Emergency Food … Preparedness

[JustSomeOldGuy]

Dont forget hot water heater holds water and gutters can be your friends.

Do not drink water collected from roofs via gutters even if filtered with a purifier. Many wood and all composition shingles leach toxic chemicals that might not be removed by filtration.

Good to know but there has to be a way around that.

I'm sure with the right type of filtration system it could be removed, but not one that most are likely to afford or have for emergency situations.

Yes i just did some googling and found it is ok for things like showering an toilets but is very questionable for consumption or even gardens.

Looks like I have one more reason for wanting to switch to a metal roof.

[CleverNickname]

For a month's worth just buy canned goods and rotate through them, eating the oldest and buying new stuff to replace it. Get a camp stove to heat it if you have an electric stove in your kitchen. No need to buy anything special.

That's exactly what I do. I keep a bunch of canned goods/crackers/peanut butter/etc. along with several gallons of clean water. All that stays upstairs so it doesn't accidentally get used (also don't have to move it if the bottom floor gets flooded). Our stove is gas and I have a grill, so we could cook with that for a while, but most goods are already cooked.
Also, if you expect bad weather that could amount to loss of electricity/water, fill up your bathtubs with water (hope you clean them regularly).
Also have a bunch of solar panel chargers to keep small electronics charged, as well as rechargeable batteries in all my remotes/flashlights so they can be rotated and charged. Also have adapters in cars to charge usb devices as well.

Could live off my stash for about a month.

They make a bladder for the tub, that holds 100 gallons, I have one in case we lose power etc. My family knows that the first one home in a excrement/turbine collision, their job is to start filling it and other containers we keep available. I also keep several cases of water on hand. We keep enough canned goods, dry goods, beans,rice etc.. to last several weeks. and I have two camp stoves that I have adapters for running off of our propane tank for cooking. My wife says she doesn't eat squirrel, but I'll bet they start looking pretty good after we run through our meat supply in the freezer.

We don't have to worry much about flooding, we have never had water come close to our house in 40 years, but the roads are another matter. so we may be stuck for a while if they get washed out.

I bought a food-grade 55-gallon drum about a decade ago and keep it stored full of water in my garage. I rotate the water every 12-18 months. Less trouble than having to remember to do it after an emergency is already in progress.

[The Annoyed Man]

I got the following list off of a Youtube video....... I'll see if I can find the link to it later...... but this is a basic grocery list to keep in the home for prepping, and my wife and I followed it to the T:

1. Top Ten Things to Start With:
2. Get the BEST LED flashlight you can afford, plus extra LEDs if possible
3. Batteries: 10 batteries for every item that uses batteries
4. First aid kit - the best ones are homemade because they tailor to your individual needs. Be sure to include specialty items for personal needs (tampons, etc.)
5. Stored water. Get 5 gallon bottles, individual use water bottles, and a means of collecting water (rain water, etc)
6. A pump water filter. Extra filters for it.
7. A minimum of two different methods for making fire
8. Food, basic grocery list:
   • 1 20-lb bag of rice. White rice lasts longer.
   • 1 20-lb bag of dried beans
   • 20 cans of canned fruit
   • 20 cans of canned vegetables
   • 20 cans of canned meat (not just Spam)
   • 2 lg jars of Peanut Butter (does not need to be refrigerated, as long as not opened)
   • 2 lg jars of TANG
   • 2 containers of other drink mix (Crystal Lite, etc.)
   • 2 bags of flour
   • 1 bag of sugar
   • 1 bag of salt
   • 1 bag of oats
   • 1 gallon of olive oil (can be frozen)
9. an old-fashioned Corded phone, 2-way radios, a couple of hand-crank emergency radios
10. Wool blankets - at least one per person
11. Vitamin supplements, 2-3 bottles
12. (for bonus points) A firearm (you pick it) + 250 rounds for it

