Food storage calculators are a great tool to incorporate in your preparedness planning, and can help you understand how much food your family will need for a given emergency. The food storage calculations can also be printed out and used as an inventory list to keep you on track in terms of what preparedness supplies you have and will need.

To make the most of your emergency food supply, keep these essential food pantry rules in mind before purchasing:

1. Caloric intake is an important factor in survival. In any disaster situation, you want to avoid malnutrition. Having foods stored to prevent this health issue will keep you at your optimum health. Stock up on foods that provide you with essential nutrients to maintain body functions, proteins and carbohydrates, fats for energy, as well as foods that are not high in salt (the more salty your food is, the more water you will drink). To calculate how many calories you will need in your diet, click here.
2. Consider buying multifunctional food items. Items that can serve more than one purpose will help your finances, as well as save precious space in the food storage pantry. Items such as oats, pasta, rice, wheat and beans are some great low-cost foods will serve a variety of uses.
3. Store high energy snacks to help boost energy levels. Eating snacks that are high in complex carbohydrates and protein will provide you with a guaranteed energy boost. High energy snacks such as nuts, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars and trail mix can be stored for up to 1 year and will help keep energy levels and spirits high in an emergency scenario.
4. Bring on the protein! Protein is an essential ingredient in our daily diets and cannot be omitted out of a survival diet. Canned meat is a good source of protein and can also help you maintain your energy level. Meats such as tuna, ham, chicken and spam are great additions to the food pantry and are multifunctional. (Remember, the oil in canned meat can be used as an emergency candle.) Beans are another great source of protein, and when beans are accompanied with rice, it makes a complete protein which provides all the amino acids needed to survive. One serving of beans and rice provides 19.9 g, or 40 percent of your daily vitamins.
5. Don’t forget the basics. Essential staples such as cooking oil, flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and vinegar should not be overlooked.  If they are present in your kitchen, they should likewise be present in the emergency food supply.
6. Convenience helps in stressful situations. Many moms know that boxed dinners can be a lifesaver when you are in a time crunch. Having some pre-packaged dinners and meals-to-grab during emergency scenarios will help you begin acclimating yourself to cooking in a grid down scenario as well as can help provide some comfort at the same time. Personally speaking, my family has the “just add water” pancake mixes, corn breads and drink mixes that are a great convenience.
7. Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s pleasure. Variety in your food pantry is important and can prevent the monotony that comes with eating the same foods day in and day out. Having a well rounded food storage will cut down on culinary boredom, as well as balance your diet. Further, stocking up on a variety of spices will also enhance your food pantry.
8. Find comfort in the little things. Have some comfort food items that provide enjoyment to the family. Items such as popcorn, sweet cereals, hard candy, juice boxes, pickles, applesauce, pudding, cookies could be a great way to provide a bit of normalcy to the emergency situation you may face.
9. Have backs up for your backs ups. Compressed food bars are lightweight, taste good and are nutritious. Having food bars as a back up to your existing food supply can provide you with peace of mind knowing you have an alternative to turn to if you run out of food. Further, these are great additions to your 72-hour bag or bug out vehicle. A review of the different types of bars can be read here or you can practice your survival skills and make your own with this recipe. MRE’s are another alternative food choice to turn to if you happen to run out of food in your pantry. Although many have turned their nose up at MRE’s (due to their high amounts of preservatives), they will provide you with sufficient calories and nutrition when it counts. Note: These should not be the only items in your food supply. Over time, you could become nutrient and vitamin deficient.
10. Rotate and resupply when needed. Any items bought for the food storage closet should be used, rotated and resupplied. This is the best way to have the freshest foods available in the event that a disaster occurs. When organizing food reserves place the item that has the earliest expiration date in the front so that it is used first. FIFO is a well known acronym used in the restaurant business that stands for, “First In, First Out,” and can be incorporated in your food storage endeavors. Do an inventory check every 6 months to make sure that canned goods, preserves and other storage items are within their expiration dates.

Keeping the above considerations in mind when purchasing your food supply will provide your family with a well rounded food pantry stocked with an array of foods that will assist in promoting a healthy diet. Not listed in the suggestions is water. You must have water to survive. To learn more about potable water, click here. It would be prudent to have a 2-week supply of water on hand, as well as a water filtration device to rely on for extended disasters.

Prepping is a passion for some. For others it is the most efficient way to keep their family as safe as possible. For further resources and a list of essential items for your emergency supply, click here.

Having a guideline on hand of which foods last longer than others will ensure that your food supply stays within it’s expiration. According to the National Terror Alert website, the following foods can be stored for long-term use.

