When a natural disaster strikes, having a safe supply of food and water is essential. To ensure that your family is prepared for any emergency, it is important to build an emergency food storage. This should include a variety of items that can be used in the event of a power outage or other emergency situation. Here are some tips to help you get started.The amount and type of food you store will depend on the size of your household, their dietary preferences, any special health conditions, and the amount of storage space available.
It is important to consider the ability to use food in an emergency, as well as the shelf life of the items you choose. For example, canned goods with tight, sealed metal lids are safe to use after thorough cleaning and disinfection. However, food exposed to fire treatment chemicals should be discarded.When storing food, it is important to keep it away from insects and rodents. Zip-lock plastic bags are great for storing food or freezing items.
Additionally, it is important to pay attention to open dating on perishable foods such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. These items should not be used to cook raw foods that must be fully cooked to be safe.In addition to water and food, your emergency supplies should include personal hygiene items, flashlights, blankets, and other essential items recommended for emergencies. For more information on food storage safety and quality, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office and request fact sheet 9.310.For two weeks or more of emergency feeding, it is important to pay attention to nutritional needs. A website called Sally Strackbein's Emergency Kitchen provides detailed information on how much food needs to be stored for two people for two weeks.
FEMA suggests stocking up on non-perishable items such as canned meats, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, crackers, nuts, dried fruits, cereals, and powdered milk.