Emergency Food Storage-This Is What You Need
Today, I decided to address emergency food storage because many people are unprepared for the unexpected. Here’s the deal: If you’ve watched the news lately or seen pictures on social media, you can see that NO ONE will help you immediately after a disaster. Can Openers: One is none, and two is one.
I was pleased to see people (on TV) helping people into boats and carrying animals through flood waters in Louisiana. What a blessing that was to see. But let’s be honest: If you aren’t evacuated and haven’t lost your home, what do you have in your house as a food supply right this minute to feed your family? Clean water is critical as well.
A young woman mentioned to me the other day that she didn’t know where to start with emergency food storage, how much water to store, or anything else.
I get it. My single mom taught me to cook from scratch and make homemade bread to save money, be self-reliant, and be better prepared. She always had a full pantry, or at least as I was growing up, I thought it was a full emergency pantry with the proper quantities of essential items.
Rip-Off After Disasters
I will share a few basics with you today because I don’t want you to stand in line at grocery stores only to find empty shelves after an unforeseen emergency. Plus, I don’t want you to pay $20.00 for a case of water.
If it’s a major disaster, I want you to store water and some emergency food storage items so you don’t have to leave your home for a week or two. It would be awesome if you were prepared for a month, three months, or more. I’m not saying get it all at once, just a can a week or a case of water per week, whatever your budget can spare.
If you think the government, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will deliver food and water to everyone affected, forget that. I heard complaints about the lack of necessities provided by major rescue groups after many disasters. You may have heard fantastic things done for each other, but not in all city areas or counties after the recent severe storms.
Keep Gas Tanks 1/2 to 3/4 Full
I’m begging you to add one more thing here: keep your gas tanks 1/2 to 3/4 full. I don’t want you to be in your car waiting in line at the service stations only to find the gas pumps empty when you get closer to the front.
This happened even before the last central storm hit the Southeast US. Please keep an eye on the gas level of all your cars. It’s easy for me; I only have one car. If you’re wondering if I store gasoline at home, I don’t want the extra fire risk.
The list below is essential, but it’s straightforward to achieve without much money upfront. In my post archive, I’ve gone into more detail about food storage and what’s needed. I hope today is a “getting started” list that helps you and others be better prepared.
Please remember you don’t have to buy it all at once. If possible, get your neighbors to start stashing a little emergency food storage so they aren’t relying on others. Remember, you don’t have to buy #10 cans of every food item. Buy what you can afford.
Emergency Food Storage
Water
Many government agencies say that the minimum amount of clean water needed is one gallon per person daily. My minimum is four gallons per person daily so you can stay hydrated, cook, provide for personal hygiene, and do a limited amount of laundry. If you have five in the family, that is either five gallons each day or twenty gallons per day for the family.
If the water is contaminated, don’t count on that water heater. The water filling that tank is possibly contaminated from the flood, a broken water line, or other issues. Just think about all the water that’s been contaminated over the last year in several states.
It is important to have a storage room and proper food-grade containers. I have several 55-gallon barrels, a 160-gallon stackable tank, and a 250-gallon tank, all full of water ready to go. I use Water Preserver Concentrate to treat my water in these tanks. It protects the water for five years and is not expensive.
I also like to have water filtration options. Based on my experience, I like Big Berkey and PortaWell water filtration systems.
If all you can do is store bottled water for now, do it. Having some water, particularly for hydration and cooking, is critical.
Instant Dry Milk
This is one product we need water to make usable. Another good idea is to add some hot chocolate mix. Who doesn’t love hot chocolate? Milk is great for cereal, mac and cheese, and many other recipe ingredient options.
Flavored Drinks
Store a few containers of Tang or Kool-Aid to which you just add water and sugar. Yes, it needs sugar, but who doesn’t love a glass of lemonade? I need to look at my Kool-Aid stash to make sure I have what we enjoy. Be sure to get some sugar-free drink powders and tea bags.
Pancake Mix/Syrup
You can buy pancake mix, which you add water to, then stir and make a great breakfast. I love the Krusteuz brand from Costco. I can also make the pancake mix from scratch, but it depends on how many people I will need to feed after a disaster. Hungry people who aren’t prepared may get mean when they haven’t eaten for a day or two.
