When news of a potential crisis hits—whether it’s a major storm, a pandemic, or civil unrest—human behavior becomes predictable. People rush to stores to stock up on essential goods, and in a matter of hours, shelves that were once fully stocked become barren. Experience from past emergencies has shown us exactly which items are the first to go. Understanding this pattern is key to preparing your household ahead of time, ensuring you already have what you need before the panic buying begins.
1. Bottled Water
Clean drinking water is the most critical element for survival, so it’s no surprise that bottled water is the first thing to vanish. People buy cases and gallons in a panic, fearing that tap water could become contaminated or unavailable. A smarter long-term strategy involves having water filtration systems and containers to store your own water.
2. Toilet Paper
The great toilet paper shortage of 2020 taught us a powerful lesson about panic buying. While not essential for immediate survival, toilet paper is a creature comfort that people are unwilling to go without. Its bulkiness also means that shelves empty quickly and are slow to restock, which fuels the buying frenzy.
3. Canned Goods
Canned soups, vegetables, and meats are the foundation of any emergency food pantry. They are shelf-stable, easy to prepare, and provide essential calories and nutrients. In a crisis, people load up their carts with these items, quickly depleting the store’s inventory of affordable, long-lasting food.
4. Bread, Milk, and Eggs
These three perishable staples disappear almost instantly at the hint of a snowstorm or other short-term event. This phenomenon is often driven by a psychological need to have basic comfort foods on hand. While they don’t last long, they are what people buy when they anticipate being stuck at home for a few days.
5. Hand Sanitizer and Cleaning Wipes
In any public health crisis, hygiene products are among the first to go. Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes become priceless commodities as people try to protect themselves from illness. The demand skyrockets far beyond the supply chain’s ability to keep up, leading to empty shelves for weeks on end.
6. Over-the-Counter Medications
People rush to stock their medicine cabinets with pain relievers, fever reducers, and cold and flu remedies. The fear of getting sick when healthcare services might be overwhelmed drives consumers to buy up common medications, leaving those with an immediate need empty-handed.
7. Baby Formula and Diapers
For parents of infants, the thought of running out of formula or diapers is terrifying. These items are absolute necessities, and parents will buy as much as they can find at the first sign of a supply chain disruption. This targeted, desperate buying ensures these products are among the first to sell out.
8. Batteries
A power outage is a common secondary effect of many disasters. Because of this, batteries of all sizes—especially AA, AAA, and D—disappear quickly. People need them to power flashlights, portable radios, and other essential electronic devices when the grid goes down.
9. Fuel
Gasoline and propane are critical resources that vanish with astonishing speed. As a storm approaches or a crisis looms, long lines form at gas stations as people fill their cars and spare fuel cans. Propane tanks for gas grills, which can be used for cooking during a power outage, also become scarce.
10. Non-Perishable Pantry Staples
Beyond canned goods, other shelf-stable foods like pasta, rice, dried beans, peanut butter, and flour are cleared from the shelves. These items form the basis of many simple, long-lasting meals, and shoppers buy them in large quantities to ensure their family has enough to eat.
11. Pet Food
Pet owners view their animals as family, and they prepare for them accordingly. Cans of wet food and large bags of dry kibble are quickly bought up by people who fear they won’t be able to feed their pets during an extended emergency.
12. Ammunition
In times of uncertainty and fear about social stability, ammunition sales soar. Responsible gun owners stock up, concerned that a crisis could lead to a breakdown in law and order. This demand makes ammunition one of the fastest-moving products in any widespread emergency.
The Virtue of Preparation
The pattern of panic buying is clear and consistent. The same items disappear from shelves every time a crisis hits. The lesson is not to be faster than your neighbor when disaster strikes, but to be prepared before it does. By slowly building a supply of these essential items over time, you can avoid the panicked crowds and have peace of mind knowing your household is secure.
What items are on your personal must-have list for an emergency? Have you ever been caught unprepared in a supply chain crisis? Share your stories.
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