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Planning food storage and survival for whenever a disaster strikes is essential.
You need to be prepared for if there is ever a shortage of food, water, gas and other necessities for emergency food storage and survival.
The local help disaster help teams might not reach you in time because they might be needed elsewhere.
What will you do then?
You will definitely wish you had prepared for such a time.
Whenever you hear about natural disasters that have happened at other places around the world, there has always been a shortage of supplies.
For yourself and your family, you need to prepare a food storage and survival plan.
It is crucial for every family to have the necessary supplies for emergency situations.
Survival is not just about being the fittest, you also have to be smart and take precautions.
Don’t think that your grocery store will have enough food supply because once disaster strikes, all that food will fly off the shelves as chaos ensues. EcoZoom Rocket Stoves: Great for Camping & Emergency Preparedness
Everyone has a survival instinct and all will soon be running towards the same shelves until nothing is left on them.
You don’t want to get into a situation where you have to harm another person or end up getting injured by someone else.
When it comes to food storage and survival, it is important you have a good supply of food and water.
There are easy things you can do now to prepare before you experience a power outage or other emergency situation.
Planning Emergency Food Storage and Survival
Emergency Food Storage Planning
It is better to buy food that has a long shelf life, like canned food.
These types are usually made for food storage and survival situations.
Frozen dried food is preferable over food that is high in salt that can cause dehydration.
You may not have access to a large amount of water so it is better to keep the food sodium level as low as possible.
Storing foods like oats, corn, pasta, legumes, dried milk and honey can be life saving.
Some of these foods are high in fat, supplying calories over a long period of time.
Stocking non-perishable items like vinegar, yeast, soda and baking powder is a good idea.
There are stores that offer emergency food items that have a life of 25 years, if stored properly.
When buying any of these products make sure to check the expiration date.
Always store food in a dry, cool and dark place inside an air-tight container to ensure maximum longevity.
Planning for Survival
When planning for survival, it is important to focus on the most necessary things for crisis readiness.
The most basic necessity of life is water.
You should make clean water your first priority in your survival readiness plan.
Some people think buying a few extra bottles or some extra grocery will do the trick.
It won’t; even though it is a good start, you need to fill a supply of healthy essential fats, carbohydrates and protein.
Keep in mind that dehydrated and frozen foods have a longer shelf life.
Another good survival prep would be to have extra tools.
You cannot open a can without a can opener, same goes for other things like a pan or a pot.
It is always better to store basic tools with the food and water because there is really no substitute for the right tool.
Consider buying a sun oven or a rocket stove. You will also need a way to purify water.
Plan now and research the best emergency lighting so you will be prepared, no matter what.
Start your food storage and survival plan today to give yourself the ability to take care of your family and yourself.
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Building a Disaster Survival Kit
The panic and adrenaline you experience in case of a disaster or any other emergency make it next to impossible for you to make rational decisions.
The primary concern then is to escape the danger zone and get to someplace safe.
In such a situation, it is hard to imagine anyone would bother putting together a disaster survival kit.
If you are leaving home with no idea as to where you are headed, having disaster survival kits on hand is important.
This way, you will be able to get by for at least a couple of days.
The best option for you is to be prepared for the disaster.
Pack your disaster survival kits and have them ready to grab whenever you need to leave.
However, most people aren’t aware of what goes into a disaster survival kit.
Here are some tips you can follow to build disaster survival kits for you and your family:
Needs over Wants
When it comes to disaster survival, you have to stick to the bare essentials.
You should remember that there is only so much weight you can haul around if the need arises.
Therefore, packing items that you simply want for the sake of entertainment or out of habit is not a good idea.
You should stick to the needs, which include food, clothing and water.
You have to resist the temptation if you are to deal with the situation in the best way possible.
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Disposable or Reusable
When it comes to disaster survival kits, you have the option to make a disposable one which you can use only once.
On the other hand, you can make a reusable kit that you can use whenever such a situation arises.
The idea behind a disposable survival kit is that it is only to be used when it is a matter of life and death.
The reusable kits can be used for any inconveniences, even if it isn’t considered a major emergency.
Shelter
The first thing you should pack in your disaster survival kit is sheltering equipment.
Most disasters are caused by extreme weather conditions.
So, you have to ensure that you aren’t in the open with the sun beating down or during a downpour.
You can buy a Winnebago or a tent/tarp.
The material the shelter is made from should be sturdy and durable.
You might have to use it outdoors for a number of days.
Don’t compromise on quality when it comes to sheltering equipment.
It could make all the difference.
Hydration
Dehydration is a major concern during a disaster.
It is unlikely that you find any source of drinking water once you leave your home.
Depending on the number of days you expect to be out in the open, pack 160 ounces of water per person.
That is the recommended fluid intake for an average adult so it should be more than enough for kids as well.
Food
As with water, you can follow dietary guidelines when packing food.
