Have you ever looked at a handful of rice and seen more than just dinner? From creating an alarm system to sensing a leak, rice offers unconventional solutions that can really come in handy—especially in an emergency. Let's explore the many unexpected ways rice can be a lifesaver. 1. Water Absorber During emergencies, water damage to critical items like electronic devices and documents can pose a significant problem. Rice, with its exceptional moisture-absorbing ability, can help mitigate this concern. How to Make It If an electronic device gets wet: Turn off the device immediately and remov ..read more

When things get rough, you’ve got to be MORE than just prepared—you have to be resourceful, too. Here's a preparedness trick we bet you've never thought of, and the best part is, it's hiding in plain sight in your very own kitchen cupboard! It turns out that your humble spice rack holds more than just flavor enhancers for your culinary creations; it's also a secret weapon for disaster situations. Ready to unlock the potential of these everyday items? Let's dive into some unexpected and resourceful ways to use your spices when the going gets tough.* 1. Antiseptic Wound Care Say hello to clove a ..read more

It’s the ultimate emergency food quandary: what to do with those #10 cans you’ve opened but haven’t finished? That precious shelf life—sometimes as much as 30 years—has now been cut to just a few months!  Unfortunately, there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle when it comes to opened emergency food. However, after nearly 35 years of making the stuff, there is one trick we’ve learned that’s pretty darned effective at preserving your food. It’s as simple as can be, costs almost nothing, and can add about a year of shelf life. The Bag-It Method To help illustrate, we’ll walk you ..read more

Putting your food storage together is a tall order, especially if you have a large family. Once it’s complete, however, the sense of accomplishment and peace of mind is incredible. But what happens if a flood wipes out your hard-earned food storage? Whether it was because of a hurricane or a leaky pipe, losing your food storage can feel like a double loss. Those emergency preparedness supplies were supposed to see you through! Without your supply, how will you get through the disaster? There is no way to completely prevent a flood from hitting your home; you can only do what you can to prepare ..read more

In recent years, flooding incidents around the world have increased, causing significant damage to communities and claiming lives. One of the most severe risks posed by floodwaters is to motorists, who may find themselves driving in dangerous conditions. While the best approach is to avoid floodwaters entirely, it is possible to find yourself in a car caught in rising water. This article will examine the crucial steps you need to take to safely escape from a car in floodwater. Step 1: Stay Calm and Collected The first step is to remain calm and level-headed, even in a life-threatening situatio ..read more

Go into most people’s pantries and you will find white vinegar. This is because vinegar is a multi-purpose product with uses from cooking to cleaning. It’s one of those magical items that will come through when you are in a pinch, which makes it ideal for emergencies. The problem is that many people only think of vinegar for its food uses, but there are so many other amazing things it can do! Familiarize yourself with this list of emergency uses for white vinegar so you will be prepared should a need arise. Difference between White Vinegar and Distilled White Vinegar As you peruse this list, i ..read more

In between cleaning your closets and washing your windows this spring, take some time for emergency preparedness spring cleaning. When was the last time you checked your family’s first aid kit? Do you know when it is time to replace your fire extinguisher? These types of emergency preparedness tasks often get overlooked because many of us buy emergency supplies, store them, and forget them. Since you will already be doing your annual spring cleaning, make this the time to ensure your family and home are prepared for future emergencies. 1. Update Your Emergency Plan Every family should have an ..read more

In the Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy, the main character instructs his son to throw cans of Spaghetti O’s on the ground. Why? Sandler’s character says, “Dented cans are half-price. Microsoft went down 3 points. We gotta save some money.” It’s not merely that the grocery stores might not want to sell cans that “look bad,” but it is also because grocery stores don’t want to potentially sell canned food that has gone bad. Now, we don’t suggest taking advice from the film Big Daddy to save money, but we mention it because it does remind us how we should treat “nonperishable canned food” in our pant ..read more

Here’s a new year’s resolution you won’t want to give up on – master preparedness 101. Why are we so sure this will be a resolution you keep? Because emergency preparedness can be the difference between life and death. As the saying goes, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” No one wants to fail – especially in a disaster. Whether you are just beginning to prepare for emergencies or have a pantry full of long-term emergency food, take time this year to master preparedness 101. This may mean stocking up on supplies that you don’t own or brushing up on survival skills you haven’t practiced ..read more

Emergency Essentials has made it our goal to help our customers be prepared for emergencies since 1987. So, it’s no surprise that our most popular blog posts of 2022 focused on emergency preparedness and emergency supplies. This year’s roundup of blogs includes several about how to use your emergency supplies in day-to-day life and prepare for disasters beyond your control. There are also a few that focus on some family-oriented preparedness-themed fun, such as a guide to survival movies and how to make bug-out ice cream. Read on to see which blogs caught our followers’ attention in 2022. 1. D ..read more