The Careful And Mindful Approach To Achieving A Decent Food Storage And Supplies In Case Of Emergency
Every able-bodied individual should participate in an emergency preparedness plan. But, in order to make it an well-organized quest, it shouldn’t be taken on unsystematically. Many people start off with excellent intentions, but are imprudent in their preparedness and food storage actions. They have a great goal in mind (i.e., being ready for the worst should a disaster or emergency occur), but there is no structure to their madness. After they have arbitrarily accumulated some of the supplies for any feasible perceived threats, they are not then sure if they have all they need, and if they have allocated their capital properly. It is always better to have done at least something to prepare, but you should start at the beginning and progress through to the end in a methodical way– from short-term planning to a longer-term scenario. Of course, you won’t be able to think of everything, but it is unquestionably better to be over- than under-prepared, and the best approach is to create a rock-solid emergency preparedness foundation and add to it in the proper sequence.
Here’s the way to do it: the first thing that everyone should store in case of emergency is a 72 hour emergency kit. A 72 hour emergency kit is an easy-to-carry and easily accessible package that contains items such as three days of water (most important) and non-perishable food items (preferably ready-to-eat goods), personal toiletry/hygiene items, first aid kit and medications, flashlight and batteries, blankets and sleeping bag, a radio, pocket knife, etc. 72 hours is the designated period in which it is most likely that after a disaster occurs regular services can resume. You should plan on being independent for at least these three days.
The next level up in the readiness pyramid is a three-month supply of food storage that would include things that you generally eat and can be rotated easily, eliminating any waste. These are such things as canned goods that fit without difficulty into your food pantry or an extra closet, as well as frozen foods (meat, preserves, and vegetables).
MRE’s (meals ready-to-eat), freeze-dried foods, and dehydrated foods are the next move up in prioritization. These food storage items store for extended periods of time in a climate-controlled environment, usually between 10 to 30 plus years.
Dry-pack storage items such as wheat, white rice, and beans shift us even further up the readiness pyramid. These things are very nutrient dense, and take more exertion to prepare meals with, but are exceptionally versatile and can be included in too many recipes to count. They are important go-to’s on your emergency preparedness menu. Other dry-pack items include powdered milk, powdered eggs and powdered butter, bullion (chicken and beef), flour, pasta noodles, etc.
After having considered food preparation adequately, it is time to move up the readiness pyramid to the level that includes extra clothing and footwear. Remember you must take into account the climate in which you live and the change (or not) in seasons. If you have your home in a district that has harsh winters, be certain to have ample coats, sweaters, thermal underwear, warm clothing, gloves, boots, and blankets.
The next stage up the pyramid is firearms and ammunition. First and foremost these serve as tools for killing game animals for meat should this become required. Secondly, these may serve as defense in the event of a disorderly societal breakdown (rioting, looting, etc.) where you may need to shield your family from harm.
Camping equipment basics such as tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, camping stoves/Dutch ovens, fishing pole and tackle, a Leatherman, matches, a lantern, and porta-potties will all make you much more confident in your abilities to survive in the outdoors if you need to move even further up the readiness pyramid, and have to leave your home for whatever reason for a period of time.
People can get away witout showering, though it may be distasteful. That is why this category of personal hygiene items is closer to the peak of the readiness pyramid, but still very much a legitimate and useful part of it. The particular items you should include here are soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, a razor and shaving cream, deodorant, feminine napkins, and diapers.
Now you’ve gotten all of the preceding done, top off the readiness pyramid with an emergency fund. This should cover as much as three to six months of living expenses, and then be supplemented with gold and especially silver (poor man’s gold) bullion.
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