Speaking from personal experience, with reference to ordinary short-term
regional disasters only, such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc., and
not TEOTWAWKI or societal collapse, I've found the following smaller items
to be much appreciated:

1. Toilet paper, always in short supply
2. Cigarettes and lighters, ditto
3. Sunblock and bug repellant, which will reduce misery considerably
4. Feminine hygiene products, which will make you a hero to the ladies
5. Lysol spray, liquid bleach, brooms, mops and other cleaning stuff, always
6. Hotel sized soaps, shampoos and other personal grooming supplies
7. Disposable diapers, moms will hug you
8. Large plastic garbage bags, a million uses
9. Pens, paper
10. Paper towels, plates, plastic utensils, and especially paper or plastic cups.

Amongst the professionals, these items are popular (in addition to the above):
11. Batteries, AA, AAA, D, C, in that order
12. Maps of the local area, street maps and urban topo maps such as those in the state "gazetteers"
13. Satellite phone and/or satellite internet access time
14. Orange spray paint
15. Duct tape


Jeff