Guidelines for Food Storage:

Use within 6 months:

• Powdered milk (in box)
• Dried fruit (in metal container)
• Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
• Cereal
• Dried potatoes
• Flour

Use Within 1 year:

• Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
• Canned fruit, fruit juices and vegetables
• Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
• Vitamins
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Hard candy and canned nuts
• Vegetable oil

May Be Stored Indefinitely (in proper containers and conditions):

• Wheat
• Dried Corn
• Sugar
• Honey
• Soybeans
• Instant coffee, tea and cocoa
• Salt
• Non carbonated soft drinks
• White rice
• Bouillon products
• Dry pasta
• Powdered milk (in nitrogen packed cans)

 

By Giordano Bruno

Neithercorp Press – 04/01/2010

The “Small Boy” Nuclear test; 1962

Many Americans, through contact with misinformed media and presumptuous opinion, have been led to believe that certain catastrophic circumstances are simply “not survivable.” That preparation for these events is “pointless.” That one should place them out of mind, and think happy thoughts. There are even some in the field of survivalism that sermonize over the absolute futility of defensive planning where such disasters are concerned. These men are not really survivalists at all, but what we now commonly refer to as “doomers.”

Sadly, there is an element to the human psyche that revels in the idea of the insurmountable scenario. Some people actually get excited over the clearing of the proverbial “human slate,” eager in the fulfillment of Armageddon.

I suspect that such men truly feel limited in their ability to endure, and perhaps fear the exposure of their own shortcomings and weaknesses. Instead of accepting these weaknesses as a personal reality, and then attempting to overcome them, they choose to project their vulnerability on the rest of the world, claiming “If I could not survive this, neither could you…” By labeling the rest of humanity as “incapable,” they can thus avoid internal self-reproach, and the shame of being afraid.

Reality is filled with horrors, some emotionally threatening, and some physically threatening. Every once in a while an event is triggered which combines the two in a devastating crescendo the likes of which is rarely seen in history. And yet, the fundamental hazards of this one extraordinary and terrible moment are essentially the same as those in any other day. We face death, and psychological defeat, every time we walk out our front doors. This is an unavoidable part of life; anything could happen. Usually, we get over it, and set out into the world anyway. The goal is to treat catastrophe as evident. To supplant initial fear with force of will, and move forward regardless of the scope of the obstacle in our wake. To be secure in the possibility of victory despite any odds, instead of submitting to defeat before even making the attempt.

In this new series of articles, we will examine some of the disaster situations commonly given “doom status,” and how, with a little insight and research, we can prepare to overcome such seemingly intractable calamities.

The Bomb: What To Expect

In our first installment of this series will we go over the very real threat of a nuclear related incident on American soil. Though the immediate dangers of the Cold War appear to have subsided, and the Globalists seem to be more interested in keeping most of the world intact for themselves rather than ruling over a radioactive dust heap, I suspect that we will within our lifetimes see a thermonuclear attack (especially a government sponsored false flag attack). The reasons are numerous, but most important, is the subconscious effect that the word “nuke” has on the populace.

Not long ago, the government merely used the suggestion that Iraq had nuclear capability, without any tangible evidence to support the claim, and the American people were easily fooled into supporting a war that has now cost over a million human lives. Imagine the impression of an actual mushroom cloud over just one U.S. city burned into our collective psyche. Imagine the fear, panic, and ignorant reactionary thinking this would cause. There are very few things in this world that are quite as formidable, and the Elites are well aware of the advantages inherent in engineering such an occurrence. That is why survivalists and those in the Liberty Movement should fully expect this ace to be cast to the table at some point in the move towards world government.

There are two types of attack which are probable. Both are small, at least when compared to the strike of an ICBM, but still capable of severe destruction:

Low Yield Nuclear Explosion: If a false flag is being initiated using a nuclear device, its size will probably lay in the range of 1 kt to 25 kt (kiloton yield). To understand what this means, examine the bombing of Hiroshima, whose explosion was around 15 kt. A smaller device is more likely because a larger more complex bomb would be difficult to effectively blame on cave dwelling terrorists, and would arouse suspicion.

The blast radius of the Hiroshima bombing was only about one mile wide. Most of the deaths associated with that attack were not caused by the explosion, but radiation poisoning from the resulting fallout. Mass fires should be anticipated in areas just outside the blast area, where buildings are still relatively undamaged, making perfect kindling for burning wreckage launched into the atmosphere by the detonation. This would cause at least another 4 mile to 5 mile swath of destruction in a densely populated environment.

Fallout from the device would be dependent on the direction and the strength of the wind at time of detonation, but could travel for miles beyond the epicenter. Fallout is created when dust from the center of the explosion is irradiated, then carried along wind and weather patterns. This dust then emits the radiation it was originally exposed to, and too much contact with it can cause illness or death. Fallout is at its worst if a dust cloud combines with precipitation. This rain cleans the dust out of the sky, but also concentrates it and dumps it on the ground.