Cold Cereal
It’s almost embarrassing when I fill a shopping cart at a local grocery store every six months with large bags overflowing the basket. I smile and know I won’t return for six more months. Mark has cereal and a banana every morning for breakfast. He’d be one unhappy guy if we didn’t have a variety of cereals around in our emergency food supplies. We turn it over often enough that the idea of an expiration date issue never comes up.
Cans of Soup/Stew/Ravioli/Fruits/Meats
Having a wide supply of non-perishable foods in your emergency stash is vital. Here’s the deal: I don’t eat cans of food every day, but I need reassurance that I can use a can opener to start my meal preparation in an emergency. My family needs to eat, and non-perishable items make up a large portion of their staple foods.
Who doesn’t love a little mac and cheese? Yes, you can make it without the butter; use shelf-stable milk. This is one food storage item your kids will relish when hungry during natural disasters or other emergencies.
Cans of Canned Meats
Tuna, chicken, roast beef, pork, and other canned meats help provide the protein we all need. They also have a longer shelf life than meats in other packaging. It would be best if you strived for long-term storage as you put together your plan for protein-rich foods. I grew up on cans of corned beef and pickle sandwiches, but I haven’t had one since I got married.
Mayo/Miracle Whip/Mustard
Buy the small jars you won’t waste as much if we have zero electricity to keep it cold. These toppings and condiments help make the emergency meals feel more “normal” during stressful times. Don’t forget some herbs and spices too. Salt, pepper, onion powder, and other spices make meals more tasty no matter what’s being prepared.
Crackers
If you have a few boxes of crackers, we can pretend we are at Costco serving samples, right? Spread a little meat and mayo on some of those crackers! Also, have some peanut butter, jams, and jellies as pantry options to put on the crackers or homemade bread.
Cans of Vegetables
Besides meats, canned vegetables help make up various nutritional foods you want available for meal preparation. I can eat green beans, corn, and beets right out of the can. Peas are not a good idea for me; they’re too mushy. Having a variety of food items ready to go that your family likes to eat is very important. Have the kids go with you when shopping for your long-term food storage items so they have some input on what favorites they’d like.
It isn’t just about having the right amount of food in your storage area but also about having a variety of items so everyone is satisfied with the choices. We’ll eat almost anything when we’re hungry, but having foods we enjoy as we plan those well-balanced meal options is critical, too.
Cans of Fruits
Fruits are pretty easy to choose. Take the family down the grocery aisles and choose fruit cocktails, Mandarin oranges, peaches, applesauce, berries of all kinds, etc. As you add fruits to your list of non-perishable long-term food storage items, you know you’ll have plenty of options when mealtime comes around.
Cans of Beans
You can make a soup pot with your favorite beans, pinto, black, or garbanzo beans. Any kind of bean works for me. We love Mexican foods, so we eat a lot of beans, whether in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or other Latino-based meals.
Rice, Oats, Wheat, and Other Grains
Rice fills the belly and is pretty cheap. It’s an excellent base for many recipe options. I also like having other whole grains around due to their high nutritional content and longer shelf life. Please keep them in their original packing until they’re ready to be used. Then, please place them in food containers that can be adequately sealed. I like 5—and 6-gallon food-grade buckets with colored gamma lids for my food containers.
For nutrition’s sake, have various food group items in your pantry. These grains will last a fairly long time and provide unlimited meal prep options.
Pasta/Spaghetti Sauce
We need clean water to boil spaghetti, and we can add the spaghetti sauce right over the hot pasta. This is why I recommend a butane stove. Butane Stove and Butane Fuel Having a camp stove ready to go streamline the emergency food preparation challenges.
Special Considerations
Evaluate your family’s makeup and consider any special food needs. This would include those with food allergies, special dietary needs for those with diabetes or gluten issues, and baby food like infant formula.
You’ll also need utensils to prepare and eat the food and paper goods like plates, plastic silverware, and napkins.
Final Word
I feel I have to remind people to spread the word to prepare as many people as possible. We all must be able to take care of ourselves as much as possible. The government won’t always be there when you need help; there are too many people to help.
