When a disaster finally strikes, it will come with little or no warning and cause unpredictable damage. It is that very unpredictability that makes a disaster so dangerous. To prepare for one will mean thinking outside the box, to understand which emergency home supplies you’ll need to survive.
But while many sites push for food and water, which you’ll also need in order to survive, there are some kinds of materials many people overlook. It’s those exact materials that will make all the difference when the SHTF.
Food and Water Alone Won’t Save Me
In a word yes, there’s no denying that you will need a steady supply of food to sustain you and your family after a major event. Water is definitely something you’ll also need and should be the very first thing on your list.
But once you’ve stockpiled all that food and water, how do you keep it safe? What happens if a second disaster strikes, one powerful enough to damage your shelter?
Having food and water is one thing, but protecting it brings an entirely new set of problems. You need a way to protect that cache from the elements and looters, to shield it from the wind, rain, and sun.
And it won’t be just the food and water that will need protecting from the elements. You and your family will need protection as well.
Something as simple as a leaking roof can have dire consequences, given enough time. There are a thousand different situations that will need fixing and the best time to plan for them is right now.
And the way you can start that plan right now is to create a list of emergency supplies for home repairs.
What Emergency Home Repair Supplies I Will Need
The best emergency supplies for the home are those that are multi-functional. While some items might seem necessary, like a torch, having that torch on a cell phone will mean many more uses than just one.
Although cell towers might be out, you’ll still have the functionality of a working camera, an electronic diary, a timekeeper, a planner, a calculator, games to keep you occupied and much more.
Think Swiss army knife. Why carry a simple blade when you can add a virtual tool for just about any small job that might crop up in the field? That’s why it’s extremely important to purchase one item, but use it for many jobs.
The following emergency supplies for your home are just such items, designed for many worthwhile purposes.
When building up you list of home supplies, try and imagine a vast number of possible scenarios that may crop up from time to time. Severe storms, blasting winds or unusually long and intense winters.
Your emergency supplies may need to last a long time and be consistently reused in other applications.
The Emergency Supplies List You’ll Want to Have Ready
When building your emergency supplies kit, try to build a variety of items that will work great together and also alone. There are certain factors that will limit your ability to create a complete kit, namely your own finances as well as space.
Some materials take up more than a little space, so choose wisely. Look for items that won’t deteriorate with time, aren’t made from cheaper materials and aren’t the more affordable brands.
A single quality piece of rope that won’t deteriorate over time and is strong enough to hold a ton of weight, is valuable. 5 pieces of rope that will break down over time and snap with just a couple of hundred pounds of weight are not.
Think quality over quantity to build your emergency home repair supplies.
With a great range of good-quality materials, you’ll keep the roof over your head, the walls safely up and protect you and your family from whatever is thrown your way. Protecting you and your family from the elements is just as important as protecting them from looters and hazards.
The Emergency Supplies You Need
The following list of emergency supplies will hopefully give you a decent idea on what sorts of materials and tools you’ll want to start collecting. The earlier you can begin to accumulate these items, the more prepared you’ll be for when the inevitable happens.
Supply #1: Powerless Tools
One of the first things that any civilization will lose in the event of a large enough disaster is the very utility that keeps everything else working. Without electricity, most things stop working almost immediately, including the very water feeding your taps.
If you’ve grown up using nothing more than power tools, than prepare for a wake-up call once the power grid is knocked out. Handsaws, hand-powered drills (the original cordless), quality screwdrivers, hammers are all going to make the difference when you need them most.
Supply #2: Extension Cords
Although strange considering the first item, if you plan to keep a power generator handy, ensure the available power will reach into some of the hard to reach places. Keep a couple of long, quality cords.
Supply #3: Assortment of Hardware
No kit could ever be complete without a decent assortment of nails, screws, hinges, latches, brackets and whatever else you think you might need. If something is able to fix a leaky roof or broken wall then it’s worth keeping around.
Supply #4: Caulking
There are a ton of options for Caulking available and when the time comes, you’ll be glad you packed some. You might need to use this in conjunction with other bits and pieces, but you’ll be glad you kept some of this handy when you really need it.
Supply #5: Wire/Cable Ties
Despite most people using these solely to bind cables together in a PC case or vehicle, their uses are uncountable. You could combine dozens together to form a strong length of rope, use them to lock something up or even use them to bind a would-be attacker if needed.
Supply #6: Duct Tape
How could anybody not think Duct Tape deserves its spot on this list. It would be far easier to list things duct tape ISN’T suitable for that all things you could use it for. This is one item I always keep handy, a roll even living in my car at all times. Keep a few roles around and you’ll soon be grateful you did.
Supply #7: Wire Connectors
Local electricians may be hard to come by during any significant disaster. Keep a box of wire connectors handy and if you are running generators to power your home or electric devices, these will come in handy for when they breakdown.
Supply #8: Plywood
One of the go-to products for leaky roofs. While subsequent items in this list might be great for temporary fixes, plywood will prove to be a great alternative solution to a full re-build. It may not last years, but it will prove to be a solid repair tool when you’re stuck.
Supply #9: Tarps
Tarps are a great addition to any list. They have so many uses and are easy to keep handy. Many will also store for a long time, so be sure to keep a few nearby.
Supply #10: Clear Plastic Sheeting
Great for using when windows are broken. Better than tarps for allowing extra light in.
Supply #11: Lath or Furring Strips
Furring strips are great for giving strength to nailed down tarps, which would simply tear in a strong wind. Keep some of these handy for many uses.
Supply #12: 2” x 4” Studs
Keep plenty of these handy to help with any number of jobs, including repairs or rebuilds. You can even use these with plywood for new constructions.
Final Thoughts
While there are many more items suitable for this list, they do cover a large part of the emergency supplies you’ll need when things get tough. Can you think of any more?
