When a major storm or a heatwave threatens a power outage, the grocery stores are flooded with shoppers. This is not a casual shopping trip; it is a mission to get the essential supplies needed to ride out the storm. This creates a massive and very predictable run on a specific set of items. These are the eight grocery products that will always sell out the moment a power outage is a possibility. If you want to be prepared, buy these items well in advance of the storm.
1. Bottled Water
This is the number one, non-negotiable item that will disappear from the shelves first. A power outage can sometimes affect the local water treatment plants. This can make the tap water unsafe to drink. A supply of clean, bottled water is a basic survival necessity. Shoppers will buy it in huge, multi-gallon quantities. This will wipe out the store’s entire inventory in a matter of hours
2. Shelf-Stable Milk
Milk is a staple for any family with children. It is also a product that spoils quickly with no refrigeration. This is why the shelf-stable milk sold in an aseptic, pantry-safe box also sells out fast. This includes products like almond milk, soy milk, and powdered milk. These are all items that can be stored in the pantry and do not need to be kept cold.
3. Bread
Bread is the ultimate, basic, and very versatile food. It requires no cooking. It is also the base for a huge number of simple, easy-to-make meals, like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Additionally, it is a source of calories and of comfort. The entire bread aisle is often one of the first to be completely cleared out during a pre-storm panic.
4. Ice
Ice is a critical item for a power outage. It is the only way to keep the food in your refrigerator and your freezer from spoiling. A few bags of ice in a cooler can save you from having to throw away hundreds of dollars’ worth of perishable food. This makes the large, bagged ice at the front of the store a very hot commodity. It will sell out almost instantly.
5. Canned Meats and Fish
When you cannot cook, a source of ready-to-eat protein is essential. This is why canned meats, like canned tuna, canned chicken, and even canned Vienna sausage, are a very popular purchase. These items are shelf-stable. They require no cooking. They can provide a simple and very filling protein for a meal.
6. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is the perfect survival food. It is a delicious, very calorie-dense, and completely shelf-stable product that requires no refrigeration and no preparation. It is a fantastic source of protein and fat, and can be eaten with the bread that you have also bought. This makes it one of the most popular and practical pre-storm purchases.
7. Batteries
This is the most critical non-food item that will vanish from the grocery store shelves. A power outage means you are completely reliant on your flashlights and portable radios. This leads to a massive run on all of the most common battery sizes. This includes D, C, AA, and AAA.
8. Portable Propane Canisters
For many people, the gas grill in their backyard is their only way to cook a hot meal during a power outage. This means that the small, green, portable propane canisters that are used to fuel these grills are another item that will sell out very quickly. People will buy them to make sure that they can still cook their food, even when the power is out.
The Prepared Pantry
The items that sell out during a power outage are all about basic, fundamental survival. They are the items that can provide us with water, light, warmth, and calories that do not require any cooking. The panic and the long lines that happen before a storm are a very stressful experience. You can avoid all of this by simply thinking ahead. You can build a small emergency preparedness kit with these items. This is a simple step that will give you a huge amount of peace of mind.
What is the number one item that you make sure you have on hand before a major storm or a power outage? Let us know in the comments!
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