You don't have to be paranoid to see the reasoning behind building up a supply of emergency food and household items. Every year natural disasters occur and every couple years a terrible one leaves unprepared people in dire circumstances. So whether you live in an area prone to several forms of natural disasters or live in an area you think is safe - it is always wise to hope for the best but plan for the worst.

This article will list the items essential in storing for a disaster. Most items listed would be beneficial or necessary for any disaster, however some of them are obviously needed for one specific kind (ex: snow shovel = severe snow storm). The natural disasters that this article considers are flooding, fire, tornado, earthquake, rock/mud slides, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption, severe snow storm, and severe drought.

Any of the items listed that you choose to store should be kept in clean, dry conditions, in close proximity to each other, and in waterproof containers. Water damage (which could result from any number of natural disasters, not just flooding) would ruin most things on the list of things to store.

Handy Disaster Preparedness Items

• Radio (battery)
• Flashlights/lamps
• Matches
• Batteries
• Warm blankets
• Basic tool kit (wrench, screwdriver, nails, hammer, etc.)
• Duct tape
• Safety pins
• Needle & thread
• Shovel & snow shovel
• Strong rope
• Small propane stove
• Small pot & pan
• Water purifier/ purifying tablets/ straw purifiers

• Extra containers of gasoline (or keep your car filled always)
• Jumper cables
• Flares
• Inflatable rescue raft
• Small monetary supply

It is obvious why you would need many of these items, but don't forget novel things such as good, strong rope, flares for signaling, or duct tape. You never know what desperate or sticky situation you could get yourself into after a natural disaster, and being prepared with gadgets and odds and ends could make all the difference in surviving. Just make sure you keep them in an accessible place.
Your handy items and medical items (along with some food and household items) should be kept in waterproof containers that could be thrown into a car quickly if quick evacuation was needed.

Medical Items

• First aid kits, including, but not limited to:
• Aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol, anti-diarrheal pills, stool softeners
• Sterile bandages, gauze pads, band-aides, ace wraps, tourniquets
• Disinfecting cream, burn ointment, rubbing alcohol, sunscreen, bug spray
• Latex gloves, thermometer, ice packs
• Safety pins, scissors

Because any natural disaster could cause something that results in injury or illness, first aid kits should be an essential part of your storage and disaster preparedness. The biggest risk for a person in the midst of a natural disaster would be no available medical help after injury or sickness. Items such as gloves, alcohol, and sterile bandages are essential for reducing the risk of infection. Proper medicine, tools, and sterile treatments should be kept clean and ready to use if an emergency presents itself. Additionally, supplies of essential prescription medications should be kept on hand or available.

Disaster Food Items

• Water
• Dry milk powder
• Canned goods
• Non-perishable sealed items (dried fruit, pastas, flour, etc.)
• Baby food
• Pet food

Many people store enough food to last three days. This is a good general rule of thumb. However, some organizations recommend, if possible, to store as much as possible or up to three months worth of food and everyday items. This cannot be achieved all at once - it would cost an incredible sum of money. The best way to gather what you want to store is to buy what you normally buy at the grocery store, plus one or two extra. So if you purchase and use three cans of tuna every week on average, adding two more cans a week will give you 24 cans after three months. That is the start of an excellent food storage. You want to try and buy foods that you normally eat anyway, and you want to rotate your storage through to your pantry in order to use foods that will expire at some point. That way, if a disaster were to occur you would be left with a supply of recently purchased food that will not expire for several months or years. Visit food storage sites that share insight on what to buy and how to determine what you will use.
Another thing to consider when buying extra food items, are the nutrients. In the case of a disaster, you would most likely be rationing food to some degree. Buy foods that are low in sodium (so you don't risk dehydration even more), high in protein, and high in unsaturated fats. Carbohydrates are usually easy and cheap to come buy, but if possible look for things made with whole grains. Non-perishable food should be stored in dry, room-temperature conditions.

For storing water, obtain anything from bottled water, gallons of water, 55-gallon barrels to fill with water, or even empty juice and soda bottles. The general rule of thumb for how much water to store is one gallon per person per day. You will want to store the water in a cool, dark location and eventually cycle through its use as well.

A valuable resource for food items is the one-month food supply found at stores such as Costco. It comes in a six-gallon waterproof bucket and is full of 330 servings of food - enough to last one person a month of meals. The food will last 15 years before expiring, and has received rave reviews for taste and quality.

Household Items

• Tie/synch-garbage bags
• Disinfecting soap
• Dish rags
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Manual can-opener
• Utensils & dinnerware (metal or paper - something that can't break easily)
• Basic cleaning products (bleach & disinfecting wipes)
• Paper & pencils/pens
• Baby diapers
• Extra clothing
• Towels
• 0-degree sleeping bags

The list of household items are, to some degree, secondary needs to the first three lists. However, after having proper food and shelter, being able keep you, your family, your surroundings and your food clean are very important. Remember to store extras of these things close together so that you can grab them quickly on the go, or have them located in your safe area, if you have one.
Having a backup supply, however large or small, will substantially help in a natural disaster and could also help if you or your family hit hard financial times and need a reserve.

Overall, consider the natural disasters that your area is faced with, and make a long-term plan to acquire at least a 3-day supply of food and other items, with 3 months being your ultimate goal. After you have begun storing for an emergency - you will feel the peace of mind knowing you will be prepared for the worst. Also visit the numerous sites that advise you how to create disaster plans and evacuation plans.

Additional information about preparing a disaster supplies kit can be found on the Ready.gov website.