Doomsday preppers have had their fair share of criticisms, puzzling looks, and accusations of being downright crazy. There’s nothing particularly bad with prepping. In fact, these people should be commended for thinking beyond the present.
The United States government itself is persuading Americans to prep or plan ahead of disasters. In fact, emergency preparedness is part of the jobs of the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA). There are also those who believe that the government is secretly preparing for an end of the world (EOTW) scenario. With that in mind, the question that’s likely bugging you right now is how exactly do you prepare for the apocalypse.
Most articles on prepping and doomsday preppers will tell what you need to stockpile. You have the basics such as non-perishable foods and water for drinking and cleaning. Then there are the survival gear and other pieces of equipment that are deemed vital to one’s existence. These include provisions to start a fire such as waterproof matches, lighters kept in Ziplock bags, Ferro Rods and other fire starters. For warmth and comfort, you have extra clothes, clothes for every kind of weather, tents, bedding, sleeping bags, ponchos, and emergency blankets, among others. Of course, you need equipment to prepare and cook your stockpile of food. There’s also the risk of running out of potable water so you should also have mini water filters and water purification tablets. The list goes on.
Interestingly, there are some things that doomsday preppers often include in their stockpile that may come as a tad weird. But before you scratch your heads and give out a collective sigh, below are some of most surprising items that doomsday preppers are stockpiling.
Alcohol
Who in their right mind would get wasted during such time when zombies are roaming the earth or when people are rioting endlessly all around you? Doomsday preppers are neither alcoholics nor party animals. Well, at least not all of them.
Preppers just want to be prepared for the end of the world and stock up on items that can be used in more ways than one. Alcohol does not only give you a buzz and some liquid courage, it’s also great for starting a fire, cleaning wounds, as an antiseptic, and as a bartering chip.
Baking Soda
If there’s one weird thing that deserves lots of space in your prepper pantry, it should be baking soda. You won’t be baking lots of stuff when the apocalypse comes but you will find tons of uses for the unassuming baking soda.
Baking soda can be used for relieving minor skin condition such as insect bites and irritation. It’s also effective against heartburn and may be used to freshen breath and whiten teeth. You can create your own deodorant with baking soda as one of the ingredients.
Cigarettes
If you’re a smoker, you’d probably get a kick out of knowing that doomsday preppers are stockpiling cigarettes. These people, however, are not hoarding these cancer sticks because of some nicotine addiction. Cigarettes can be used to start fires while the filter can clean water. They are also valuable trading chips.
Condoms
When you think about it, stockpiling condoms makes a lot of sense. In a zombie apocalypse, the last thing you want is to get pregnant. If The Walking Dead is to believed, getting knocked up will get you killed. Lori kicked the bucket when she gave birth to Li’l Asskicker aka Judith Grimes. Glenn got bludgeoned to death when the group was taking preggy Maggie to see her doctor. Seriously, though, it’s tough bringing baby into a dystopian world so hoarding on condoms seems like a good idea.
However, doomsday preppers have other things in mind. Non-lubricated condoms are pretty useful if you know how to use the. They can be used to carry water, keep tinder dry, and strike down animals and other people. Yep, you can turn a condom into a slingshot.
Crayons
Doomsday preppers are stocking up on crayons not because they want to start a day care during the apocalypse. Crayons are made of wax, which is the main ingredient in making candles. There’s no need to melt all the crayons to make candles. You can light one up as it is.
Dental Floss
Cleaning your teeth would be the last of your worries when doomsday comes. Still, you should stock up on dental floss (no, not the annoying dance move) because of its many uses. It can be turned into a fishing line for, you guessed it, catching fish. Use it to make a trap or snare, to start a fire, or to secure things.
Sanitary Pads
Stocking up on tampons and sanitary napkins makes sense if there’s a lady in the house. However, doomsday preppers will need these feminine products for other stuff. It helps stop bleeding and build fire. You can turn it into a cold compress. It can also be used for bartering.
This list is but a tiny percentage of the everyday items that are surprisingly stockpiled by doomsday preppers. In fact, if we list down all the weird things that preppers like to hoard in one sitting, we’ll probably be glued to our seats and fixed to the computer screens well after a week. Of course, we’re not going to do that. You can, however, check out The Gentleman Pirate to see more lists such as this. Stay tuned as we discuss more unusual stuff doomsday preppers have in their pantries.
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