Although an emergency is unlikely to disrupt the food supply for two weeks, it is still wise to maintain a supply that will last that long. You don't need to go out and buy food to prepare an emergency food supply. You can use canned goods, dry mixes, and other basic products from your pantry shelves. The amount of food to store per person depends on the type of emergency.
Short-term planning is easier and can be done by having a deep pantry or having some freeze-dried foods or MREs on hand. Emergency food buckets, also known as survival food buckets or bags containing pre-packaged meals, are popular among food storage companies and resellers. This food supply should not be perishable; choose foods that do not require refrigeration, little or no preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you're looking for something smaller (for example, just for one person), this emergency food supply from 4Patriots is a great option.
Emergency food supplies have improved in recent years with better-tasting foods, so it's worth looking for kits with good flavors. Treat food exposed to firefighting water the same way you would treat food exposed to flood waters. Canned food is a great way to add variety to your emergency food supply, whether it's home-canned in glass jars or store-bought canned goods. Consider storing plastic food bags or zippered food freezers in your emergency supplies.
If you include canned food in your emergency food supply, inspect your supply periodically to ensure that there are no rusty, leaking, bulging, or heavily dented containers and that there are no broken seals. Planning for short-term emergency food needs can be as simple as increasing the quantities of some basic, non-perishable foods that you would normally use. A number of manufacturers ONLY sell survival food buckets or bags with pre-prepared meals; they don't offer real individual food options. While most emergencies are unlikely to interrupt the food supply for two weeks, some people choose to consider a short-term supply as one that will last so long.
The emergency foods of the past were little more than dry, non-perishable products that were stored on the pantry shelf all year round. Real Simple's emergency food supply list contains foods that not only don't need to be cooked and are nutritionally dense, but also taste good. The storable food industry is plagued by new retailers and manufacturers who have tried to capitalize on the food storage craze.It's important to remember that an emergency can happen at any time and it's best to be prepared with an adequate emergency food supply. Having a well-stocked pantry with non-perishable items is essential for any emergency situation.
It's also important to have a plan in place for how you will access your emergency supplies if needed.
Leave Reply