You can sleep at night even if you fill a large plastic bucket with items you could grab and take as an emergency preparedness kit if you had to evacuate. Mine would have to have wheels; I overpack, so I’m just giving you the heads-up. Thanks again for being prepared. I promise your family will thank you. May God bless this world, Linda
Hooray! Linda I have this one under control:) Insert happy dance. I would only add that we have the canisters of lemonade and Kool Aid to add to our water. I know, too much sugar, but in times of distress I think we will be ok with a bit more sugar.
Rita, good job! your addition may just save your life and the lives of others. Remember to purchase powered milk and keep on hand at all times. I purchased my things little by little. I went on Amazon and purchased a couple of sturdy water containers and ended up with more plus four rain barrels for outside. Rain water always works in an emergency. The water can be boiled over fire if necessary and then filtered if needed. Think ahead my dear. You will not regret it. You are doing a great job and we are proud of you.
Vivian
Cincinnati Ohio
Thank to Vivian. I do have powdered milk as well, no worries:)
Hi Rita, yay for powdered or instant milk! Linda
HI Rita, oh my gosh I forgot the lemonade and Kool-Aid! I’m adding it right now!!!! We will need the sugar is stressful times! Thanks for the reminder. I love it! Linda
I love you Linda and your passion to help people. These are great ideas. I am surprised at how many people are not prepared and do not even know where to begin. What we need to remember is to set aside things that can be kept for months that may save our lives for a week or two in case of emergency. You and I have gone the full length of preparing but some are just too young to imagine something that horrific could happen to them. Hopefully the younger generation will see what is happening in Florida and Texas and think about preparing. That is all we can ask at this point.
Take care my friend. I see more destruction in the future but not sure where it will come from. Stay strong and keep warning others. You are doing a wonderful, wonderful job. Thank you for that. God bless you and God bless America.
Vivian
Cincinnati Ohio
Oh, Vivian, I needed to hear this comment today. I wondered if I was coming on too strong and sometimes I get discouraged. It’s readers like you that keep me going. I am so blessed to have some of the best readers in the world, they keep me writing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We will teach the world, one can at a time. Thanks again my sweet friend, Hugs! Linda
As far as drinks I always keep sugar free drink mixes on hand due to my husbands diabetes. Also large amounts of ice tea bags to make sun tea..this can be warmed or cooled as needed…refreshing
Hi, Diane, I’m adding that right now! Great comment! I Love it! Linda
Hi Linda, excellent article! I’ve been prepping for a few years for a household of two and three four-legged babies. I have converted two bedrooms into two walk-in pantries. One is my canning room and the other is for canned goods. I’d have to say I have a three-year food supply and a water storage system. I too, believe 5 gallons of water per person is the way to go. God bless your efforts in being the voice of reason during these trying times. -MJ
Hi Martha, oh how I love your comment! The walk-in panties sound awesome! Water is critical, I get thirsty just thinking of only one-gallon a day! Linda
Linda, I’d also like to thank you for your gentle nudges. You’ve been such a blessing to me and my family, even if they don’t know it! I tend to need encouragement to stay prepared, so with your help I do it for my grandbabies. Just ordered two more cases of refried beans…
Hi, Roxanne, sometimes I think my gentle nudges come on too strong. But I can still picture a young dad in Florida on TV crying that his home was now gone and there was no food or water anywhere. If just one or two homes were still standing they could share what they had with this young dad. I will never get that picture out of my head. I love refried beans. God bless this world that they will get prepared ASAP. Hugs, Linda
Thank you for the print button. I can now print the articles I want to keep and share with my family. I am trying to get them to have at least a weeks worth of food and water on hand. My next purchase will be a rolling cooler, so if I lose power, I will have something to put my meats in and at least keep them cold for a few days.
