Disaster can strike at any time. Mother Nature is unpredictable and not so forgiving at times. Whether your family is facing a natural disaster like an earthquake, hurricane and flooding or you are a victim of unemployment, food storage may “save the day” or at least relief some stress. Is your family prepared to face an emergency? The suggested food supply for most families is a year supply to start (two years is best). This may seem overwhelming especially if you haven’t even started to store any food or supplies for your family. There many reasons you should have some sort of food storage set up for your family. You need to be self-reliant and able to sustain your family in case resources are cut off for short or long periods of time.

If you are not sure where to start with your food storage then here are some suggestions to help you begin a proper storage supply for you and your family:

• One of the most important things to remember is to always store things that your family will eat. There is no use in buying food items you don’t like or things your family members won’t enjoy eating. It is almost impossible to rotate your storage if you cannot eat and use the food.

• Rotate your food storage. It is very important to rotate the things your store. Food doesn’t last forever and it doesn’t make sense to spend money on something you are not going to utilize. Buy your food storage items regularly while you use and alternate the supplies you have on hand.

• Put a small amount of money aside each week and buy certain things that are on sale. Case lot sales and warehouse stores are good resources for beginning to build your food storage supply.

• You need to store other items besides food. Paper products, first aid supplies, medications and personal care items such as toothbrushes, shampoo, toothpaste etc are all necessities your family will need.

• Make a list or a calendar of things you will need and the items you already have so you can organize a system to help you get all of the supplies that needed to sustain your family.

What Should You Store? Some Basics to get you Started are:

Water

This is a very important staple to have in your food storage. It is probably the single most life-saving item you can have in your food storage. You should have enough water to sustain each member of your family. Drinking water is extremely important, but you will also need water for cooking and bathing and washing too. Three gallons of water a day per person in your family is the recommended amount. It will need to be used sparingly because no matter how much you have; you’ll never know how long you will have to depend on your supply. Water can be stored in glass or plastic containers (except milk containers because they are biodegradable), and must have an airtight lid. A small piece of plastic wrap placed over the mouth of the container before you put the lid on helps keep the water fresh. You can use tap water plain if you change it once a year, or add a small amount of bleach or other commercial purification product before storing indefinitely. You can also boil water before using to kill germs and improve the taste. Try to store your water in a cool place. Don’t overlook the water in your toilet tank and water heater in an unexpected crisis. Waterbed water can be used for washing, but don’t drink it or use it on eating surfaces because of contamination due to the chemicals used in making the plastic lining.

Water Purification Tablets or Containers/Filter Pumps- are absolute must. They can help turn most unusable or questionable water sources into safe drinking water. These are especially vital when living "on the trail" or outdoors. You can buy them at any grocery, drug or hardware store. Boiling water helps remove the bacteria too.

Powdered Milk

This is also an important product to include in your food storage. It provides nutrition for your family and it can also be used for cooking. Nonfat milk, either regular or instant, stores well when packaged properly and kept at room temperature or cooler. In the past, many felt that non-instant milk would store better. There is little difference in shelf life between instant and non-instant powdered milk. The best containers to use when storing powdered milk are airtight, low-oxygen containers or packages; rather than boxes or plastic bags, which don’t seem to keep the milk as fresh. This type of milk can be stored for up to three years. Make sure you are rotating your supply and using it for your family or give it to someone who will use it so you are not wasting it.

Beans

These are a nutritious supplement to add to your food supply. They may not be a popular item with your family especially your children, but they are versatile and if you prepare them right and use them in soups and other meals they don’t taste so bad. There are several different kinds of beans. Lima beans, kidney beans and black beans. Kidney beans are usually the most common. They can be used for chili and different kinds of soup. Black beans provide the best nutrition. If you soak the beans ahead of time either over night in salt water or pressure-cook them then you will significantly cut back on your preparation time.

Wheat

Many people consider wheat the most basic of food storage items. It is easy to store and has high nutritive value. Wheat provides protein and is an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamin B, phosphorous, and iron. It is also versatile and can be prepared in a variety of ways.

There are different kinds of wheat. Hard red or hard white wheat varieties are desirable for home storage and bread making. Store hard winter wheat (Turkey Red), hard spring, and other similar varieties. Soft white wheat is usually used in making pastries and cookies. You should store only grade-one wheat. This means no less than 60 lb. per bushel. Protein content should be 12% or better. Before eating the wheat, clean it and remove all foreign materials. Wheat can be hard to digest and if your body is not used to it then it might be a little hard on your system. Make sure to include wheat in family’s diet on a regular basis so your bodies are used to it and you don’t get a shock to your digestive system when you are suddenly adding it to your diet.

It is very important to make sure that the moisture content of the wheat is 10% or less. Wheat draws moisture, so take precautions to protect it from exposure to high humidity and high temperatures.

Rice

As one of the most popular storage items, and probably one of the most tasty and versatile supplies, rice is a common storage staple. You can make so many different meals with rice and it has a high nutritional value so you can eat it with confidence. Brown rice is better for you than white rice, which tends to be high in starch.

Don’t forget baking items such as flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cooking oil and spices etc, which are significant to have in your storage.

How to Store your Food Properly

All food contains bacteria and mold spores, and most food contains insect eggs. Given the right environment, these microorganisms will start to grow and destroy the food. The main conditions that can cause insects and microorganisms to grow are moisture and heat.

If products are not properly packaged, they can absorb moisture out of the air. When the moisture reaches a level of 12% to 18%, product breakdown will accelerate. Make sure to store food in a dry place.

Heat is also a major cause of deterioration in food quality. Store all products away from heat ducts, clothes dryers, sunlight, chimneys and other sources of heat.

In addition to food and water, fuel and clothing are important to storage essentials.

By making reasonable preparations, individuals and families can minimize the difficulties that follow emergencies such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. To prepare, develop a plan of action for each type of emergency and store needed supplies. The following items could be helpful in an emergency:

• Matches, candles, lanterns, flashlights, and battery-operated lighting equipment
• A battery-operated radio
• Knives, a hatchet, a shovel, and other tools
• Medicine, blankets, and a first-aid kit
• Mess kits or paper cups, paper plates, and plastic utensils
• A manual can opener
• Wheat grinder
• Plastic garbage bags and a plastic bucket
• Soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste, and supplies for dentures and contact lenses
• Baby items like diapers, wipes, rash ointment, bottles etc.
• Toilet paper and sanitary items
• Money
• Books or games for children

Being prepared for an unexpected emergency can help to eliminate added stress for you and your family. The less you have to worry about the better chance you have of getting through the tough times and making sure your family survives and stays safe. Making preparations while supplies and food are readily available is the one of the best things you can do. Educate yourself about food storage, the proper supplies to have on hand and how to store your food. Another important step to take is to educate your family about emergency preparedness and make sure your children are aware of what to do in an actual emergency. Preparing your family in advance can help save lives.