1. Top 10 prepping skills (this one may surprise some of you):
2. Organization. This is the most important of the ten skills. This includes:
   • planning and goal setting
   • inventory on hand of all supplies and tools
   • where is it all?
   • Rotation schedule for food
   • Gear maintenance
3. Frugality. Prepping is all about being able to acquire now for use later. This means you have to spend wisely.
4. Risk Assessment. What are the most realistic threats you face? Weather? Job loss? Prepping for low probability events s very expensive, so be practical.
5. First Aid. CPR certification, take a 1st aid course with an emphasis on trauma management, 1st responder classes, hospice care & chronic illness care.
6. Cooking & Nutrition. safe temps for meats, how to bake bread, etc.
7. Gardening. How to grow your own food.
8. Food prep & storage. Canning, preserves, smoking, curing, pickling, dehydrating, etc.
9. Basic construction and maintenance skills. Take home improvement center seminars on home plumbing, electrical, framing. Build stuff.
10. Communications. Primarily radio. Information is power.
11. Interpersonal skills. Leadership skills, people skills, barter skills, negotiating skills, a network of like-minded people. Be part of a community.

Edited to add.... here are the two videos I remember:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0SwOODKN7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqx5J_T8ek4

[Scott in Houston]

TAM, your posts are always appreciated, but this is over the top. I've been reading you for over 6 years, but wow. Great post. Thanks!!

[The Annoyed Man]

Scott, you're certainly welcome. It always pays to stand and on the shoulders of those who go before us, and I got that information as the benefit of someone else's work. As far as medical training, I cannot overstate how great it was to take the Medic 1 class from Lonestar Medics, and how important it is to get that kind of training if you don't already have it. I don't know if they operate in your area or not (they are based in the DFW area), but if not, find someone who does. I wrote about our experience here: http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 3#p1070153.

I also bought this book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Survival-Medi ... detailpage.

[Tracker]

I've used Mountain House freeze dried and most are really good. Mac and cheese not good. The gallon canned ones store for 25 years plus. Just takes boiling water. Having enough water for a month is the biggest issue

[The Annoyed Man]

I've used Mountain House freeze dried and most are really good. Mac and cheese not good. The gallon canned ones store for 25 years plus. Just takes boiling water. Having enough water for a month is the biggest issue

We have some of that, and also some Wise Foods, in addition to the food items outlined above.....and some lifeboat rations too. Every time we go to Costco, we bring home an extra case of water too.

[Tracker]

I've used Mountain House freeze dried and most are really good. Mac and cheese not good. The gallon canned ones store for 25 years plus. Just takes boiling water. Having enough water for a month is the biggest issue

We have some of that, and also some Wise Foods, in addition to the food items outlined above.....and some lifeboat rations too. Every time we go to Costco, we bring home an extra case of water too.

The Mountain House bags say 7 year shelf life but I know someone who kept one in his pickup for 15 years, as an experiment. When he used it he said it tasted fine and couldn't tell the difference from the new bags he had

[Dadtodabone]

I've used Mountain House freeze dried and most are really good. Mac and cheese not good. The gallon canned ones store for 25 years plus. Just takes boiling water. Having enough water for a month is the biggest issue

We have some of that, and also some Wise Foods, in addition to the food items outlined above.....and some lifeboat rations too. Every time we go to Costco, we bring home an extra case of water too.

The Mountain House bags say 7 year shelf life but I know someone who kept one in his pickup for 15 years, as an experiment. When he used it he said it tasted fine and couldn't tell the difference from the new bags he had

I would recommend that you occasionally sample your long term storage food items. Mr.E, freeze dried products, and bulk staples. Moving quickly from a predominantly fresh food diet to one of the alternatives can be a ticket to sometimes debilitating gastric upset. Acclimation will ease or eliminate cramping, gas and/or loose stools.
Another consideration for folks with children is finding out what they will and won't eat before your are faced with a survival situation.
I personally recommend avoiding the vegetarian bean and rice burrito MREs.

[xamper]

Canned food, canned meat, MRE's (I keep 48 MRE but I use 12-18 a year and just rotate them). Chest freezer is lined with one gallon water jugs and keep 6 cases of bottled water in garage and rotate. Canned soups are good. Keep all 4 propane cylinders full. Having a water filter is good once you have attained food storage. I would try to go for 3 month supply. Remember the more people know what you have the less they will prepare for themselves because they will count on you to share.

Where do you get your MRE's? I need some!!

