A friend once told me: “As a man, you should always be prepared for anything.” I couldn’t agree more. A man is not only his parents’ son but also his children’s father. Although I had always paid some attention to preparedness, the sudden pandemic during the 2020 Spring Festival caught everyone off guard – myself included. Face masks were impossible to find worldwide, daily life was severely disrupted, and cities under lockdown faced serious shortages of basic supplies. During that period, I started thinking about a question: how do you prepare for an uncertain crisis?

When a crisis hits, the core issue is survival – ensuring you have enough supplies. But since nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, how do you stockpile in advance? I’ve put together a supply checklist that I hope can be useful.

Staple Foods

  • Rice (vacuum-sealed) (shelf life: 1 year) – An adult eating 3 meals a day needs about 0.5 kg/day, or ~180 kg for one year;
  • Millet (vacuum-sealed) (shelf life: 1 year) – Supplements rice nutrition, good for breakfast porridge. At ~100 g/day, one person needs ~36 kg for one year;
  • Flour (sealed) (shelf life: 1 year) – More nutritious than rice, versatile for noodles and quick meals. At ~0.5 kg/day, one person needs ~180 kg for one year;
  • Dried noodles (shelf life: 1.5 years) – Convenient, easy to store. At ~0.5 kg/day, one person needs ~180 kg for one year;
  • Sweet potato vermicelli / potato starch noodles (shelf life: 2-3 years) – Convenient and long-lasting;
  • Cooking oil (shelf life: nearly indefinite) – ~15 L per person per year;
  • Pasta (shelf life: 3 years) – Long-lasting;
  • Hardtack / compressed biscuits (shelf life: 3-4 years) – Long-lasting, ready to eat;
  • Beans: red beans, mung beans, soybeans, etc. (vacuum-sealed) (shelf life: 3+ years) – Supplement nutrition beyond rice and flour; mung beans and soybeans can be sprouted for fresh greens and vitamins;

Canned Goods

  • Canned beef (shelf life: 3 years) – Emergency protein when fresh food is unavailable;
  • Canned pork (shelf life: 3 years) – Same as above;
  • Canned baked beans in tomato sauce (shelf life: 2 years) – Affordable protein supplement;
  • Rice/noodle sauce (shelf life: 6 months to 1 year) – Quick meal companion;
  • Dehydrated vegetable soup packets (shelf life: 1.5 years) – Quick nutrition and salt replenishment;
  • Canned fruit (shelf life: 2 years)

Water

In a city, stockpile bottled water or large water jugs to prepare for potential water outages or low pressure. If the water supply does cut out, reserves should only be used for drinking and cooking (cook sparingly). No showers (too wasteful – use a damp towel to wipe down if needed). This is when ready-to-eat foods like compressed biscuits and canned goods come in handy.

Nutritional Supplements (for illness, weakness, or malnutrition)

  • Powdered milk (shelf life: 2 years) – Nutritionally rich;
  • Nutritional rice cereal (shelf life: 2 years) – Easy to digest;
  • Honey (shelf life: nearly indefinite);

Health Foods / Snacks

  • Tea (black, green, etc.) – Helps relieve nervous tension;
  • Raisins;
  • Dried fruit / dehydrated fruit;
  • Assorted nuts;
  • Candy – Quickly raises blood sugar;
  • Multivitamin tablets – Ensures balanced nutrition;

Seasonings

  • Salt – At ~6 g/person/day, one 350 g packet lasts ~58 days; stockpile ~6 packets per person per year;
  • Soy sauce / vinegar

Spicy food and hot sauce are not recommended. During emergencies people are already anxious and prone to inflammation; spicy food makes it worse. Combined with vitamin deficiency, it easily causes mouth ulcers.

Medical Supplies

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Pain relievers
  • Fever reducers
  • Anti-diarrheal medication
  • Yunnan Baiyao (traditional wound medicine)
  • Medical alcohol / iodophor disinfectant
  • Medical gauze
  • Bandage wraps
  • Band-aids
  • Thermometer (room)
  • Thermometer (body)
  • Face masks
  • Protective suits
  • Goggles / swim goggles
  • Medical gloves

Household Items / Tools

  • Storage / moisture prevention

    • Large sealed storage bins (several) – For food and moisture-sensitive items;
    • Resealable bags, large and small (many) – Organizing supplies is essential;
    • Desiccant and oxygen absorber packets (many) – Place in sealed bins with rice, flour, etc. to extend shelf life;

  • Hygiene products

    • Toilet paper / wet wipes (large quantity) – If water is cut off, wiping dishes with paper saves water;
    • Plastic bags, large and small (many) – For garbage; if water is cut off, can also be used for waste;
    • Bleach / medical alcohol / effervescent disinfectant tablets – For indoor and clothing disinfection;

  • Daily necessities

    • Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, towels, etc.

  • Cooking equipment / fuel

    • Portable gas stove (2+ for safety) + butane gas canisters (many) – Most convenient for cooking during power and gas outages;
    • Lighters – A dozen disposable ones, plus 2-3 durable refillable lighters with refill gas;
    • Flashlights (2+) + batteries – Emergency lighting;
    • Candles – Emergency lighting;

Miscellaneous

  • Sewing kit
  • Climbing rope – You may need to climb out in certain situations;

If the city’s systems collapse and outside aid cannot reach you for various reasons, residents will face shortages of food, water, and other supplies. As time passes, some people will become frantic with fear, making the city no longer safe to stay in. You should find a way to relocate to the countryside or mountainous areas, ideally to trusted friends or relatives. You may need some of the following items:

Electronics

  • Power bank / portable solar panel – For charging phones;
  • Radio / portable TV – For receiving broadcast signals when the internet is down;
  • Motion-triggered or infrared alarm – Essential security; in an apartment, someone may try to break in at night; in the wilderness, it lets you sleep in your tent without worrying about what’s outside;
  • Walkie-talkies – Useful for communicating within a few hundred meters when the group splits up;
  • Watch (electronic or mechanical) – More practical than a phone for telling time outdoors;
  • Batteries (many)

Outdoor Gear

  • Tent + sleeping bag + sleeping pad;
  • Outdoor cooking set;
  • Outdoor water jug;
  • Water purification tablets;
  • LifeStraw (survival water filter);
  • Small thermos – Hot water is always beneficial, especially when food is scarce and stress is high;
  • Insulated food container – Leftovers should be saved for the next meal, or cook two meals at once to save effort;
  • Emergency thermal blanket – Hypothermia is the greatest wilderness risk;

Reconnaissance

  • Binoculars – When surroundings become unknown and dangerous, extending your field of vision is essential;
  • Tactical flashlight;

Defense and Hunting

  • Helmet + stab-proof vest + cut-resistant gloves;
  • Pepper spray – The safest tool for self-defense;
  • Slingshot – If survival demands it, you can hunt small birds for food; also useful for self-defense;
  • Fishing net / fish hooks + fishing line – For catching fish when food is scarce;
  • Compass;
  • Map of China;
  • SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman
  • One Year in Hell: Surviving the Bosnian War (survival report)