It is crucial to prepare for emergencies and natural disasters, and having an emergency food supply is an integral aspect of preparedness. It serves not only to alleviate stress, worry, and inconvenience during such situations but also guarantees sufficient sustenance for you and your family in case access to food becomes limited.
Why is food in short supply after a disaster?
Emergency food supplies may be necessary due to various reasons, causing shortages in food after a disaster.
- The loss of electrical power will result in the eventual spoilage of refrigerated and frozen food. Once electrical power is lost, food in the refrigerator is safe for up to four hours. Food in a freezer that is normally kept at 00 Fahrenheit can last from 24 hours (for a freezer that is half-full) up to 48 hours (for a freezer that is completely full). A full freezer has more thermal mass resulting in longer temperature retention, so keeping containers of frozen water or gel packs in a freezer that is only half-full can help to extend storage time up to 48 hours.
- Road closures may prevent you from getting to the grocery store. Even if you are able to get to a local grocery store, road closures throughout the region can affect commercial food distribution. Because most grocery stores rely on daily shipments to maintain inventory, once the supply chain is interrupted, inventory will be limited to what is on hand. Additionally, any loss of power will interrupt financial transactions and shut down cash registers and all credit/debit card transactions. Having cash on hand will help to enable purchases for the limited stores that try to remain open.
- Building damage to stores and shops can render their food supply inaccessible and result in their closure. Additionally, structural damage at home can also render food destroyed or inaccessible. Keeping emergency food in more than one location at home can help to ensure the accessibility of your food supply.
In order to be prepared for most disasters, it is advisable to have at least a three-day stock of emergency food that can be consumed without the need for refrigeration, cooking, or excessive water usage. Based on experiences from past natural disasters in the United States, emergency managers typically suggest storing a seven-day food supply. However, certain situations like a pandemic may necessitate a longer duration of food supply, so if feasible, storing more than seven days’ worth of food can be advantageous.
How Much Food Should You Store?
The quantity and nature of food you should store will be determined by your household members, your preferences, any special health conditions, your ability to use the food during an emergency, and the amount of storage space you have. According to the UK government, households should possess sufficient food, water, and essential supplies to sustain them for at least 72 hours in an emergency. Nevertheless, it might be prudent to consider storing an additional amount, such as if you reside in an area with frequent power outages.
Preparing a Three-Day Emergency Supply
In order to cope with a variety of disasters, having a three-day emergency preparedness kit can be highly beneficial. Consolidating the necessary items and storing them in a single location will assist you and your family during the most challenging times of an emergency. This temporary preparedness kit should naturally encompass food as well as water, personal hygiene products, flashlights, batteries, blankets, and other vital items suggested for emergencies.
When getting ready for a three-day emergency situation, it is vital to pick non-perishable foods that do not require refrigeration, need little or no preparation or cooking, and use minimal amounts of water. As per the CDC, households that have emergency supplies are more likely to be ready for disasters and have a better chance of being able to evacuate swiftly. Some excellent choices to include in your three-day emergency food supply are canned meats, fruits, and vegetables that are ready-to-eat; canned juices, milk, and soup; energy-rich foods such as peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, and trail mix; and foods suitable for infants, elderly individuals, or those with special diets.
Preparing a Two-Week Emergency Supply
Having a two-week emergency supply of food is a wise decision, particularly if you reside in an area prone to power outages, even though it is unlikely that most emergencies would result in a two-week disruption of food supply. According to a study conducted by the CDC in the USA, households equipped with an emergency supply demonstrated better disaster preparedness and were more likely to evacuate promptly.
To construct a two-week emergency food supply, begin by increasing the quantity of essential foods you typically store on your shelves. Create a comprehensive list of family members, specifying any specific requirements, along with listing all basic food items currently on your shelves. Mention the available amount, purchase date, date of opening, and if applicable, the use-by/replace date. Display this list close to storage cabinets or closets and make sure to revise it whenever there are any alterations.
When planning for meals, make sure to have enough food supplies to have at least one well-balanced meal per day. Consider including lightweight dehydrated or freeze-dried foods that take up minimal space. However, keep in mind that extra water supplies will be needed to rehydrate them. Some dehydrated foods, such as fruits, can be consumed as they are. If there are foods in your kit that require cooking, remember to include ready-to-eat options as well. Cooking options like fires or stoves may be available during certain emergencies, but not always or consistently. Remember that short-term emergency supplies should prioritize survival, energy, and hydration (water), but planning ahead allows for nutritionally balanced meals as well.
