I wasn’t going to write another Dare to Prepare post this September. However, as I write this, I’m watching news coverage of Hurricane Harvey as it advances towards the Texas coast. We live on the Texas Gulf Coast and, though we’re not in Harvey’s direct line of fire, we will receive significant rainfall (and likely floods) from this storm.
Because residents may be stuck in their homes for days and power outages are possible, government officials have encouraged everyone to be prepared with flashlights, batteries, a few days’ supply of food and water, hygiene items, etc. We keep a basic disaster preparedness kit stocked at all times, but I ran to the store to top off our water supply as soon as I heard a storm was going to make landfall. This was a couple of days ago. The shelves were nearly stripped bare of water already. When I drove by a Walmart yesterday while taking my girls to the library (we were stocking up on books), the parking lot was so full it looked like it was Black Friday!
I’ve seen this happen at least a dozen times. Many people don’t keep a disaster kit on hand, so in the day or so before a storm comes (hurricanes, blizzards, etc.), they descend on grocery stores en masse in search of supplies. They sometimes walk away empty-handed because the stores have nothing left in stock.
The best way to avoid this is to maintain a well-stocked disaster kit (get a printable checklist of what to include in one here). However, if you ever find yourself in this situation, where can you go to find supplies?
Stores that may have disaster supplies when grocery stores run low
Drug stores
What you may find: Bottled water, food, flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, OTC medications, hygiene supplies, and supplies for cleanup
Convenience stores
What you may find: Bottled water, snacks, small flashlights, batteries, small first aid kits, packets of OTC medications, and select hygiene supplies
Sporting goods stores
What you may find: Water bottles/water storage containers, coolers, first aid kits, and ponchos
Outdoor gear stores
What you may find: Water bottles/water storage containers, coolers, camp stoves, flashlights/lanterns, batteries, freeze dried foods, multitools, first aid kits, blankets, and ponchos
Home improvement stores
What you may find: Bottled water, flashlights, batteries, tools, first aid kits, and supplies for cleanup
Office supply stores
What you may find: Bottled water, snack foods, flashlights, and batteries
Dollar stores
What you may find: Bottled water, food, flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, OTC medications, hygiene supplies, and supplies for cleanup
Of course, the best option really is to acquire these supplies when a disaster isn’t imminent! However, if needed, I hope some of these alternatives can be of help.
What other types of stores would you add to this list?
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Yes! I found a lot at the dollar store during this hurricane.
Good to know this source worked for you, Chelsea! I hope your family came through the hurricane well.