Top 10 Things That Sell Out First During a Crisis

 

One thing the last few years reminded many families is how quickly everyday necessities can disappear from store shelves.

Most people don’t think much about common household items — until suddenly everyone is looking for the exact same thing at the exact same time.

Whether it’s a winter storm, hurricane, lockdown, cyberattack, or major power outage, certain products almost always vanish first.

And interestingly, many of them aren’t luxury items at all.

They’re basic everyday supplies.

         

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1. Toilet Paper

Toilet paper became one of the most talked-about shortages during the lockdowns. Empty aisles quickly became a symbol of panic buying and supply chain problems.

I recently wrote more about how different cultures adapted before modern toilet paper became common, and what those shortages taught many families about preparedness.

What People Used Before Toilet Paper 

2. Bottled Water

Water is usually one of the first things people grab during emergencies, especially before storms and power outages. How to Make Your Own Emergency Water Filter

3. Bread and Milk

Even during situations where refrigeration may fail, grocery shelves often empty quickly of familiar comfort foods.

4. Batteries

Flashlights, radios, and lanterns suddenly become far more important once the power goes out.

5. Canned Foods

Simple shelf-stable meals disappear quickly when people worry about losing access to grocery stores.

6. Over-the-Counter Medicines

Pain relievers, cold medicine, allergy medicine, and first aid supplies often sell out rapidly during health scares and emergencies. Top 5 Grid-Down Foods Diabetics Can Rely On

7. Cleaning Supplies

Disinfectants, bleach, soap, and paper towels became difficult to find during recent shortages.

8. Pet Food

Many people don’t realize how quickly pet supplies disappear until stores begin running low.

9. Fuel Containers

Gas cans and propane supplies often become hard to find before major storms or long power outages.

10. Baby Supplies

Formula, diapers, wipes, and baby medicine are usually among the first necessities families rush to secure.

                                Don’t Forget Comfort Foods

During stressful situations, people naturally focus on survival basics like water, batteries, and canned food. But one thing many families learned during shortages and lockdowns is that comfort matters too.

A favorite coffee, chocolate bar, soup, crackers, or familiar snack can do more for morale than people realize during difficult times. In uncertain situations, small comforts help create a sense of normalcy, especially for children and elderly family members.

Preparedness isn’t only about getting through an emergency physically. Sometimes it’s also about maintaining emotional well-being, routines, and a little peace of mind during stressful moments.

Whenever possible, it’s worth setting aside a few simple foods that not only last well — but also make you feel a little more at home.

What Many Families Learned

One thing shortages taught many people is that preparedness doesn’t necessarily mean fear or panic.

Often, it simply means keeping a small cushion of everyday necessities at home before everyone else suddenly needs them at once.

Most emergencies don’t require dramatic survival skills.

Sometimes they simply require preparation, flexibility, and staying calm while others are scrambling for basic supplies.

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What People Used Before Toilet Paper — And What the Lockdowns Taught Many of Us

 

During the lockdown shortages a few years ago, one of the first items people seemed desperate to buy was toilet paper.

Shelves emptied almost overnight.

It was strange watching something most of us barely think about suddenly become one of the most sought-after household supplies in the country.

But honestly, the shortages didn’t surprise me quite as much as they did some people.

Years earlier, while traveling overseas, I had already learned an important lesson:

Never assume toilet paper will be available.

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Learning to Travel Prepared

During my travels through places like Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Israel, I eventually learned to carry my own small stash of toilet paper and hand wipes everywhere I went. (coins needed to unlock toilet stalls in Europe)

There were many situations where modern restrooms simply weren’t available.

Sometimes that meant ducking behind ancient ruins during archaeological excavations. Other times it meant squatting quietly behind banana trees in remote areas where there were no facilities nearby.

In several mosques and older buildings, especially off the beaten path, the bathrooms often consisted of nothing more than a hole in the floor and a pitcher of water nearby.

No toilet paper.

In parts of Turkey and Jordan, finding what Americans would consider a typical western-style seated toilet wasn’t always common once you moved outside heavily tourist-centered areas.

Even when western bathrooms were available, toilet paper itself often wasn’t guaranteed.

Sometimes there was no running water either.