Dirty Bomb: “Dirty Bomb” is a term used for a device made of conventional explosives that is designed to contaminate an area with radioactive material. It does not produce a thermonuclear blast, but does create some fallout. Though no device of this type has ever been used on a population, U.S. military analysis has designated it as “low risk”, and its radiation output to be negligible. Any fallout poisoning in water and food supplies is still a serious threat, and the use of a dirty bomb would, of course, still inspire mass hysteria, if only due to its relation to nuclear weapons.

Also, one should not discount the use of a high grade missile attack, especially an upper atmospheric EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse). A war in Iran could easily be exploited by globalists as a way to trigger hostility between Russian and U.S. interests, and, we should not forget that China also has nuclear capability.

The preparations for a major attack and a smaller attack are similar, so let’s examine them now…

How To Prepare

The first step in preparing for a nuclear attack is to not be there when the bomb goes off. Living in the middle of a major population center should be avoided if possible. Most survivalists are aware of the danger of close proximity to the city, whether during a nuclear attack or an economic collapse, and have already taken precautions. Most steps we advise here will be in response to fallout, instead of the blast, being that this is the most prominent threat to the survivalist.

Home Reinforcement: It takes approximately two weeks for the radiation in fallout to dissipate to levels safe for humans. During this two week period, it will be necessary for everyone to stay indoors at all times. Some shelter is better than none at all, but a basement or cellar would be a distinct advantage. Barrier materials should also be stockpiled for at least the base of the first floor of the house.

22 cm of wood, 8.4 cm of earth, 5cm of brick or concrete, or 2 cm of steel are a minimum requirement to effectively reduce gamma radiation to 50% of levels outside the home. Windows should be covered and sealed with plastic. Home NBC air filtration systems are available, but can be rather expensive.

If you have no basement, and cannot afford to fortify the entire bottom floor, then you will need to create a “safe room,” somewhere in the center of the building, with enough protection to absorb radiation. Radiation is cumulative, meaning your body absorbs and collects it over time. Too much absorption causes radiation sickness.

Detection: Radiation is not visible or detectable with our normal senses. Fallout in rain can sometimes appear as a murky film covering surfaces, but this does not mean radiation is present. The only way to detect radioactivity is with a Geiger Counter. Here is a site which sells new and refurbished Geiger Counters:

http://www.radmeters4u.com/

Another interesting and portable device is the NukeAlert key chain:

http://www.nukalert.com/

Having a Geiger Counter would be a major advantage in the event of a nuclear attack or other radiological incident.

Food, Water, And Hygiene: It is a given that all survivalists should have a ready supply of food and water, easily accessible in the protected area of their home. Freeze-dried and dehydrated goods are an excellent option because of their 10 year to 15 year shelf life. Cooking indoors without ample ventilation can cause some problems, but the use of a propane stove for short periods should not cause any harm to the air quality of your shelter.

The human body needs at least 2 liters of water per day. Enough should be stored for the two week period during fallout for drinking. Double this amount so that you have enough for sanitation purposes. Also, if you are a reasonable distance from the attack, and have time before the fallout reaches your location, be sure to fill up all containers, bathtubs, and sinks with as much water as possible from the tap. Even if pressure is still available during fallout, the water could be exposed, and undrinkable. After the 2 week danger period, all water taken from open sources should be filtered to remove any possible fallout particles.

Soap and sponges must be stored for washing purposes, and staying clean should be a priority. Bathroom sanitation is difficult in a fallout scenario. Waste water from cooking and washing can be saved and poured into you home toilet for a single flush if water pressure is lost, but a better option would be a survival or “hunters toilet,” with heavy waste liners and digestion and deodorant chemicals. Remember, you won’t be able to walk outside for two weeks. A three foot hole in the woods is not an option. Dumping refuse outside can be done as long as exposure time is kept under 30 minutes, although you will have to rigorously wash off dust and contaminates before coming back inside.

Protecting Health: No plan or shelter is perfect, and radiation exposure is still a possibility, especially without an expensive NBC air filtration unit. Gas masks with extra filters should be made available to everyone in the home.

Symptoms of radiation injury include; nausea, diarrhea, light burns on the skin, or blistering, as well as increased loss of hair. Radiation burns should be washed with clean water only; no soaps or chemicals, and dressed with fresh bandages. Clothing should not be pulled away from severe radiation burns, and blisters should be left alone, not punctured.

One item that helps greatly in preventing the effects of radiation exposure is the ingestion of Potassium Iodate, which fills the thyroid and blocks radioactive iodine expelled into the atmosphere from being absorbed. Up to 99% of all radiation induced thyroid damage can be prevented by taking Potassium Iodate pills. Potassium Iodate is available from numerous online vendors and is very affordable.

Protecting Electronics From EMP: An Electromagnetic Pulse is a natural byproduct of a thermonuclear explosion. It creates a powerful electromagnetic field which induces high voltages in electrical conductors and fries most electronics with transistors or computer chips whether they are plugged in or not. Some weapons called HEMP (High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse) devices are designed specifically to explode in the upper atmosphere and disable an area’s power grid.

