BE PREPARED

Proverbs 21:20 

"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."

Multiple layers of food storage

Whether it's a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or a man made disaster,  there isn't an area to live where you shouldn't prepare to provide for yourself or your family in the case of a disaster.  

If you've read my website for any amount of time, you have probably noticed me mentioning (in passing) food storage, stocked pantries, cooking in my solar oven, dehydrating foods, reviewing freeze dried long term storage products, etc.  

Even though food storage is a passion of mine, it's not a topic I preach on; but it is a way of life for us, and millions of people in America.

This used to be a way of life for almost everyone.  It's only in the past 30 years that people have started to rely on everyone but themselves in case of emergencies; small or large and it's gotten especially bad in the last 8 or 9 years!  

The thing is, it's not the governments job to take care of you in case of emergencies.  It's your job to take care of you (and your family).  We all have personal responsibility.  Sure, they may send in help eventually, and they will send out a humanitarian effort, but even the government itself tells you to have an emergency bag you can grab if you need to evacuate your home quickly and to have at least 3 days food, water and medications in your home at all times. 

"All food, water, medications and other items you might need in the event of an emergency of any type as it may take the federal government or other personnel up to 3 days to get help to you."   

"FEMA suggests every family

 or individual has emergency stores 

to last 72 hours."

Anything is better than nothing at all.

There is no one plan that will fit everyone!  Every family has different dynamics.  Likes and eats different foods.  Has different medication needs, physical needs.  Different skill sets and interests. Different focuses on what is important to them.  Live in different areas of the country where you need to change your preps to accommodate thus.  Different budgets.  Different fears. 

A 'basic' plan will include;

• Shelter and comfort
• Water
• Food
• Protection and safety

You should have a "get home bag" in your vehicle to help you get home from work or traveling if something happens while you are on the road.
A 72-hour bag ready to grab and go in your home in case of a fast emergency evacuation.
A stocked pantry and cupboards with at least a bare minimum of 3 days worth of foods for your family - preferably 10 days.
Special items for babies, toddlers, medically dependent family members and the elderly.
Don't forget your pets!  Got extra bags of food tucked away for them?
Ways to store and/or purify water.
Ways to heat water and cook food.
Candles or other lighting.
Home security of some sort that you are comfortable with.
A communication plan for your family and a meeting place or emergency plan in place.
Sanitary conditions may be effected depending on the situation; meaning - toilets may not be usable.
Ways to clean your clothes if you anticipate the power being out for any length of time.

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I personally believe in a 3 or 4 stage system for food storage.  

 

The first being the every day foods in our pantry and refrigerator.  These are the fresh foods, cereals, snacks and canned goods we use every day.  We could easily go 2 or 3 weeks with these.

 

Second tier is the freezer foods.  Meats, seafood, vegetables of course, but we also freeze cheeses, butter, nuts and other foods for longer term.

 

Third tier would be the canned goods in a different pantry.  These are my 2-3 year storage level foods.  Canned store bought foods but also home canned excess that I rotate and bring to the 'everyday' pantry as needed, like my home canned salsa!  This pantry has items for longer term storage like crackers (sealed in glass mason jars which have kept them perfectly fresh and crisp even 2 years later), flour, spices, coffee, sugar, peanut butter, etc.  These are rotated out as I use them and replace them.

 

Last and final would be your 'long term'.  This is the 10-30 year plan.  Freeze dried and dehydrated foods in #10 cans and mylar bags with oxygen absorbers in 4 and 5 gallon buckets are best for this storage level.  I also store wheat berries this way to be ground into flour for baking and cooking later.  You also want to be sure they are stored where the temperature is a constant, without high humidity or high temperatures.  Not suggested to store in an attic or the garage as more than likely these areas will not only have horribly fluctuating temperatures in the summer and winter, but the humidity levels and rodents like mice or squirrels might find your stores. 

 

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1 Timothy 5:8 New American Standard Bible

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

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This is the ground beef I purchased in the photo above (this one from Amazon) although you can find Mountain House almost anywhere camping/emergency/hiking food is sold.  I have bought from various places over the years!  These are #10 cans and are best for 'longest term' storage as they last longer than any other way of storing meats.
  Ground Beef - Mountain House - Freeze Dried in a #10 can

This is their Beef Stew mix - already cooked and freeze dried.  Not only do I stock this one, but I've gifted this to my parents and other family members as well.  

 

You can buy 'kits' or 'packs' of almost any kind of freeze dried food, from meats to vegetables, fruits and even baking supplies.  If you compare pricing, you often save money buying a 4 or 6 or 12 pack.  This is Nutri-Store's 4 pack of ground beef for instance.   

This particular link is peas (because they are a favorite when it comes to freeze dried vegetables!) but you can get almost any vegetable freeze dried from various companies.  Peas, beans, red and green peppers, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach... the list goes on.