency supplies that you want to keep on hand and help you stay prepared year round. 

Lighting and Power 

Power outages are common during a hurricane. Reliable lighting and charging options are a must to stay up to date on what is happening in your area. Charging your equipment, including power banks, in advance will ensure it is ready for use in the event electricity is disrupted. Here are a few items to consider having on hand and tips for staying on budget. 

• Flashlights and Batteries: Flashlights are crucial for providing light and helping navigate hazards and dangers including debris, downed power lines, and flooded areas. They last longer than candles and can also be used as a signal for help if you are lost or stranded. Flashlights and batteries are available at your local dollar store or discount retailers. 
• Weather Radio: A Weather radio is vital for receiving emergency alerts when power and cell service are out. Basic battery-powered models are affordable, and a hand-crank option eliminates the need for batteries altogether. These can be found at your local hardware, camping store, along with a variety of options available online. 
• Portable Chargers/Power Banks: For charging cell phones, consider a small power bank that can be charged via USB. If you have a car charger, keep it handy for charging phones in your vehicle if it’s safe to do so. Ensure your chargers are ready by plugging them in in advance, powering them off, and putting them in a safe and accessible location, like a go bag or your first aid kit. 

First Aid and Hygiene 

Minor cuts or scrapes can happen when cleaning up debris or during a storm.

• First Aid Kit:  A basic first aid kit should include: bandaids (various sizes), antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, pain relievers (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen), and any essential personal medications. Ready to go kits are available at most pharmacies, and grocery stores. You can also check the dollar store to make your own kit. 
• Personal Hygiene Kits: If you are prepping a go-bag and need to pack light, consider travel-sized soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine hygiene supplies and wet wipes/baby wipes. Hand sanitizer is also crucial if clean water is not available.

When trying to plan and budget ahead, look for multi-packs of these items and grab them when they are on sale. 

Protect Your Supplies

Securing your personal belongings and documents in case of an emergency or power outage can save a lot of time and money later on. 

• Zip-top bags, waterproof folders, or small storage containers: You’ll need sturdy bags for waste, wet clothes, or debris. Zip-top bags are perfect for protecting important documents, medications, and small electronics from water damage. Keep copies of your ID, insurance information, and any medical documents in a waterproof folder or sealed plastic bag. Watch your local stores for sales on these items and stock up when on sale. 
• In addition to your personal documents, you will want to have a small cash fund set aside and protected in a zip-top bag. If the power is out in your city/town for multiple days, you might not be able to use your debit or credit card to make purchases. During power outages, ATMs will also be out of service.

Other Miscellaneous Items 

Here are a few other items to consider purchasing or having on hand when preparing for bad weather or potentially leaving your home. 

• Manual can opener: Even if you’ve stocked up on canned goods, you’ll need a way to open them if the power is out and your electric opener won’t work. Basic manual can openers are available at dollar stores or you can find them second hand/thrift shops.
• Non-Electric Entertainment: Being stuck indoors can be stressful, especially if you have multiple people in your household. Consider having coloring books, crayons, puzzles, a deck of cards, or books on hand. These small items can help the time pass during long power outages. 

Be proactive and start early in planning your emergency supplies. You can add one or two additional items to your shopping list each week to spread the cost and ensure you get what you need. Also consider reaching out to your local community centers, churches, and food banks to see if they have any emergency kits or supplies before storms.

This article is brought to you by the More In My Basket Team at NC State University.