Some electronics, including solar power generators and other gear, would be very valuable in a survival scenario, and losing said equipment could be detrimental. Protecting it from an EMP blast is a high priority. Even if your gear is stored inside your home, it can be fried by an EMP (though a basement can help). So, what is the survivalist to do? Build a Faraday cage, of course:

http://preparednesspro.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/emp-101-part-iv-faraday-cage/

A Faraday cage is a box constructed out of conductive materials (like copper mesh) which absorb and then ground the EMP, keeping it away from your sensitive electronic goods. A Faraday cage can be any size and is inexpensive to make. In a pinch, an old microwave can actually serve as a Faraday cage, but it is better to build one. Below is an excellent video on how to make your own Faraday cage:

After The Storm Has Passed…

When two weeks have passed, any radiation should have dissipated to tolerable levels. Eventually rain will clear away remaining fallout dust which, though no longer a major threat, can still have long term health effects. Some precautions may be necessary when returning to your outdoor survival routine:Fresh Crops: When gardening, scraping off the top two inches of surface soil removes approximately 90% of all fallout from your garden. This soil should be stored in steel drums far away from your food producing area. Some pre-existing crops exposed to the fallout can still be saved depending on their type and stage of growth. Here is a guide from the Canadian Department Of Agriculture on farming after the effects of fallout:http://www.webpal.org/b_recovery/2_farm_recovery/ftpfiles/fallout_on_the_farm.pdf

Hunting: Game exposed to some radioactivity can still be consumed as long as they are prepared properly. All fur should be washed before skinning. Because radiation collects in bone marrow, all meat near the bones should be avoided and bone marrow should not be consumed. All organs should be avoided as well. If an animal looks terribly sick, it is best not to eat it.

Burying The Dead: Bodies exposed to radiation should be dealt with carefully by wrapping in plastic, and buried well away from crop producing land.

Supporting Immunity: Exposure to radiation can do considerable damage to the human immune system and decrease white blood-cell count. It is also likely you will not have access to “conventional” medical supplies, such as antibiotics, to deal with this problem. Some herbal supplements can help stimulate immune system health, and protect you from adverse reactions. Eastern herbs include; Astragalus, Ligustrum, Codonopsis, Reishi, and Shiitake. Another, called “Caterpillar Fungus”, has been shown to protect the bone marrow and digestive functions in mice from radiation. Western herbs include; Cat’s Claw, Echinacea, and Elderberry. These herbs can be taken in pill form, but if you find them in an organic tea, this would be preferable. The body absorbs only a small fraction of herbs through digestion, but teas have the added bonus of being “breathable,” meaning the vapors can enter the lungs absorbing 80% of their contents into the blood stream.

Treating The Sick: After an attack, for perhaps a month, you may run across people who survived the blast and the fallout, but are extremely ill from exposure. Under normal conditions, radiation poisoning would require hospital care, blood transfusions, antibiotics, and bone marrow transplants. This will probably not be an option. There is little that can be done under such limits except holistic treatments for nausea and diarrhea, so that the patient might retain some liquids, the cleanly dressing of wounds, and the consumption of the immunity boosting herbs mentioned earlier. Be prepared from some people to die despite your best efforts. Those who did not plan ahead as you did will be subject to the “toss of the dice,” and luck is a fickle ally.

We’ve all seen movies and read books of nuclear holocaust, and the utter despair it could conceivably initiate. Of course, nuclear attack should not be underestimated, far from it. However, rarely in these films or fictional accounts do you see characters who prepared before hand, who had readied themselves physically and psychologically for the aftermath. This is a symptom of the common assumption that one “cannot survive” nuclear attack, and even if he did, he would be “better off dead”. I tend to disagree, and so does the U.S. Army and the Russian military, which have undergone extensive planning and written detailed manuals for soldiers on nuclear survival.

With the correct mindset, and the right knowledge, any catastrophe is survivable, including “the bomb.” Futility only arises when a man decides for himself that he is not capable. Circumstances do not decide for him. This fact is at the heart of all survival.

This article has been generously contributed by Neithercorp Press for your reading pleasure.

As reassuring as it is to have long term supplies in case of a disaster, organizing it is another story.  Those that have made the commitment to prepare long term requires one to have a well organized storage area that is both manueverable as well as easily accessible.  Organizing bulk storage items requires a bit of forethought and planning in order to have foods easily at one’s disposal.  These quick and easy tips will help a person create a storage area that is both functional and pleasing to eye.

