Emergency Preparedness: Essential Tips for Food Storage

Imagine coming home from work, turning on the news, and learning that a massive storm with torrential rains is heading your way. The authorities advise everyone to stay indoors and off the roads for the next 72 hours due to high winds and the risk of flooding. Such situations occur more frequently than most people realize. While it's unpleasant to think about worst-case scenarios, advance preparation can save your life and significantly ease your stress during emergencies. Whether faced with natural disasters like flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, fires, or chemical spills, or personal emergencies such as illnesses, accidents, or job loss, having food, cash, and other necessities stored away can mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving.

Planning for Emergencies

Most people are used to the conveniences of running water and grocery stores for their basic needs. However, in an emergency, these conveniences may disappear. Planning ahead can significantly increase your resilience and may be vital to your survival if things go sideways. While everyone's needs during an emergency differ, food and water are universal necessities. Most experts advise having at least three days' worth of food and water for everyone in your household, including pets. This should be enough for you to survive until the emergency has passed and help can get to you. If your budget and storage allow, be prepared for extended emergencies by gathering enough food and water to last up to two weeks or even a month. The American Red Cross recommends maintaining a three-day emergency supply for evacuation and a two-week supply at home.

Factors to Consider When Preparing

When preparing for emergencies, consider the following: - The number of people and pets in your household who need food and water. - Dietary restrictions, preferences, and whether certain foods require cooking or water. - The shelf life of the food you choose, ensuring you rotate supplies every few months for freshness. - Your ability to cook without power, such as having a camp stove or gas barbeque. - The necessary utensils and storage options, such as cool, dry areas for keeping food and water. Disposable plates and cutlery don't require water for washing. - Planning meals in single portions as you may be unable to refrigerate leftovers. - Having lighters, matches, candles, flashlights, batteries, knives, zip lock bags, bleach (to disinfect and purify water), and other essentials that you keep in sealed plastic bags.

Water is Essential

People can live for about three weeks without food. However, they can only survive for three days without water, making it essential to have plenty in your emergency stores. The Prepared, a highly regarded resource focused on practical prepping, recommends at least one gallon of water per day for each person. Remember to consider additional water for cooking, cleaning, and your pets. They also suggest including a way to treat dirty water, like a portable water filter or countertop filter. One way to keep water aside for emergencies is in a deep freezer, according to Nellie Oehler, a food safety specialist and coordinator with Oregon State University Extension Service, a statewide outreach program.

Choosing Food for Emergencies

A key rule of storing food for emergencies is to "store what you eat" and "eat what you store." One of the easiest ways to build up your survival food supply is to buy extra non-perishable, shelf-stable items every time you buy groceries. This practice will also ensure that you have food you enjoy. You can also buy pre-packaged emergency foods like MREs (Meals-Ready-to-Eat), which need little to no preparation and last extended periods. Survival food tends to be more compact and lasts longer than the food you buy at the supermarket, but it is typically more expensive. A combination of both works well for a robust emergency food pantry. Preserving your food at home through canning, pickling, curing, fermenting, or dehydrating is also an option. If you don’t know how to preserve your own food, there are inexpensive options available at supermarkets. Waiting until items go on sale to stock up can help you save money and collect the food you need to be prepared when the time comes.

Recommended Emergency Food Items

While not exhaustive, the list below will give you an idea of foods that store well and make an excellent addition to your emergency food pantry.

Protein Sources

- Peanut butter and other nut butters - Canned meat and fish (spam, chicken, tuna, salmon, sardines) - Beef jerky and dried meats - Canned beans and legumes (including refried beans)

Ready-to-Eat Meals

- Canned soups, stews, and chili - Instant meals (macaroni and cheese, ramen) - Instant mashed potatoes

Grains and Staples

- Rice and pasta - Oatmeal and breakfast cereals - Crackers and chips - Dried beans, lentils, and chickpeas

Fruits and Vegetables

- Canned fruits and vegetables - Dried fruits - Canned tomatoes and tomato sauce

Beverages and Condiments

- Powdered milk - Fruit juice (bottled, canned, or powdered) - Coffee, tea, hot chocolate - Salt, pepper, spices, hot sauce

Comfort Foods

- Honey and jam - Trail mix and granola bars - Chocolate, candies, and other favorite snacks (to improve morale)

Storage Strategies

For convenience and minimal effort, commercially canned foods from the grocery store are a great option. Make sure your emergency food is well-packaged, sealed, and has a date to prevent spoilage. If you have the budget, consider storing dry goods like beans, rice, and flour in food-grade buckets with oxygen absorbers to make them last longer. This can extend their shelf life for up to 25 years.

Where to Store Emergency Supplies

Store food in a cool, dry place, ideally between 32 and 70 degrees F, as food will last longer in colder temperatures. Ideally, the space should be well-ventilated, clean, isolated from other items such as cleaning products or chemicals, and kept off the floor. If you live in a city with limited space, consider using under-the-bed storage, as it’s dark, and the bedroom is usually one of the coldest rooms in the house. Don’t keep all supplies in one location —diversifying storage places can protect your food from emergencies. If a fire destroys your house, having some food in a shed or barn can be life-saving.

Cooking Without Electricity

If you’re facing a power outage, you'll need to think about how to cook or warm up your food without electricity. Keep this in mind when choosing foods, especially if you don’t have an alternative cooking source.

Alternative Cooking Sources

If you have a camping stove or barbeque, make sure you have the right fuel and extra water. Always cook outside for safety. A butane stove is a great, portable option for cooking and boiling water, especially indoors during severe weather. It’s efficient, safe, and affordable. If you don’t have an alternative cooking source, stock up on ready-to-eat foods. Don’t forget a can opener! For warming up food indoors, candles, fondue pots, or chafing dishes can be used. Try to use a well-ventilated area if possible.

Food Spoilage

Stored food can deteriorate over time, losing its color, texture, taste, and smell. Some nutrients, like vitamin C, are also lost over time. If not stored correctly, insects and rodents can get into stored food, making it inedible. Use food-grade buckets, glass jars, or other airtight containers to keep food fresh and safe. Before eating, check for any signs of damage, like cracks, holes, or broken seals. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes made when preparing for an emergency can be costly when the emergency arrives. Some common pitfalls include: - Storing foods that are difficult to prepare or are not well-liked - Not closing foods tightly after each use - Not placing them in airtight food containers to protect them from spoilage - Not checking the dates and having expired/bad food in your emergency kit - Storing too many comfort foods and not enough nutrient-dense foods

Resources

Extension services are an excellent resource for emergency preparedness and are available in every state. They offer a wide range of programs on topics that include farming, livestock management, gardening, and food production. Many universities also have extension programs, which extend the university and its resources to members of the community through educational programs.

Bottom Line

Emergency preparedness can feel daunting, but taking small steps can make a difference. By adding extra groceries and assessing your current supplies, you'll be better equipped for any situation. Planning calmly for potential emergencies safeguards you and your loved ones. While preparation requires time and effort, it could be key to navigating future challenges. What are your thoughts on this article? Share it with your friends and sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is everyday at 6pm.