02 Nov
Earthquakes

Friday Roundup – Earthquake on the left, Superstorm on the right

It has certainly been a busy week for emergency managers and personnel.  The personal loss and devastation of Superstorm Sandy has been massive.  Looking at the subway system in NYC you get a glimpse into what the cleanup operation will entail.  We start this weeks roundup in Canada and then down the eastern seaboard and finish with an informational post on Serving Sizes of Emergency Food Kits.

A Vancouver Island newspaper posted this headline a couple days after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake off the west coast of Haida Gwaii:  Emergency officials push for preparedness after earthquake.  Karen Lindsay, Nanaimo Emergency Program coordinator said the quake is a reminder that Nanaimo is in a seismically active region and that people should keep emergency preparedness kits in their homes and business. They also remind people that 72 hour preparedness is a minimum but more realistically you should be prepared for 7 days.   Saturday’s earthquake was the second largest recorded in Canada.

A great blog post on Disaster Preparedness from Sloan Crosley (great name!) from October 31, 2012.  She writes about her own journey of emergency preparedness based on previous experiences and those of friends.   A strong line from her post says:   “But on Tuesday, I woke up to find that my friend’s fears were warranted. Subways flooded, hospitals lost power, people were fatally wounded.”  Powerful stuff!

We finish our roundup with a post from the good folks at dealnews.com.  The contributor speaks to the “serving sizes” of advertised emergency food kits.   He compares some Costco kits and their serving sizes with a one year supply from Augason Farms.  He gives tips from FEMA on recommended items and water rations.  Bottom line is do your research on calories, serving size, sodium content and whatever other factors you personally find necessary for your long term food supply.  At least we are thinking!

That’s all for this week.  Stay prepared!

13 Sep
Food

Long Term Food Supply

For centuries people have found a way to provide a long term food supply. When the world was not privileged to grocery stores and mini marts, people dried berries and fruits and used cured meats for long term food storage. Naturally, preserved foods last for years in the form of preserved fruits and vegetables. Specialty items were not easily come by and once found, were prepared to last for long periods of time. These long term food supplies were important to survival. Buying foods that rejuvenate instantly when adding water is a great way to provide a long term food supply, instant grits and oatmeal are wonderful examples of these products. The various instant breakfast cereals and the on the go granola bars, also place a person at an advantage where long term eating supplies are concerned.

People today do not need to guess the weather, getting informed of problems with food supply and crisis around the world is only a radio wave away. The need for long term food supplies is no less important than it was centuries ago when there were no conveniences. People ordered things from far away places and it took months to get to them. World disasters may call for an immediate need for a long term food supply or cost may simply be a factor. Crops are ruined by weather or disaster and foods enjoyed can easily become unavailable or unavailable at an affordable price. Finding yourself in a financial pinch is another reason for long term food supplies. The worry about the mortgage is enough without the worry of starvation; besides buying in bulk is always cheaper.

Dried foods are now, pre-packaged, so doing this chore yourself is no longer necessary. Eat delicious fruits and deserts anytime you like no matter what the crisis. These food supplies are measured on a twice a day diet and last for varied amounts of time. Long term food supplies are used by the military and many other organizations that must store food and have it ready for any occurrence. Giving your family the benefit of emergency food is smart caring and a lot less worry for you.

A variety of food packages are available. People are packing emergency backpacks and there are 72 hour kits you can purchase to help supply food in these emergency bags. Larger packages are available. To some a long term supply of food might sound extreme but in a disaster, it takes time for government agencies to set up and the lines are long because many people are waiting for help. Banking machines may not work and bridges can block exits. A long term food supply helps you help yourself until things are sorted out.