Dry food that doesn’t spoil is your best bet.
You need to have at least 2,000 calories of food per person per day in the disaster survival kits.
Don’t take any item that needs to be refrigerated or kept cool.
Also avoid candies and chocolate bars.
Keep a couple in your pocket but none in the kit.
If you get good at Preparing and Preserving Fresh Food can also be included.
Hygiene and First-Aid
These two go hand in hand.
You need plenty of tissues and wipes and other sanitary items.
Also pack a first-aid kit.
You can go for a basic one which can easily be purchased from a store.
If you or any member of your family has to take regular medication, pack that in as well.
Clothing and Bedding
Pack at least two changes of clothes for each person.
Also, you need to get warm bedding for you and your family.
If you are to camp out, sleeping on the ground, particularly during winter, is difficult and risky.
You can fall sick because of the cold, something you cannot afford when escaping disaster.
These are the items that should always be in your disaster survival kits.
In addition, you should take flashlights, batteries and matches.
You may have to build a fire in the open.
Being prepared for each and every thing may be difficult but you should put your best foot forward.
Learn about what to do before a power outage.
There are simple things to do that will make a big difference when the time comes.
September is National Preparedness Month here in the United States.
From the president’s proclamation on National Preparedness Month:
By planning for emergencies, individuals can protect themselves and their families while also contributing to their communities’ resilience.
During National Preparedness Month, we refocus our efforts on readying ourselves, our families, our neighborhoods, and our Nation for any crisis we may face.
The thing is, many of us consider every month of the year to be a month of preparedness.
And others who aren’t really thinking of preparedness are really preparing without knowing it.
FEMA has declared September National Preparedness month.
Isn’t each trip to the store or each hour spent in the vegetable garden a preparation of some kind?
We prepare for the next few days of meals and household tasks by shopping at the neighborhood grocery store.
Maybe we stock up for a month at the local warehouse store.
Or we work in our backyards or on our homesteads to prepare to enjoy our garden and livestock harvests during the coming months or years.
We’ve all grown up knowing how to prepare for various events and situations.
Being prepared may have even been a mantra as we followed life’s twists and turns.
Even as kids we bought school supplies, studied for tests, packed our bags for camp.
We decorated for holidays and made or bought gifts in anticipation of special events.
As adults, we found our responsibilities increasing to include providing daily bread and household necessities for ourselves and our families.
And we tend to ramp up the preparations when doom looms.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever run to the grocery or hardware store when a bad storm is in the weather forecast.
Preparedness, Prepping, Preppers
In recent years, multiple forms of the word “prepare” have found their way into conversations.
Here’s our take on these expressions.
Preparedness is a frame of mind and a state of being prepared to deal with a challenge or weather a storm or survive a catastrophic event.
Prepping is the act of becoming prepared.
Preppers are people who are prepping.
A few years ago, when we started developing our small farm, someone asked if we were preppers.
At the time, we weren’t quite sure what that meant.
Yes, we prep for things.
We are continually becoming more self-sufficient and able to provide for ourselves.
And yes, we are even prepping in advance of something we feel has to do with our future food supply.
Are we preppers?
I guess so!
Really, we’re just a family that likes to raise a lot of our own food and live off the land.
But that’s not all.
We also have some bags of beans, rice, sugar, salt, and grains which we have purchased.
We preserve fruit, vegetables, and meats that we raise on our homestead and buy from other farms.
We have a stash of some tropical spices to supplement our homegrown herbs.
We store some jugs of water, but we also have two wells and know where to find a natural spring on our property.
This is what works for us.
We feel confident about dealing with most of the potential crises that could come our way.
And we encourage others to prep however it seems best for them and their families.
How do people start prepping–or move on to the next level?
Many of us think of food first–and food is crucial.
But a good prep plan should also include water and non-food necessities like medications, fuel, household supplies, entertainment, and means of defense.
It’s important to have non-electric methods of cooking and heating–and to know how to use them.
Think about other needs and build up stashes of tools, replacement parts, personal hygiene products, clothing, books, non-electronic games, etc.
When it comes to food, there are various ways to prep.
For some people it includes learning to produce food ourselves and source other food locally.
We personally feel this is the most effective long term plan, and we combine it with a stock of purchased ingredients.
Some families stock up on compact dehydrated foods and MREs.
For others, food prepping means stacks and stacks of packaged pre-prepared meals.
And then there are combinations of this and that.
But possibly the best prep is the knowledge of how to survive in the midst of crisis: how to feed, clothe, shelter, medicate, educate, entertain, and defend yourself and your loved ones in various scenarios.
With that knowledge comes the power to move forward in practical preparedness.
You can educate yourself by reading books, magazine articles, and blog posts on preparedness, prepping, and survival topics.
Find a starting point and build on it.
Gradually you’ll accumulate the knowledge and a stash of supplies and equipment.
Rural Living Generator Knowledge Bank