Food Ideas That Keep on the Shelf
When you are choosing food items for your emergency supply, it is crucial to opt for items that do not spoil, need minimal or no preparation or cooking, and offer adequate energy and nutrients. Furthermore, take into account the dietary requirements and preferences of your household members while making your choices.
Consider including these 25 food items in your emergency food supply:
- Canned meats (e.g. chicken, beef, tuna)
- Canned fish (e.g. salmon, sardines)
- Canned fruits (e.g. peaches, pears, pineapple)
- Canned vegetables (e.g. corn, peas, green beans)
- Canned soups (e.g. chicken noodle, tomato)
- Freeze-dried meals (e.g. beef stew, macaroni cheese, chicken & rice)
- Peanut butter
- Crackers
- Granola bars
- Nuts (e.g. almonds, cashews, peanuts)
- Trail mix
- Dried fruits (e.g. raisins, apricots, cranberries)
- Shelf-stable milk (e.g. UHT milk)
- Powdered milk
- Ration bars
- Rice
- Pasta
- Cereal
- Honey
- Oatmeal
- Instant coffee & Tea bags
- Bouillon cubes or broth
- Cooking oil (e.g. olive oil, canola oil)
- Salt and pepper
- Sugar
There are also emergency food kits available for purchase, like MREs (Meals-Ready-to-Eat), that need minimal or no preparation. However, these meals typically contain high amounts of sodium and preservatives, hence it is crucial to combine them with fresh fruits and vegetables whenever feasible.
Considerations for Emergency Food
There are several ways to address emergency food supplies. One option is to incorporate additional food into your pantry or reserve a separate food supply for emergencies and regularly update it. Alternatively, a combination of methods can also be utilized. Regardless, it is important to pay close attention to the following considerations in any situation.
- Familiarity. Trying out a new food item for the first time might not be the best idea after a disaster. You might discover that the new food item upsets your stomach. Or there could be a family member that normally likes peas, but discovers that they really don’t like the freeze-dried peas from the disaster food supply. Including food options that you normally eat can provide psychological and physiological benefits.
- Nutritional value. Your disaster menu should include meals that provide for sufficient calories per meal and per day. Budget around 2000 calories/day for women and around 2400 calories/day for men. If strenuous activity is anticipated, the number of calories should be increased by about 200 calories. While foods high in fat and high in sugar quickly add to the calorie count (e.g., junk food!), they provide limited nutritional value. And it is just as important to ensure that food has enough fiber for proper digestion.
- Ease of preparation. The conditions that would cause you to use your emergency food supply will also make it a challenge to prepare food. Loss of electricity, natural gas, or water will prevent normal cooking. Consider commercially canned foods that are ready to eat and don’t require heating, such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. Just remember to pack a can opener with your disaster food supplies!
- Shelf-life. The shelf-life of your disaster food supply can be viewed in two different ways: “best if used by” (length of time food retains its original taste and nutrition) and “life sustaining” (length of time food preserves life and remains edible). Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats all age in different ways. While carbohydrates won’t change much over time, proteins can deteriorate and fats can become rancid. Most food items can be safely eaten past the “best if used by” or “use by” date. For example, a sealed box of cereal is typically safe for 6-8 months after the “best if used by” date. Canned food items are typically good for two to five years (high acidity foods such as tomato sauce has a shorter shelf life, low acidity foods will last longer). Most freeze-dried food has a safe shelf life of up to 25 years or more. Always check food before eating; discard food that smells rancid or cans that are bulging or dented (but remember that tasting food is not an effective way of determining if food is safe!). Finally, storage conditions such as temperature, moisture, oxygen, and light affect shelf life, even for canned and freeze-dried food items. Keep it cool, dry, and dark!
- Specialty Items. Emergency food bars are a popular item online and at many disaster supply stores because of their long shelf life and stability. While they are advertised as providing a three day food supply, they only budget 1200 calories per day. Also, these should be taste-tested well before a disaster to ensure that you can tolerate it as a food source. Emergency food bars can play an important role in your emergency food supply (e.g., a few packs kept in the car), but should not be considered a primary or only resource for emergency food.
