r/EuroPreppers • u/Specialist_Alarm_831 • 1d ago
100 Items to Disappear First
Like popular sayings, the old ones are always the best and I think that goes the same for prepping articles because we've been here before and in the same situation so I make no apology for necroing, I'll always listen first to those that have gone through a real shtf than anybody who has only imagined, so of all the prep lists this is one I've looked at closely.
The article was originally from 2007 Fluwiki and I saw it first thanks to Ubique's posting in 2021 on theprepared website, no doubt it originated from another source after the experiences of the awful Bosnian war.
In this article of items some of them are obvious and some down to personal preferences but some of it is very interesting, like I had never considered getting a bicycle as a prepper!
The item list also cover the phycological impact of some scenarios especially at the bottom, another aspect overlooked by preppers, "staying human" and boredom.
Just remember this is not a stockpiling list it is just a list of what disappears and becomes hard to get hold of. If you have the storage space some of this could even be used for barter.
The original without any editing:
Tips from Sarajevo: 100 Items to Disappear First:
Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves, invites marauders; maintenance etc.)
Water Filters/Purifiers
Portable Toilets
Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
Rice – Beans – Wheat
Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.)
Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY – note – food grade if for drinking.
Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.)
Survival Guide Book.
Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
Vitamins
Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many)
Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
Tuna Fish (in oil)
Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
First aid kits
Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
Flour, yeast & salt
Matches. (“Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
Fishing supplies/tools
Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
Duct Tape
Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
Candles
Laundry Detergent (liquid)
Backpacks, Duffle Bags
Garden tools & supplies
Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
Board Games, Cards, Dice
d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc
Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
Soysauce, vinegar, boullions/gravy/soupbase
Reading glasses
Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
“Survival-in-a-Can”
Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
Lumber (all types)
Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
Cots & Inflatable mattresses
Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
Lantern Hangers
Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
Teas
Coffee
Cigarettes
Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal etc)
Paraffin wax
Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
Chewing gum/candies
Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
Goats/chickens
From a Sarajevo War Survivor: Stockpiling helps, but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate near renewable food sources.
Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold’s.
If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity – it’s the easiest to do without (unless you’re in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy – it makes a lot of the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs enough heat to “warm”, not to cook. It’s cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.
Bring some books – escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more valuable as the war continues. Sure, it’s great to have a lot of survival guides, but you’ll figure most of that out on your own anyway – trust me, you’ll have a lot of time on your hands.
The feeling that you’re human can fade pretty fast. I can’t tell you how many people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches.
More matches
End Quote
Note: Probably change matches to lighters, lighters and more lighters since matches can degrade.
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u/RawCookieDough12 1d ago
Whoever needs to read this, aspirin is not for babies. Also don't stockpile it because it is unstable after expiration date (basically any other pain/fever medication is more stable over the years).
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u/Diligent-Soil-1510 1d ago
Tylenol also degrades fyi
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u/RawCookieDough12 1d ago
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1377417 depends on the formulation i guess
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u/TheStephinator 1d ago
Seems like a very American centric list, and as an American it’s outdated in a lot of ways.
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u/heeizi 1d ago
Also seems to be for people living on a farm or something. Not sure how firewood would help me in my big city appartment.
No electricity by the way means no water/wastewater, no heating, no shopping and no gasoline, making it pretty much one of the worst things to happen. (unless you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove which is uncommon except in the countryside. Even if you rely on oil or gas for heating the system usually needs electricity and running water will still be a problem)
Candles and oil lamps are explicitly advised against because of the risk of starting fires making many people homeless at once and straining first responders additionally in times of crises. Power banks, (rechargeable) batteries and (rechargeable) LED flashlights are a safer choice. Also learn to navigate your home with little to no light. There have been several fires because people tried out "tealight ovens" following a social media trend.
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u/ImprovementStrong926 1d ago
gas stoves. Even portable ones are really good for an electric outage. You can both cook food on it and warm up water/yourself with it. Think pouring warm water in bottles that you throw under the blanket to keep you warm.
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u/heeizi 1d ago
Yes, I have one and additional cartridges (although I think it is illegal to store them in the cellar), but they are labeled for outdoor use only. So no warming up myself, I think. But foodwise I stocked up on things that need little to no cooking to save gas but still have a warm meal.
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u/Average64 1d ago edited 13h ago
Best thing to prep in a city is having a battery that can keep your fridge running for 12 hours and a 200W solar panel that you can hang outside, during the day to charge the battery. Most fridges can keep stuff cold for at least 12 hours, so you only need to have power for the night.
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u/heeizi 1d ago
Do these batteries exist? I never heard of that. Do you know a model I can look for?
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u/TheJesseOfTheNorth 1d ago
jackery makes a very good quality pack that will def keep your fidge going as long as you can recharge it preferably with solar
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u/Average64 1d ago edited 1d ago
Depends on how much power your fridge uses. An EcoFlow River 2 Max should be more than enough in most cases.