Store Items in the Right Spot

To maintain optimum quality of the food, make sure that the area where the food and long term items are stored have minimum exposure to sunlight, heat, moisture and air.  Items that are stored in a dark room will last longer than if they were in a pantry or garage where the temperature and light fluctuate.  Additionally, canned goods will store twice as long if they are stored at 70 degrees compared to them being stored at 90 degrees.  Temperature has the largest effect on foods.  It effects nutrition, texture and taste.  Moisture is another force to reckon with when storing foods long term.  So find a dry spot to store food items.  Avoid storing items next to certain products such as soaps or fuels; this will prevent the spread of odor and other possible contaminants.

Be Practical

Initially, when a person decides to prepare long term they make a list of long term items that will be needed.  Purchasing staple items in bulk can help a person save a bundle.  However, it will do no good to purchase foods that a family will not eat, so make sure the foods that are purchased will be one’s the family already enjoys.  Otherwise, the food will go to waste, and end up being a bad investment.  A person will make the most of their money if they purchase foods and items that will be used within their allotted time span, so check the expiration date.

It is wise to bulk up on items that can be used to make other foods such as wheat, flour, oats, sugar and powdered milk.  These staples can be enjoyed by the family in a multitude of ways.  If a person purchases bulk quantities of these staples, it would be a good idea to find recipes to use these foods in.

Rotate and Resupply

Any items bought for a long term storage closet should be used, rotated and resupplied into the storage closet.  This is the best way to have the freshest foods available in the event that a long term disaster occurs.  When organizing food reserves place the item that has the earliest expiration date in the front so that it is used first.  FIFO is a well known acronym used in the restaurant business.  It means, “First In, First Out.”  This is a great acronym to use when organizing food storage.

*Do an inventory check every 6 months to make sure that canned goods, preserves and other storage items are within their expiration dates.  It is a good idea to have a checklist of supplies so that it can be looked upon during an inventory count.

Organize According To Your Taste

Everyone has their own way of organizing.  A person can group like items together such as soup, fruit, vegetables, meat, snacks, breakfast, baking needs, medical supplies, teeth cleaning supplies, etc, or group them alphabetically.  It really does not matter as long as it is organized to your liking.  The labeling system is a great way to organizing long term storage items.  Additionally, adding the date of purchase and expiration date to the label will save you some time later on.

Don’t Forget About Water

Having an ample supply of potable water in the home is more important than food.  A person who goes 3 days without water will be in very bad shape.  Many disaster organizations suggest having a two week supply of water stored up.  That is 14 gallons of water just for drinking.  A person would need extra if bathing, cooking and cleaning with.  Used soda and juice bottles can be used to store extra water for the family to use in case of an emergency.  These can also be frozen in the freezer to be used at later times.  An additional water water pump or filtration system would also be good to store in case one needs it.  Since water is a fairly bulky item to have on hand, a person should store and stack as much as they can in the area they have.  Many people use unused closet space to stash their drinking water.  While some put their water in the laundry room on the floor.  Again, it does not matter how one organizes their long term items, as long as it makes sense to them.

Get Extra Storage When Needed

Because of the large amount of items needed for a person to live off of long term, they will more than likely need additional shelving and cabinets  to condense space.  Having a shelving unit out in the open for items that are rotated more frequently such as canned good, baking staples, etc can save a person time searching.   Can dispensers could also be used for frequently used storage items to save needed space and keep items rotating.  Hanging door spice rack is a great place to store teas and bulk spices.  Modular storage containers work wonders.  If a person wanted to purchase multiple cabinets, they could have a cabinet for medical supplies, toiletry supplies, food, tools, cleaning supplies, etc. When buying in bulk, transfer the food into large plastic containers that can be stacked and labeled to save time and condense space.

Having a well organized storage area takes time.  But if it is properly managed, then it will be an effective use of of time and energy.  Everything will be at your fingertips and ready to use in case the worst case scenario occurs.

How To Organize Survival Supplies

 Short and long term food supplies should be placed in a safe and dry spot.  Many people who feel they do not have adequate space for a food supply make use of unused wall space and create shelving units to use as their storage area.  Another method is to use unused closets or rooms.  As long as the space is dry and large enough to store foods, it can be used.  Additional shelving units can be purchased to accommodate larger food supplies.

• Take all items off the shelf and sort items into categories.  Sort items for needs such as baking supplies, breakfast cereals, canned goods, medical supplies, bartering/charity, etc.
• Store items next to one another that are used together.  For example, keep baking needs such as flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, etc next to one another for easy access.
• Place goods with the longest expiration date in the back and work forward to the closest expiration date.
• Have a Inventory Management spreadsheet or listing system.  Keeping an inventory list of foods that have been purchased and adding to the list when more items have been purchased will provide a well rounded supply.  Categorize the inventory into sections such as items for baby, baking, water/beverages, cleaning, condiments, 72 hour bag, emergency supplies.  The Prepared LDS Family, has a thorough suggested inventory organizational method that would be helpful for those starting out. 
• The food storage inventory should be checked every 6 months to make sure that food items are properly rotated and are used within their expiration date.

