In this day and age, it is more apparent than ever that natural disasters are becoming more troublesome. Families must also be prepared for terrorist attacks as well. Governments ask that each home keep at least three full days of supplies on hand to be prepared for any emergency. Recent disasters have revealed the difficulty in obtaining food and water lasts for days and weeks following an event.
A survival food supply can mean the difference between living or succumbing to the disaster, whether it is man-made or the act of Mother Nature. Every home should already have the basics needed to sustain a family for a few days, but it does not hurt to be a little more prepared. Having an adequate survival food supply can remove one of the major stressors during any catastrophic event.
There are a number of different types of survival foods a family can stock up on. Survival foods are designed to require very little water to prepare. Most survival foods are designed to be ready-to-eat and do not require any cooking. However, the foods are made more palatable if they are at least heated up.
Another key benefit to survival foods is the nutrition content. Many foods are made with survival in mind and are packed full of the nutrients the body will need on a daily basis. Some of the survival foods are stored in cans. It is imperative to have at least one can opener on hand.
Survival food storage is easy to set up. The survival foods are usually dehydrated or freeze-dried so no refrigeration is needed. Most of the foods can sit on a shelf in a dry storage are for about five years. It is important to keep the supply updated and stocked with fresh food. A pantry, cellar or emergency shelter room can be used as a survival food storage area. The area should be somewhere that is safe from flooding, extreme heat or cold and moisture. If space is an issue, a large stock of energy and protein bars can still be kept without requiring a lot of space to store. Also there are options in purchasing emergency survival food in bulk which will help reduce your overall cost and provide you peace of mind, and less stress because you’ll know your family will be safe if an emergency does arrive.
When stocking the survival food supply, take each member of the family into consideration. Any special dietary needs or allergies should be considered. Water is essential to survival. A good estimate for water consumption is one gallon of water per day for each family member. If pets will be provided for, ensure there is enough water for them as well. Water does not hold nearly as long and will need to be rotated out about every six months. A supply of water purifications tablets is always a good idea.