Hi, Mildred, this is so funny that you would mention your next purchase would be a rolling cooler. I want one as well. I need to research which cooler to buy. I do not or will not have a generator that uses gasoline, it’s way out of my budget. I do have a solar generator, so I need to find one that will work with what I have right now. Keep me posted if you find one that looks good. Linda
It seems like maybe you snuck into my home and made your inventory list linda (only joking) I am so happy to say I have all that you mentioned and more I also have pressured canned dry beans so all I have to do is just heat up and serve with rice or whatever if chili is what we want I have my kidney beans ready as weel as my beef so happy to be prepared. Love your thoughts and helps. Thanks
Hello Linda, I recently commented on your water storage article. You commended me on “being one prepared lady.” I was doing pretty good, but knew there are areas which I can do better. My prepping skills were put to the test last week when hurricane “Irma” came through. Last Feb. I bought some rural property with my daughter and son-in law 80 miles from the city in St. Petersburg which is right between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. They commute the 80 miles both ways twice a day which is grueling. They occupy the home in the rural area and I am still in the process of moving. We had a great weekend of work and Labor Day fun. Then on Tuesday morning it dawned on me we had a hurricane coming. Not panic set in, but decidedly angst. I called my son in law at work who had already tried to get plywood for the shop they work in and it was Gone. That night we drove a half hour away and managed to get some OSB board to board up the rural house and Walmart was already bare of bread, water, batteries, and most canned goods. I ran home to St. Pete to get my things ready and they came over after work to board up my house with my window panels I have had sine 2004. We loaded up two cars with water, my big Berkey, food, rotated gas, propane, etc. We have had some downed trees, but all houses came through in great shape. I lost five fence panels, but that is nothing. My son had to stay at the assisted living home where he works, but his family stayed here just fine. We lost power in the rural area, but had a generator. I now know I will not have to fight with my daughter and son-in-law about prepping any more. It sure showed us where we could improve. You just NEVER know when those preps will be a life saver.
Linda, thanks for the gentle reminders. I love the print button, as I print and store your articles and recipes in a 3 ring binder along with your book. No power, no internet! My age I won’t remember everything I’d like too.
Also, I’d suggest storing back a 5 gal. bucket of cleaning supplies to have in case you have had to bug out and go back to a huge mess. United Methodist Church’s have an excellent list they are requesting for the flood victims. Keep up the great work.
Hi Beth, I’m glad one of my readers realized the “PRINT” button was missing, I got right on it and had it restored! I’m going to go look up the United Methodist Church’s 5-gallon bucket of cleaning supplies. At my age, I won’t remember either!! LOL! Thanks for telling me about the 5-gallon bucket. I’m on it. Linda
Linda:
I think the time for gentle reminders is long past. It is time to have strong reminders. I have told people here at my Senior Apartment complex and they just don’t get it. They say they are coming to my apartment to survive. Well, they will have to break down the door as I won’t open it to anyone in an emergency situation. I am done beating my head against the proverbial brick wall and they are on their own. No one wants to hear it nor take measurable steps toward preparing.
I know this makes me sound cruel and heartless but I have tried the gentle way and now it is get your s**t together or perish! My food and water are MINE. I worked for it and paid for it. I am willing to share my knowledge but if they won’t listen or make a plan, they are on their own.
Leanne
Oh, Leanne, you took the words right out of my mouth! LOL! I was just telling Mark yesterday, I’ve had it, why in the world can’t people see they need to store food for themselves and water. It sounds like we both need a stronger door. LOL! Mark said, Linda, they can break the windows. I know they can break the windows, I just had to share my conversation yesterday. People need to be prepared for themselves. Period. I love your comment as always, Linda
Linda, thank you for alerting everyone. My thoughts are just start! Start having enough for a week, then a month, then 3 months. The world is showing people why they need to have food storage. Have a manual can opener. For the sake of your family, just start stocking up.
I love your site, Linda it is a winner. I am not LDS but what your church has done for preparation is impeccable.
Hi Carolyn, I’m so glad you found my website, thanks for stopping by, Linda
I keep Tang , lemonade and Koolade on hand all the time. I recently had a bad upper respiratory infection and became dehydrated. we mixed up some tang and added some sea salt, quickly rehydrated. you can also use koolade. I personally keep 4 gallons of water per person. Don’t forget toilet paper . I know you can’t eat it,but you will need it. I just added to my honey stash (Cox honey came in today).And an extra bottle of your most used spice every month. will also come in handy. Just tonight on the local news we were warned that N.Texas could very soon experience an earthquake in the 5-6 magnitude. so now I’m wrapping my home canned foods in bubble wrap. (my family thinks I’ve lost it LOL) Thanks for another great post. God Bless
Hi, JudyK, thanks for these great tips, I’m going to write another post with all these ideas. I’m glad you got your Cox’s honey!! Please be safe, I’ll watch the news about the earthquake, oh my goodness. Great comment, Linda
thank you for all the great info
Hi June, thank you for your kind words, my sweet friend. Linda