Given the current state of the environment and the way nature seems to be fighting back against humanity, it is of great surprise that more people have not taken the time to consider emergency food storage. It is understandable what with the busy schedules that we are running in our day to day life, that we should overlook something so important.
If you take into account the track record of governments worldwide in responding to disasters and their obvious inability to control nature maybe it is something we should all think about more often. The help will come but we should take steps to make sure we are all safe, warm and fed in the event that a tragedy should strike. The hours between a disaster happening and help arriving can be the deciding factor in how well we cope with all the chaos that would be going on around us. Not only could it safe your life, it could save the lives of those around you.
Some of the items we use on a day to day basis may be overlooked for the simple fact that they seem so readily available. Water for example could be one of your first supply lines cut along with power, and as such becomes the most important item to bring into your emergency food storage plan. If the space is available to you, a large capacity water drum could be fitted into your basement or any other spot away from sunlight to regulate the temperature. If the drum has stood standing for a long time prior to you having to use it you can simply add a little bleach at a ratio of about a teaspoon for every five gallons to ensure you are drinking safe water.
A second option when considering water are the small scale water filters available to you from most camping and outdoor stores. Some of the variants available should remove up to 99.99% of harmful bacteria and contaminants. This would only be a viable option if you where living close to a large body of water like a lake, a flowing stream or river. The filter would also be extremely useful should your emergency last longer than expected.
If you are a diabetic and need shots on a regular basis, or for that matter have any ailment that requires you to take medication for extended periods of time, you could legitimately obtain larger stores of prescription medications from your doctor or the one of the available mail order services.
Your emergency food storage should obviously contain your other main ingredient, food. Building a supply of up to 3 months would be a safe bet. Choosing non-perishable foods such as canned goods, freeze dried foods and dry goods should all be part of your main choices. Portion control and proper rotation of varieties will ensure that not only will your food last as long as possible but also that you can at least enjoy something new and different from time to time.
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