Ultimate SHTF Prepper Supply List

2020 has made clear the importance of being prepared for SHTF situations. Perhaps one could say it didn’t go that bad, but there isn’t a point in waiting for things to go off rails before taking action. It’s sensible and easier to be prepared, and this SHTF prepper supply list can pave the way for beginners and be a handy tip for pros.

Water

Water is the gold standard of any preppers checklist. You can only go a handful of days without water. Potable water is a must for any emergency kit.

Here are a few ways you can accommodate your hydration needs.

• 50-gallon drums of sanitized water 
• 24-packs of bottled water (that’s a little over 3 gallons)
• Water purification tablets
• Water purification straws 
• Learn how to harvest and sanitize rainwater
• Avoid water from: pools, puddles, stagnant lakes, and anything that could be contaminated with chemicals 
• Water Bob is a refillable bag that stores 100 gallons of water using a standard-sized tub 
• Water filter
• Know where to find a safe water source near your home

Food

Food is another survival necessity and a must for any SHTF prepper supply list. Again, for this scenario, before we cater to our taste buds, we must first cater to our necessities. Good preppers start with calorically dense, long-lasting, and low-prep bulk food. And don’t forget to stock up on food for your bug out bag.

Here’s a few items to get you ready for a minimum 3 day food supply. 

• Learn to forage even in urban environments 
• Rice
• Dried beans
• Canned fish
• Canned vegetables
• MREs
• Sport drinks
• Beer or liquor (Can also be used to barter if needed)
• Dried fruits
• Hard candies 
• Wood stove for cooking

Medicines and First Aid

Any necessary or life-saving medicine you need should be part of your bug out bag as well as other packaging. These include medicines for existing medical conditions (heart medication, insulin, EpiPen, blood pressure medication, etc.).

Also, keep a first aid kit at hand. Things like bandaids, gauze, cotton balls, scissors, thermometer, cold pack, antibiotics, etc. are part of any first aid kit.

Other medications, as necessary, should find a place as well. Potassium iodide tablets that can help with radiation exposure are a must for preppers.

Masks have proven themselves to be useful. Include N95 and N99 masks in your inventory. Depending on how thorough you want to be, items like gas masks and hazmat suits should be considered.

A SHTF prepper checklist for medicines includes:

• Necessary medication (existing conditions like heart problems, allergies, etc.)
• First aid kit
• Potassium iodide tablets
• Masks (N95, N99, maybe gas masks too)
• Tourniquets
• Multivitamins

Other Accessories and Items

Here are some items that should find a way into your checklist. They’ve proven themselves to be more than useful in most situations, and thus are necessities.

• Duct tape – this will find a way to make itself useful
• WD-40 – yup, same as above
• Small solar or hand-crank radio – a way to stay connected with the world
• Ham radio – an optional, but excellent, tool to stay connected with the world
• Batteries
• Your gadgets
• Solar panels or solar power generation system
• Nail clippers
• Hygiene supplies (toothbrush, paste, toilet paper, shampoo, soap, detergent)
• Hand sanitizer
• Portable shower
• Lighter/matches
• LED lights, solar lights
• Cooler or refrigerator/freezer
• Walkie talkies (and their batteries)
• Being prepared in an emergency gives you the best chance for survival, period. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it should get you started on your way. Use this checklist to get yourself started. You can add things slowly, and there are always skills to learn and improve upon. We hope you’ve found this ultimate prepper checklist and guide helpful.