When it comes to preparing for an emergency, it's important to have a plan in place. Having the right supplies on hand can make all the difference in a crisis. It's essential to have enough food and water stored for at least three days, as well as emergency supplies in every vehicle and at your workplace. In this article, we'll discuss how much food and water you should have on hand, how to store it, and what other essentials you should consider.When it comes to food storage, the short answer is that you need at least 14 gallons of water per person.
That breaks down to 1 gallon per day for two weeks. If you're storing canned food, inspect your supply regularly for signs of damage, such as rusty, leaking, bulging, or heavily dented containers and broken seals. You should also discard any perishable foods that have been or are suspected to have been at room temperature for more than two hours.When it comes to water storage, water from streams, lakes, and local water systems can become contaminated; therefore, it's best to store a water supply in the shelter area. If the disaster has resulted in conditions where canned food is in flood waters, inspect them carefully for signs of damage.
Treat food exposed to firefighting water the same way you would treat food exposed to flood waters.Collecting the essentials that might be needed and placing them in one place will help you and your family get through the worst days of an emergency. Installing a dehumidifier and placing the food storage in granules would make the basement an excellent option. If you include canned food in your emergency food supply, inspect your supply regularly to make sure there are no rusty, leaking, bulging, or heavily dented containers and that there are no broken seals.Rather than stocking up on perishables that will spoil quickly, consider purchasing long-term storage options that will last for many years. There are many food storage options that will last long term and that you won't have to worry about spoiling for many years to come.
Always rotate your cans as you use them so you never have to deal with expiration dates until you find yourself in an emergency situation. Consider placing zip-lock plastic bags for storing food or freezing food in your emergency supplies.A lot of people give me the excuse that they can't buy food storage until they have a house with enough space. But there are plenty of ways to store food without taking up too much space. Food stored in the refrigerator or freezer can also be contaminated with vapors if the appliance seal is not airtight.
Group meat and poultry aside on a tray so that their juices don't contaminate other foods if they begin to thaw.Having an emergency plan in place is essential for any household. Make sure you have enough food and water stored for at least three days, as well as emergency supplies in every vehicle and at your workplace. Inspect your canned goods regularly for signs of damage and discard any perishable foods that have been or are suspected to have been at room temperature for more than two hours. Consider purchasing long-term storage options that will last for many years and always rotate your cans as you use them so you never have to deal with expiration dates until you find yourself in an emergency situation.
