Dollar Store Preparedness

It's only been five days but many people impacted by Hurricane Michael are already desperate for food and water.  On the one hand, I understand that many of these people are elderly and poor, but on the other hand, only a couple of dollars a week at the dollar store can buy you a lot of preparedness items!  Here is a list of items you can pick up at your local Dollar Store, Dollar Tree, or 99 Cent store to see you through a variety of emergencies...

1. Tarp
2. Duct tape
3. Para cord
4. Matches
5. Candles
6. Flashlight
7. Batteries
8. AM/FM radio
9. Aspirin
10. Tylenol (or other pain reliever)
11. Bandaids
12. Antibiotic ointment
13. Antihistamine tablets
14. Other first aid items: Ace bandage, medical tape, gauze, etc.
15. Instant ice packs
16. Instant hand warmers
17. Bleach (unscented)
18. Bar soap
19. Hygiene items: mirror, comb
20. Rubbing alcohol
21. Sharpies
22. Scissors
23. Utility knife
24. Repair items: safety pins, paper clips, nails, wire, etc.
25. Super Glue
26. Glow In The Dark Bracelets
27. Ear plugs
28. Paper plates
29. Paper/plastic cups
30. Napkins
31. Plastic utensils
32. Ziploc bags
33. Plastic food containers (with lids)
34. Gardening gloves
35. Toothbrushes
36. Toothpaste
37. WD40
38. Lighters
39. Whistle
40. Hand sanitizer
41. Tissue
42. Rain poncho
43. Emergency blanket
44. Sewing kit
45. Razors
46. Magnifying glass
47. Paper towels
48. Plastic bucket
49. Scrub brush
50. Ammonia
51. Latex gloves
52. Steel wool pads
53. Coffee filters
54. Safety glasses
55. Disposable filter masks
56. Trash bags
57. Nail clippers
58. Dental floss
59. Vitamins
60. Vaseline
61. Aluminum foil
62. Cookware: baking pans, spatula, knife
63. Can opener
64. Sheet plastic: plastic table covers, shower curtains, etc.
65. Latex balloons
66. Safety flasher
67. Fluorescent vest
68. Basic tools (screwdriver, pliers, hammer, saw)
69. Notebook
70. Pens
71. Pencils
72. Padlock
73. Bicycle lock
74. Tool box
75. Bungee cords
76. Bandana 
77. Sun glasses
78. Laser pointer
79. Solar yard light
80. Clotheline/clothes pins
81. Emergency cell charger
82. Zipties
83. Alcohol wipes
84. Wet wipes
85. Playing cards
86. Kid's entertainment (games, puzzles, crayons, etc)
87. Disinfectant cleaner
88. Wire coat hangers
89. Tote bags/daypack
90. Plastic storage containers
91. Bug spray
92. Suntan lotion
93. Food: spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc)
94. Food: nuts and dried fruit
95. Food: candy (chocolate, hard candy)
96. Food: trail mix, jerky, nutrition bars
97. Food: instant carbs (oatmeal, instant noodle soup, pasta)
98. Food: canned goods (soup, spaghetti sauce, canned fish, canned meat, beans)
99. Food: baking items (yeast, sugar, flour, oil, baking soda, baking powder)
100. Beverages: tea, coffee, drink mixes, bottled water and juice
101. Specials that rarely show up but that you should grab when they do: Pedialite, Thera Flu, Sterno

And a few caveats: most dollar store stuff is crap so if you can only afford a $1 knife get one but as soon as possible, upgrade.  Pay attention to sales at other stores as you can sometimes beat dollar store prices on many items (ie: baking soda for 59 cents, 69 cent canned goods, etc).  Pay attention to labels (I've found things at the dollar store that are expired, other things that are mismarked such as an ibuprofen pain reliever marked as aspirin--there's a difference.  And I am pretty particular about buying items, particularly food items, which are made in the US instead of China.