The Day I Had to Pay for Toilet Paper in the bathroom

One memory that still stands out to me happened at the Cairo museum in Egypt.

Inside one public restroom stood an older woman holding small amounts of toilet paper to hand out individually for a fee.

If you wanted paper, you paid for it.

At the time, it caught me off guard. But thankfully I had packed my own. 

One thing I quickly learned during my travels was that expecting toilet paper to be available in every restroom is largely a western expectation. In many parts of the world, water-based cleaning methods are far more common, especially in older buildings, rural areas, or public facilities.

But looking back now, especially after seeing empty store shelves during lockdowns years later, it makes a little more sense why many cultures approach sanitation differently than we do in the United States.

In many places around the world, water — not paper — has traditionally been the primary method used for cleanliness.

What People Used Before Modern Toilet Paper

Long before toilet paper became a standard household product, people simply used whatever materials were available to them locally.

Different cultures and time periods adapted in surprisingly practical ways.

Some of the more common substitutes throughout history included:

• leaves
• moss
• smooth stones
• corn cobs
• cloth rags
• newspaper
• old catalogs
• water and washing pitchers
• seashells in some coastal regions
• wool or scraps of fabric

Growing up, we even used pages from old Sears catalogs in our outhouse from time to time, so there really is truth behind those old stories people joke about.

For many rural families, people used what they had available.

Water Instead of Paper

In many parts of the world, water has traditionally been considered more sanitary and practical than paper.

During my travels, many bathrooms simply had a pitcher of water beside a floor drain or squat-style toilet.

Toilet paper often wasn’t provided at all.

That experience taught me pretty quickly to carry my own small pack of tissues and hand wipes while traveling.

Today, modern bidets are becoming more popular in western countries as well, especially after the toilet paper shortages during lockdowns.

And honestly, for normal everyday life with stable utilities, bidets and water washing can absolutely work well.

Glass sink and toilet on Nile Cruise in Cairo 

Why Bidets May Not Always Be Realistic During Emergencies

One thing many people don’t think about, however, is how heavily most modern bidets still depend on reliable infrastructure.

Many require:

• running water
• steady plumbing pressure
• electricity for heated seats or spray systems
• clean wastewater systems

During normal times, that’s no problem.

But during a prolonged grid-down situation, major drought, winter freeze, or water outage, preserving clean water often becomes far more important than comfort.

That’s one reason older generations often adapted by using whatever dry materials were available nearby when supplies became limited.

Preparedness isn’t necessarily about returning to uncomfortable living. It’s more about understanding how people adapted before modern conveniences existed — and recognizing how quickly everyday necessities can become valuable during shortages.

What the Shortages Reminded Many Families

One thing the lockdown shortages revealed was how quickly modern conveniences can disappear.

Most people never imagined toilet paper would become difficult to find until it suddenly was.

Preparedness doesn’t always mean dramatic survival scenarios. Sometimes it simply means recognizing how dependent modern life has become on supply chains, convenience, and constant availability.

Traveling overseas taught me years ago that much of the world already lives very differently when it comes to sanitation, water usage, and daily necessities.

Experiencing that firsthand changed how I think about preparedness and adaptability.

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A Reminder About Adaptability

One thing history teaches us is that human beings are remarkably adaptable.

Whether it was water pitchers in the Middle East, leaves gathered outdoors, old newspaper, or catalogs in rural outhouses, people found ways to make do with what they had available at the time.

And honestly, that may be one of the biggest preparedness lessons of all.

Worried About the Hantavirus Headlines? Here’s How to Prepare Without Panic

Over the past few days, many people have found themselves wondering the same thing:

Could this turn into another COVID situation?

Between headlines about quarantines, cruise ships, outbreaks, and rising public concern, it’s understandable why nerves are on edge. For many families, the memories of empty store shelves and uncertainty from 2020 still feel very fresh.

And honestly, that uneasy feeling is exactly why preparedness matters.

Not because we should panic.

But because it is always better to be quietly prepared than caught completely off guard.

The Good News: This Is Not COVID

Right now, health officials are not treating hantavirus like another fast-moving worldwide pandemic.