Managing Your Inventory

Many find that stored food is convenient to have in their home.  When they need a can of food, they go to their storage supplies and use it.  Storing food is a continual process of using, rotating and resupplying.  If a short term food supply is bought, the food must be used and more food purchased to resupply the storage shelf.  Additionally, if any food is canned or jarred at home, a storage area can also be used for these goods.

Guidelines for Food Storage:

Use within 6 months:

• Powdered milk (in box)
• Dried fruit (in metal container)
• Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
• Potatoes

Use Within 1 year:

• Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
• Caned fruit, fruit juices and vegetables
• Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
• Vitamin C
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Hard candy and canned nuts

May Be Stored Indefinitely (in proper containers and conditions):

• Wheat
• Vegetable oils
• Dried Corn
• Baking powder
• Soybeans
• Instant coffee, tea and cocoa
• Salt
• Non carbonated soft drinks
• White rice
• Bouillon products
• Dry pasta
• Powdered milk (in nitrogen packed cans)

Source – www.nationalterroralert.com

When a disaster threatens, the initial  step is the rush to the store for provisions, thus causing unwanted stress and tension.  In some cases, many go home empty handed due to the fact that people buy the same type of emergency food items.  A government website suggests having a two week supply of food on hand in the event that a disaster cuts off the food supply for that length of time.

Things to Look For When Buying Food

When beginning a small food supply, many are overwhelmed with the idea of what foods to buy and how much to buy.    Using a food storage calculator will help determine how much food is necessary.  There are some considerations to keep in mind before purchasing the food items. 

• The amount of people in the household.
• Have a good amount of food varieties to reduce food fatigue.
• The serving amount in the food.
• Vitamin content in the food.
• The expiration date or “best if used by” labels on the food.
• Special health conditions for family members.

Taking time to read the nutritional information on the back of the food source will help a person make the best choices for their needs.  If a person needs to use their stashed food supply, having foods high in vitamins, nutrients, and proteins will provide their bodies with what it needs for energy and mental clarity. 

Getting Ready for the Short Term and Food Supply Suggestions

Gathering a three day food supply is useful for the home as well as for 72 hour kits.  Begin by listing all family members (pets included) and keeping in mind any special health needs (allergies, diabetes, etc)  for the members.  Plan meals to meet a 1500-2000 calorie diet that are high in nutrients.  Having a ready food supply already stocked will keep the mind focused on creating a safety plan and preparing rather than losing precious time at the store and the gas stations getting provisions and supplies. 

Some suggested food supply items are:

• Canned fruits, vegetables and meats
• Canned meals
• Dry mixes
• Trail mix
• Whole grain cereals
• Beans
• Canned soups and broths
• Dried soup mixes (including bouillon cubes)
• Boxed juices and milks.
• Crackers
• Peanut butter
• Jellies
• Beef jerky or dried/smoked meats
• Granola or granola bars
• Energy bars
• Instant pudding
• Hard candy
• Instant rice and potatoes
• Pastas
• Instant oatmeal
• dry milk
• Infant formula or baby foods
• Powdered drink mixes
• Ready to eat meals (such as MRE’s)
• Freeze dried foods
• Vitamins
• Flour
• Sugar
• Popcorn
• Food for pets

Important Notes to Consider:

• Water, infant formula, and canned foods are usually the first items to go.  People buy the same foods, so if there is a mass rush and everyone is buying the same foods, there will not be enough for everyone.
• It is important to note that water is one of the most important items to have on hand.  Without water, some foods cannot be prepared as well as th uese for drinking purposes.  Have water in food grade containers so they last longer.  Some preparedness sites suggest having atleast two quarts of water a day, but that amount seems too small and does not take into account that issues arise and more water may be needed.  When preparing a water supply plan on using 1 gallon of water per day per member of the household.  If water supplies is a concern, avoid certain foods and drinks that are high in salt, over processed foods or caffeinated beverages.  These foods tend to make the body crave more water due to the high salt content.
• Having ready to eat foods, staple foods, and speciality foods stocked such as hard candy or cookies creates a sense of normalcy and lifts moral.

Getting a Food Storage Space Ready

Wherever one decides to store their food supply, the food should be in a safe, dry space.  Many people that are tight on space use creative methods such as shelving units high in their closets, bedrooms or closets.  Some people use extra rooms or unused closets as their storage space.  As long as the space is dry and big enough to store the foods, it can be used. 

Managing the Food Supply

Storing food is a continual process of using, rotating and reloading.   If a short term food supply is bought, the food must be used and more food purchased to resupply the storage shelf.  Thinking of the food supply as a small store where the foods in the front has the shortest expiration date and the ones in the back have the longest.  The food storage area should be checked every six months to make sure that appropriate food items are rotated.  Rotating the food and resupplying when needed will keep the supply of food as fresh as possible. 