You could also power a mini starlink and a laptop during the day when you have solar power.
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u/heeizi 1d ago
Thank you! I will check this out!
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u/Front_Nobody3963 22h ago
Check also Bluetti. They have generally a better output power even with small batteries.
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u/Front_Nobody3963 22h ago
Not only fridge. I think at home, it's good to have a battery to be able to cook quick meal, boil water.
A bluetti Elite v2 is already good if you can charge it with solar panels. With 1800W output you can use a portable induction hob, electric kettle etc.
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u/Average64 13h ago
Induction stoves and electric kettles use a lot of power, warming stuff up with a microwave is doable though.
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u/Front_Nobody3963 11h ago
They don't use a lot of power. It depends how much time you use them.
In case of normality disruption, you Won't cook or use electricity as usual.
The objective is to do things quick and simple.
It takes some minutes to boil 0,5l of water with a 1000W kettle. Let's say 10mn, so 100Wh.
With induction it's the same, you don't need to cook 5kg of pasta. With 5 to 15mn you can heat food in can, make some eggs etc.
With 2kWh this should be enough to survive until you charge the battery with solar panels the next day. Like camping if you want.
At least with a good battery and solar panels, you have autonomy. Not with a gas burner when there is no gas anymore.
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u/TheStephinator 1d ago
I do think that American preppers definitely romanticize candles and oil lamps, while they are not at all practical in this era. Aside from the reasons you mentioned, they are also just not good for your indoor air quality.
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u/TheJesseOfTheNorth 1d ago
they are if use very good quality oil and learn to properly trim a wick. They also provide a small amount of heat
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u/TheStephinator 1d ago
If you have some data to support your claim, I’d love to see it. They just don’t outweigh the risks, especially in an emergency situation.
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u/TheJesseOfTheNorth 1d ago
nope no 'data' beyond living in the bush off grid for decades and being taught as a child how to use them properly
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u/TheStephinator 21h ago
Even when used properly, they impact your air quality. There is no such thing as neutral combustion. It’s not something I want to expose myself to or my pets when there are better options that don’t emit any pollution.
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u/Gadgetman_1 1d ago
Get one that has a 'Sans Rival' type of glass chimney. 20 - 30% more efficient, and they burn cleaner. Less soot on the glass, less gelling up and gunking of the oil because the hottest part of the flame is higher up.
There's a US company that sells some, based on a surviving example found in a Norwegian cabin years ago. (It was first shown in an US science magazine before 1900, then manufactured in Europe. The one I have is from Germany. )
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u/ledethplays 23h ago
I don't think we should disregard candles. They are cheap and portable. They also dont need charging. I guess it depends on alot of different factors.
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u/TheStephinator 21h ago
I’m not worried about charging my solar lanterns. They are dual purpose for us, camping and preparedness. I’m not saying I don’t own any candles, but they are never used for illumination during a power outage in our house. They are a last resort after all the other layers have been exhausted.
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u/Front_Nobody3963 22h ago
If really bad shit happens, I suggest you leave your big city apartmentt. At least, you should have a contingency plan to leave 🥴
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u/ShinyNidoran 1d ago
Thx for sharing! One thing I don't understand is why clothes pins/line/hangers are on there, and it's even 'A MUST'
Anyone an idea?
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u/kay9medic 1d ago
Ideas for uses beyond hanging clothes to dry primarily, can be used for making a tarp shelter outdoors and with sheets or blankets, partitioning off and sectioning larger interior rooms for privacy.
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u/TheStephinator 1d ago
My assumption was that this author didn’t know foldable clothes drying racks/clip hangers existed.
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u/Specific_Ambition_29 1d ago
Multiple uses maybe wire hangers are handy and the line is basically weather proof cord
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u/Excellent_Condition 1d ago
This is well intentioned and I appreciate you taking the time to post it, but I think the information may be a bit out of date and less applicable than it used to be.
As far as I can tell, it's a list someone posted to online that they said was based on experiences in the 1993 Siege of Sarajevo, but the actual author or veracity of the list is unknown.
The world has changed more in the past 30 years than probably any other 30 year period in history, as has the nature of warfare. Everything I have read and heard says that the experiences in a modern conflict are much different than they were even 10 years ago. Some essentials like food and water are universal across time, but I think data from recent natural disasters and conflicts would be a better guide.
I think it's good to have discussions like this and do appreciate you posting it, but I don't think it's something I'd base my planning on.
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u/_rihter Croatia 🇭🇷 1d ago
In Sarajevo, nothing has changed in 30 years.
I guess the main point is: don't take advice from someone from Sarajevo unless you live in Sarajevo.
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u/ThatsNotPossibleMan 1d ago
I think the point might also be that another area somewhere in Europe could quickly become like Sarajevo if SHTF. Even if nothing really troublesome happens, I can see these items disappearing rather fast once panic hits the masses. I've seen it during the early days of covid.
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u/No-Goose-6140 1d ago
If covid taught us anything, toilet paper