Most hantavirus infections are linked to exposure from rodents — things like droppings, nesting materials, and contaminated dust. While one strain involved in the recent headlines has shown limited person-to-person spread in rare situations, experts are still describing the overall public risk as low.

That said, recent years taught many of us something important:

Preparedness is not just about one virus.

It’s about being ready for uncertainty in general.

Power outages.
Supply shortages.
Storms.
Cyberattacks.
Temporary quarantines.
Economic struggles.
Sudden emergencies.

Preparedness gives families breathing room during stressful times.

And peace of mind is worth a lot these days.

One of the Biggest Lessons From 2020

Many people assume shortages happen because supplies completely disappear.

But often, shortages happen because millions of people suddenly rush to buy the same things at the exact same time.

The prepared family avoids that chaos.

Not because they’re wealthy.

Not because they’re extreme.

But because they slowly built a cushion ahead of time.

Even a small pantry and a few extra supplies can make a huge difference when the news cycle suddenly shifts into panic mode.

Start With Water First

If you are new to preparedness, water should always come first.

You can survive a surprisingly long time with limited food.

Water is another story.

A good starting goal:

• One gallon of water per person per day
• Enough for at least two weeks if possible

That doesn’t require expensive equipment.

Simple options include:

• bottled water
• stackable containers
• cleaned soda bottles
• water bricks
• filtered water pitchers
• bathtub water storage bags for emergencies

In places like Texas, where storms and power outages happen regularly, stored water is useful far beyond health concerns.

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How Pioneers Stored Water Before Modern Plumbing

Build a Calm Pantry, Not a Panic Pantry

One mistake people make is thinking preparedness means buying bizarre survival foods they’ll never eat.

Honestly, some of the best preparedness foods are simple pantry staples.

Focus on foods your family already uses:

• rice
• beans
• pasta
• oatmeal
• peanut butter
• canned soup
• canned vegetables
• canned fruit
• canned chicken
• tuna
• crackers
• cereal
• instant potatoes
• tortillas
• powdered milk

Preparedness works best when it becomes part of everyday life.

You rotate through it naturally instead of hiding it in the garage for “someday.”

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Don’t Forget the Small Everyday Items

One thing people learned quickly during COVID was how fast ordinary household items vanished.

Things like:

• toilet paper
• medicine
• batteries
• disinfectants
• cold medicine
• soap
• pet food
• trash bags
• paper towels

These are the things that become stressful once store shelves start thinning out.

A prepared home simply keeps a little extra on hand.

Not years’ worth.

Just enough to avoid panic shopping.

Why Rodent Prevention Matters Right Now

Since hantavirus is in the headlines, this is worth discussing.

The primary risk from hantavirus exposure comes from contact with rodent contamination.

That means practical home maintenance matters.

Simple steps include:

• sealing holes around the home
• storing food properly
• trapping mice early
• cleaning sheds and garages carefully
• avoiding rodent infestations from growing worse

One important tip:
Never sweep or vacuum dry rodent droppings.

That can stir contaminated dust into the air.

Instead:

• ventilate the area first
• spray with disinfectant
• wear gloves
• wipe carefully with disposable towels

Simple precautions go a long way.

Preparedness Is Also Financial

This is something many preparedness articles overlook.

Being prepared is not only about supplies.

It’s also about reducing vulnerability.

Preparedness can look like:

• learning practical skills
• paying down debt
• building emergency savings
• creating side income
• cooking from scratch
• gardening
• repairing instead of replacing
• learning to live with less

The more self-reliant a family becomes, the less frightening every headline feels.

The Goal Is Peace of Mind

At the end of the day, preparedness is not about expecting the worst.

It’s about creating stability in an unstable world.

A family with extra food, stored water, basic supplies, and practical skills sleeps better at night.

Not because they’re afraid.

But because they know they can handle a difficult few weeks if necessary.

And honestly, that peace of mind may be one of the most valuable things we can give our families right now.

Especially after everything we’ve already lived through.

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Final Thoughts

No one knows exactly what future headlines may bring.

But one thing remains true:

Preparedness is never wasted.

The extra food gets eaten.
The batteries get used.
The flashlight eventually comes out during a storm.
The skills become valuable for everyday life.

And if another difficult season ever does arrive, your family won’t be starting from zero.

That alone is worth something.