[Liberty]

I think its important to recognize the potential threats. Here in Galveston we need to prepare to go on the move in an evacuation. When you evacuate space and weight considerations kick in.. Lots of canned food isn't as practical as MREs. An inverter for the car cigarette lighter. You can cook, boil water, inside with a candle .. or some Sterno. Handy Talkys are a great back up communications. get a few of them. enough for everyone in the family, and maybe a neighbor or two. ..

Don't discount fresh and frozen foods. These can get you by for a couple of days. A frozen steak works just as good as ice in keeping the milk cold, and is tastier when thawed and cooked than the 10 year old freeze dried veggie burrito.. Relying on the perishables for a few days means the long term stuff gets to last longer.

A battery operated goodtime radio, Not only can the radio keep you in touch with the emergency .. it may be your only source of entertainment on long dark nights

Have plan .. When the authorities tell you to evacuate they don't tell you where or how .. Leave early and ignore them when they tell you to take only one vehicle, The more vehicles you have the more stuff you get to save and take with you.

Guns and ammo.. When I have evacuated I kept hearing on the news how wonderful and caring people are, This is true, but there are lots of scum and dirtbags on the move too. When it comes to survival, food and family .. There are going to people who aren't so nice.

[The Annoyed Man]

We have a layered approach to food. We have fresh which will last a little while, preserved which will last longer, dry goods which will last longer yet. And we do rotate by occasionally consuming and replacing from each tier. Like someone said above, weight is important because you may have to transport what you have. But obviously, the best solution is to already be pre-positioned in a location you won't have to vacate. The next best thing is to have a "retreat" with your long term supplies already pre-positioned, and a plan for how to get there. Those are my two long term goals.

[Tracker]

I think its important to recognize the potential threats. Here in Galveston we need to prepare to go on the move in an evacuation. When you evacuate space and weight considerations kick in.. Lots of canned food isn't as practical as MREs. An inverter for the car cigarette lighter. You can cook, boil water, inside with a candle .. or some Sterno. Handy Talkys are a great back up communications. get a few of them. enough for everyone in the family, and maybe a neighbor or two. ..

Don't discount fresh and frozen foods. These can get you by for a couple of days. A frozen steak works just as good as ice in keeping the milk cold, and is tastier when thawed and cooked than the 10 year old freeze dried veggie burrito.. Relying on the perishables for a few days means the long term stuff gets to last longer.

A battery operated goodtime radio, Not only can the radio keep you in touch with the emergency .. it may be your only source of entertainment on long dark nights

Have plan .. When the authorities tell you to evacuate they don't tell you where or how .. Leave early and ignore them when they tell you to take only one vehicle, The more vehicles you have the more stuff you get to save and take with you.

Guns and ammo.. When I have evacuated I kept hearing on the news how wonderful and caring people are, This is true, but there are lots of scum and dirtbags on the move too. When it comes to survival, food and family .. There are going to people who aren't so nice.

I've eaten a lot freeze dried packs and found most to be pretty tasty. Most, once re-hydrated, you can't tell they were ever freeze dried. And since they have no water in them they weigh next to nothing. Pick up a Mountain House Chicken a la King. You can't tell the re-hydrated mushroom didn't come out of a can.

I haven't tried the Pork Chops but my brother-in-law has and he said you couldn't tell the difference from a fresh one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWwVaWqS-Ec

[twomillenium]

Canned food, canned meat, MRE's (I keep 48 MRE but I use 12-18 a year and just rotate them). Chest freezer is lined with one gallon water jugs and keep 6 cases of bottled water in garage and rotate. Canned soups are good. Keep all 4 propane cylinders full. Having a water filter is good once you have attained food storage. I would try to go for 3 month supply. Remember the more people know what you have the less they will prepare for themselves because they will count on you to share.

Where do you get your MRE's? I need some!!

I shop internet and usually order from camping survival. I order 1-3 cases at a time with heaters. I have been told COSTCO carries them from time to time.

[locke_n_load]

I can't stress enough rechargeable AA/AAA batteries (I like eneloop or the green duracells for amount of cycles), a usb battery charger, and small solar panel to go with your flashlights. So even if you have to get out of dodge, you can still have light, which I think is very important.