We’ve all seen the photos of empty grocery store shelves raided by paranoia and self-preservation when an impending doom is near. What about those who aren’t able to get to a store after doom has hit? Cyclones, ice storms, earthquakes, heat waves or disasters of the human kind like the chemical spill that poisoned a West Virginia water supply are seeming to occur with more regularity than I remember in the past.
Emergency food preparedness is one category of food security but it’s hardly a new concept. Biblically, the concept of storing up for disaster is presented early in Genesis when there was a prophesy of 7 years of plenty in the land followed by 7 years of famine. Joseph had stored up food and was prepared when the supply ran out for others. Certain faith traditions continue a similar practice of food sufficiency and these are deemed critical as grocery stores maintain about an average 72 hour supply of food which is easily disrupted when transportation isn’t available.
While disaster preparedness extends far beyond food, there are some key items that we might consider as a project for 2014.
Top Ten Tips to Prepare for a Food Emergency
1. Know the food requirements of your household. Although the notion of my husband or I eating less is a welcome thought, my boys have extreme caloric requirements without body fat to get them through a lean time. The average adult male requires 2,300 calories each day. Women and children are typically less than that amount and everyone has an increased need if they are involved in physical labor.
2. Purchase ingredients rather than prepared foods. Ingredients such as salt, legumes, oatmeal and wheat last much longer than prepared foods like frozen dinners, cereal and food mix. Just remember to be practical. For example, if your pantry contains a large supply of wheat berries, what is your plan for actually using them?
3. Do you have water storage? Staying hydrated can be a lot more important than eating and if you’re storing things like legumes and rices, you’ll need water for cooking. If your water supply is compromised in a disaster, you’ll want to avoid salty foods or those that are high in fat as they’ll increase your water requirements.
4. Always store food in appropriate food storage containers. Make sure that these containers will stand up in hot and cold temperature extremes. Be cautious of plastic bags or products that will leach into the food.
5. Make sure you have the right tools available. If you have to eat without gas or electricity, are you able to? Have a hand crank can opener in a place known to you.
6. Use your food storage so that you are keeping it fresh. If you’re familiar with accounting principles, use a FIFO (first in, first out) method so that cans in the back of the cupboard get used first.
7. Have a garden and know what other landscaping or wild plants might be edible. In our yard we have mesquite beans for flour, nopales (cactus pads) and prickly pear fruit. While not available all the time, when in season, they’re abundant.
8. Learn a lesson from Old Mother Hubbard. When you’re making a plan for your household, don’t forget to consider the needs of your pets although many of them are undoubtedly better foragers than their owners.
9. Check your stash of herbs and spices. It’s much easier to create variety in a regular diet of beans and rice when there are spice options.
10. Look in on others who may not be as able or as prepared. There is likely an elderly, infirm or just ill prepared neighbor within your reach. Apply the golden rule.
The internet and library are rich with sources on emergency preparedness. The resources range from pragmatic check lists to tomes of survivalist tactics. If this is something that you’ve thought about, you’re ahead of most of us so this list is intended to create consideration for a basic plan that is unique to you and your needs.