Prepare Your Pantry for an Emergency

In light of the recent Earthquake magnitude 7.7 off the coast of British Columbia and the ongoing Hurricane Sandy, we offer this advice to prepare your pantry.

When an emergency strikes, many people realize that they don’t have enough food and water supplies to last until help can arrive, or until electricity, water, and transportation are restored. It’s easy and inexpensive to assemble an emergency food supply that will be ready when you need it.

According to the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, you should have enough food and water for each member of your family to survive for three days (72 hours) without assistance. Do the math before you put your food supply together. For example, a family of four will need a total of twelve meals.

Think about the specific needs of each family member. If you have an infant, include canned or powdered milk in your emergency food kit, even if you are nursing. Is anyone in your family diabetic or on a reduced-sodium diet? Make sure that your supplies include foods that are healthy and safe for them.

Keep a manual can opener in your food supply kit. You don’t want to have to go searching for a can opener in the middle of an emergency.

Remember that pets are family members, too! Stock your kit with a three-day supply of food for each pet, and make sure you have enough water for them as well.

Even if you have a propane camp stove for emergencies – a great investment! – your options for heating and preparing meals will be limited. Before you can “just add water,” you’ll have to boil water from your supply, and washing dishes uses up water, too. Often, it will be easiest to eat meals directly from the can.

Emergencies are stressful, so choose comforting and familiar foods that you’ll enjoy. If your kids think of canned pasta as a special treat, include some in your emergency food kit! If your supply includes a variety of appealing choices, you’ll keep a positive frame of mind as well as a full stomach.

Once you’ve put your emergency food supply together, make sure you keep it up to date. Even canned and non-perishable foods have expiration dates. FEMA, the United States’ emergency management department, advises that canned fruit, vegetables, soups, and meats should be eaten within one year of purchase. Freeze-dried and dehydrated meals can last much longer – up to 25 years.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be well-fed through any emergency!

Emergency Food Supplies — How Much Do You Need to Store?

It’s no secret – it’s a good idea to have emergency food storage on hand at home. From natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes to common power outages, there are many reasons to keep an adequate supply of non-perishable and easy to prepare food on hand. For most people, the question is not “Do I need an emergency food supply” but “how much should I store”?

While every situation is different, you can usually get a good idea of how much to keep on hand by thinking about the number of people (and pets) in your household, where you live, and the likelihood of a power outage or food shortage problem. Start with aiming for 24 hours-worth of food and water as a bare minimum, and work your way up from there, based on the following factors:

People and Pets: If you are planning emergency food for a single adult, you’ll need a lot less food – and a lot less storage space – than you will for a family. The larger the family, the more you’ll need to keep on hand, including food for pets and specialty foods like baby formula and kid-friendly meals. Don’t forget sanitary items, prescriptions and contact lenses for every member of the family as well.

Location: Live in hurricane prone New Orleans? History has shown that you need a hefty amount of food set aside in case the next Katrina rolls ashore. Even if you are not directly affected by the storm, simply being in the path can disrupt supply chains for days or even weeks, so stock up and you won’t have to worry about going without. Take a look at how your area is affected by seasonal changes and storms, and stock your emergency food and water accordingly.

Space: Can you dedicate an entire storage area to your emergency food stash? The space you have available will help you decide how much to keep on hand. In most modern homes, there is generally a spare closet or pantry that can serve as a food storage spot, but if you are in a small apartment where space is a premium, you may need to store fewer or more compact items.

Cash: How much can you afford to spend on your emergency food and supply stash? The easiest way to build up a supply is to work slowly over time – even if you can only invest a small amount, you can start creating an emergency supply kit you can depend on.