Emergency food supplies are considered to be one of the most important aspects of emergency preparedness. By taking the time to prepare storage of foods that are designed to accommodate you and your loved ones during the event of an emergency, you will have the security of knowing that nourishment will not become an issue. In many types of disasters, food becomes scarce.
You will never know when an emergency may strike. There could be an earthquake, severe weather or an unplanned shortage of food. We must always be prepared for our family’s safety and well-being in case of an emergency.
While it may be scary when an emergency happens, most of the time we won’t be alone. Many families and individuals come together to help one another.
When gathering emergency food supplies, it is important that you understand that there is no such thing as too much. You should ensure that each individual that you are preparing for has enough food for at least four days. However, there are many emergency specialists that claim that each individual should have enough food to last for an entire week – or seven day period. It is always best to have more than you need.
In addition to this, the following types of emergency food supplies are deemed appropriate:
Foods that are considered to be “Freeze-Dried”• Dehydrated Foods that are Vacuum-Packed• Grains that are Nitrogen Packed• Beans that are Nitrogen Packed• Ready-to-Eat Meals• Canned Vegetables• Canned Meats• Canned Sandwich Spreads• Canned Fruits• Canned Nuts.
When stocking up, your emergency food storage supply must look into your family’s personal taste, diet, and nutritional needs. Storing food that you just usually eat on ordinary days is a great strategy to keep the morale up through these varieties of situations. Additionally, it gives your loved ones the impression of security. When stocking up on emergency food supplies, it is important to focus on foods that are considered to be non-perishable. Given the fact that many emergencies result in loss of utilities such as electricity, gas and water, it is essential that you only choose items that do not have to be refrigerated or frozen.
Plastic buckets with lids are practical storage devices for your canned goods, grains, and other dry meals. However, always line them moisture-proof plastic bags or store your meals products in bags before putting them from the buckets.
Put together an emergency kit and keep it safe inside of your home. Purchase a fireproof safe that is large enough to hold emergency food supplies, blankets, batteries, weather/emergency radio, a first aid kit and bottled water. Flashlight and Batteries: No emergency kit is complete with a flashlight and batteries. Check the flashlight every few months to ensure that the batteries still work and that the bulb has not burned out. LED flashlights powered by mechanical action instead of batteries are great for storage.
Kits should at minimum contain enough supplies to see the family through for a week, but many families make the effort to put back enough supplies to last for several months to ensure they can comfortably weather even the worst disasters until help arrives.
First Aid Kit: The first aid kit should contain more than just bandaids, hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment. It should have two different types of fever reducers for children in addition to adult strength fever reducers. Families should also have a supply of medicine that their family will need if something happens and they are unable to get medications from the local pharmacy due to shortages. Always keep your Emergency Supplies up to date.