Keep an inventory list of foods that have been purchased and add to the list accordingly when more items are purchased will provide a well rounded supply.

Guidelines for Food Storage:

Use within 6 months:

• Powdered milk (in box)
• Dried fruit (in metal container)
• Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
• Potatoes

Use Within 1 year:

• Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
• Caned fruit, fruit juices and vegetables
• Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
• Vitamin C
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Hard candy and canned nuts

May Be Stored Indefinitely (in proper containers and conditions):

• Wheat
• Vegetable oils
• Dried Corn
• Baking powder
• Soybeans
• Instant coffee, tea and cocoa
• Salt
• Non carbonated soft drinks
• White rice
• Bouillon products
• Dry pasta
• Powdered milk (in nitrogen packed cans)

Source – www.nationalterroralert.com

 When a disaster threatens, tensions run high and food and water supplies are typically the first items to go as far as preparedness goes.  Already having these items on hand alleviates some of the initial stress that comes along with preparation, and concentration can be put to more constructive uses.  Adding a few items to the shopping cart each time at the store is the most effective way in being proactive in preparing a food supply.

 Related Articles:

What Items Will Disappear First

Food Storage: Getting Started 

Prepping With Wheat Allergies 

You may be ready to hunker down and go into survival mode.  But what will happen if something happens to you?  Are your children and dependents as prepared as you are?   Having everyone involved in the preparedness stage is a good way to begin educating the family on their responsibilities in case an emergency arises.  That way, in an emergency state things are calmer, safer and action is ready to be taken.  Anytime a child is asking a question on safety or preparedness - that is the best time to sit down and talk to them. 

Don’t G.O.O.D (Get Out Of Dodge) Without This

A well, organized survivalist should not only have emergency plans and food provisions in place, but also a well organized preparedness manual for the family or group that has all the information needed in case something goes awry.  Think of having a personalized information system at your beck and call.  Prepare for the worst.  There may come a time when the only access to information will be what is in your home.  I began thinking a few days ago, that if something happened to  my husband or I, how would my kids know what to do?  What information would they need to thrive?  I realized that they need a structured information manual listing responsibilities and important information.  This is not only good for kids, but also a very good resource to turn to for adults that has all the information organized and ready at your disposal.

An Emergency Manual can be created to your taste and your liking.  All you need is some time and a few things to get started:

• Three Ring Binder (the larger the better)
• Dividers
• Printer Paper
• Highlighter Pen (optional)
• Printed Out Information
• Pens

Gather Information for the Manual

• Medical Information On All Family Members – Complete emergency medical information including immunization records, blood type, previous injuries, food or medical allergies can be very useful in case of an emergency.  You do not want to waste time running around looking for this information.  Have an “Additional Notes” section at the back of the section for later use.
• Contact Information For Next of Kin – Make sure the family knows who is next of kin and how to get in contact with them.
• Emergency Plans - It’s good to have an emergency plan in place and written down that anyone can turn to for direction.  Emergencies come at the drop of a hat and can cause confusion for those that do not have a well defined emergency plan, back up plan or evac plan.  All plans and details should be included in this section.  Additionally, emergency routes to be taken should be placed in this section as well as maps that would be used. 
•  Complete Inventory List of Supplies - A supply/inventory list is a crucial item that everyone should have on hand.   Itemized food, water rations, medical supplies, seeds, home canning equipment, books, etc should be included.   
• What To Do In The Case Of A Medical Emergency – Think of low priority injuries such as sprained ankles, colds, poison ivy, etc and move on to high priority injuries such as broken bones, heart attack or stroke.  This section is for you  that have on hand and use as a quick referral.  All family members must know where to find this information.  I have a first aid book with illustrations for this section.  Anything the family can look at to get direction. 
• Survival Information- finding food, preserving food, purifying water, food storage, gardening, etc.  Any information that you have found of use, put in down in this section.  It is the basic How-To-Live section.
• Family Notes Section – This section should be used to organize and store important family information such as personal documents, financial information, insurance information, informative notes and listing responsibilities for each family member.  How will they help out?  Why is it important for them to contribute? 
• Inspirational Messages To Keep The Faith – This is an important section to refer to when things start getting harder and children start asking lots of hard questions.  This also teaches them the importance of positive thinking and holding onto their faiths.  Reassurance is very important when it comes to cheering children up.  Find bible verses, songs, poems or write them a letter letting them know why they are so special and how much you mean to them.
• Happy Section – Include of few favorite family stories (birth, funny moments, Holiday stories), a small family scrap book, favorite song lyrics, etc.  This takes the entire family back to a simpler, less chaotic time.  Not to mention a good way to spend some family time together cherishing old memories.
• Favorite Recipes - This is an instant moral booster.  Having their favorite recipes on hand will cheer them up.  If they are old enough, they can make these foods themselves to keep their minds off of negative thoughts.
• Miscellaneous – This is always a fallback section to use for organizing information for later use.

