Natural disasters help to make us aware of the importance of being prepared.
One of the best things you can do is to be prepared for emergencies. Having an emergency grocery list will ensure you have everything needed.
The Basics
There are a few items you want to make sure you have. The most obvious thing to have on your hurricane grocery list is water. In many different emergency situations, water may become unusable or unattainable.
This is why you want to make sure you have adequate stores of water. A good rule of thumb is half a gallon a day for every person in your home. You want to be sure you have several days worth of water as situations do not always get resolved quickly.
Other items you want to get from the grocery store for emergencies are canned and non-perishable foods. You want to make sure you have something to eat if there is no power.
Make sure it is things you and your family will actually eat. It is good to keep a store of several days worth of food just like water.
Along with food, make sure you have plenty of batteries as these will be very useful if you are without power. It is also a good idea to make sure your first aid kit is fully stocked as well. Any perishable items you will need can be bought at the last minute.
When to do Emergency Grocery Shopping
The earlier you go shopping for an emergency situation, the better, and preferably you should already have your emergency grocery list. Many people find it best to keep stores of water and canned food on hand before hurricane season starts.
You can watch for sales throughout the year and stock up so you will have the items on hand when you need them. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you are not prepared, the best thing you can do is shop early.
As soon as you know you are in the direct path of a hurricane, you will typically have a couple of days to prepare. You want to go to the store right away.
This is important because the sooner you go, the less crowded the stores will be. Also, the closer the storm gets, the less availability there will be.
You don’t want to be one of those people fighting at the last minute to get a loaf of bread or a gallon of water.
Last Minute Tips for Shopping
- Make sure to get ice to keep the items in your fridge and freezer cold if the power goes out.
- Be sure to stock up on bread so you can make sandwiches.
- Get any snacks you enjoy as being cooped up in a house with no power means you will want to snack.
- If you do not see bread on the shelf, go to the bakery. If you don’t see it there, go to the freezer section and pick up ready to bake bread so you can have some bread during the storm.
- Be kind to other shoppers and workers. You are all in this together. It doesn’t have to be every person for themselves.
An emergency grocery list should include non-perishable food items like canned goods, dried fruits, and nuts, as well as bottled water, a first-aid kit, batteries, and other essential household items.