 The Benefit

Being fully prepared can take time and money to invest in goods.  Having an emergency preparedness manual is the next step to fully preparing your family for an emergency.  The time it takes to prepare a manual is not long or very inexpensive.  At this very moment you are already investing your time into reading what you should do to prepare.  Starting your manual is as easy as clicking the print button to print this article.  Keep this manual outline on hand while preparing your family’s manual.  The benefit is everyone will be fully prepared and have a complete  knowledge base on what is necessary to thrive as a family.  If the SHTF you have an entire manual with information that you found and feel is relevant to your family. 

Comparative shopping at the large volume supermarkets typically has better deals than at the smaller stores.  Finding local ads from the large supermarket store websites can save on gas money as well as on shopping time.  Even the Dollar stores carry canned goods and food products that would be good for short term/long term food supplies.  Look for sales at the stores and buy as much of the item as your budget will allow.

There are a few things to consider besides the price of the cans.  While at the store, take a few moments to consider:

• Expiration Dates
• Find Items On Sale
• “In Season” Vegetables Are Typically Cheaper
• See If Larger Canned Food Items Have Better Deals

Find a shelving unit and begin shelving your supplies in any unused space in your home (coat closet, bedroom closet, basements, etc).  There are other supplies one would need such as medical supplies, radios, stoves, sleeping bags, warm clothing, etc.  This blog will concentrate on what to store and how to to store the foods that you will need.

I love this video that the Deschamps Family made.  They used a bathroom for their food storage.  This is really making good use of space.  It’s obvious in the video they have a longer term food supply, but you can see that you start out buying staple foods and add on.

Grocery List for Survival Supplies

Short Term Supply

It is good to have a well rounded short term supply to compliment your long term food stuffs.  A properly stocked pantry will help supplement your long term food stuffs.  Short Term Supplies and Long Term Supplies go hand in hand in order for your preparations to last longer.

• Water
• Canned Goods (meat, veggies, soup)
• Vitamins
• Food Condiments, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Mustard, Ketchup, BBQ Sauce, etc.
• Drink Mixes/Tea/Coffee
• Flour, Sugar, Salt, baking powder
• Spices
• Oil
• Pre-packaged foods – beans, dried peas, rice, noodles, oats, grains
• Ramen Noodles
• Self Canned Goods – Self canned goods adds variety to diet.  Find vegetables that have high nutreint such as pumpkin, etc.
• First Aid Supply – Iodine, Pain Medication (Asprin, Tylenol, etc), Bandanges, Antibiotic Ointment
• Antibacterial Wipes or Hand Disinfectant
• MRE’s
• Ramen Noodles
• Infant Formula – call me crazy, but this has a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients and could help for immune boosts.
• Powdered Milk
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Bleach
• Freeze Dried Foods
• Personal Hygiene (Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap, Shaving Cream, Toothpaste).
• Food For Pets
• Gasoline and Other Fuels (Kerosene, Lamp Oil)
• Candles (Camping Candles Burn Longer)
• Ziploc Bags
• Garbage Bags
• Batteries for Flashlights, etc.
• Weapons – Just in Case

Long Term Supplies

Higher levels of food are needed to last 3+ years.  Keep buying some of the Short Term Items To Compliment the Long Term

• Water
• Larger Amounts of Short Term Supplies
• Vitamins
• Longer Term First Aid Supply
• MRE’s – susceptible for temperature and storage problems.  good for more short term problems.
• Canned Goods – find some on sale and make sure of the expiration date.  Most last 1-3 years.
• Drink Mixes/Teas/Coffee
• Oil
• #10 cans – Freeze Dried foods can last for  20-30 year shelf life.  Buckets of mylar packaging material.
• Seeds of all kinds – Heirloom and Non-GMO seeds are better. Some to grow, and some to be used for sprouts (pumpkin, alfalfa, broccoli, lentil).
• Mylared Packaged Goods or Super pails of Goods - grains, rice, beans, oats, legumes, flour, corn meal, powdered milk, sugar, salt, baking powder.
• Spices
• Large Storage Containers
• Tools – Axes Shovels, Wrenches, Hammers, Multi Use Pliers, Farming Tools
• Wood – pre chopped
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Bleach
• Freeze Dried Foods
• Personal Hygiene (Paper, Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap, Deodorant, Toothpaste)
• Clothing (Lots of Warm Clothing, and Items to Layer Under)
• Food For Pets
• Gasoline and Other Fuels (Keronsene, Lamp Oil)
• Candles (Camping Candles Burn Longer)
• Ziploc Bags
• Garbage Bags
• Batteries
• Weapons – Just in Case