6 Tips for How to Store Emergency Food

CITY MOVERS

6 Tips for How to Store Emergency Food

When a tornado, hurricane or other disaster strikes, there may be little—or no—time to visit a grocery store.

And while storing food to prepare for natural disasters is key, keeping a supply for other unexpected events, such as a job loss, also can help prevent a crisis in your home.

“Food is like money in the bank,”Having an ample supply on hand can help maintain your family’s well-being during the days and weeks after a disaster.

Here are six tips on storing emergency food to keep yourself, and those you love, well-prepared.

1. Build Up Slowly.

“Buy a little bit extra each week until you build up the reserves you desire,” Purcell advised.

In addition to spreading out the cost, this method will help you avoid having a large amount of food that expires at the same time. Depending on your location and situation, you might want a supply that lasts for a few weeks or months, or even longer.

Don’t forget about your pets when stockpiling emergency food.

As you stock food for your family, “only store what they’ll eat,” . For kids, keep ingredients on hand to make a few of their favorite meals. If you have pets, include items they’ll eat as well.

2. Rotate Items.

Rather than letting your food supply sit idly, “incorporate it into your menu now, even if it’s once a week,” 

Older food items should be kept toward the front of your pantry shelves.

To keep items organized, set your pantry up so that older items are in front. If you have a stack of canned goods, place the cans that expire first on top. As you buy more supplies, place the new goods at the back of a shelf or on the bottom of a pile. This way, you’ll know which food needs to be used next.

3. Store Wisely.

While you may want to keep some supplies at your home, keeping other items, such as canned goods, in a self-storage unit could provide an extra layer of protection. If the area surrounding your home gets damaged, but the spot where the storage unit is located is unharmed, you’ll still have a food supply available.

You may want to consider keeping emergency food in a storage unit. 

Furthermore, if you see a hurricane or other disaster coming, you could move some things from your house to a storage unit.

Before stashing food in a storage unit, check with the facility. There may be restrictions on what type of food can be stored there.

4. Keep Health in Mind.

“It is possible to eat nutritious foods during an emergency,” 

One expert recommends stocking up on canned corn.

Look for vegetables such as green beans, carrots and mushrooms. Stock up on canned corn and beans as well.

Other healthy food sources include canned tuna, chicken, salmon, shrimp and crab. Processed foods in containers such as plastic jars, bags and boxes might not have as long of a shelf life as canned goods. Still, “most are good for at least a year”. Look for items such as peanut butter, cereal, cooked rice and ready-to-eat meals.

5. Remember Water.

“Food shortages will probably mean water shortages as well”. To prepare, look for items that already contain water, such as canned soups.

Canned soup is good to have on hand in case of an emergency.

When it comes to water itself, “have gallons of it on hand,” advised Monique Prince, who lives in New England and often faces power outages during storms. Consider the amount you’ll need for cooking, as well as other activities, such as bathing. For animals, take into account their water needs as well.

6. Focus on Safety.

“Food should be kept up off the floor on a shelf, in case of flooding, bugs or rodents,” Krieger said. For further protection, store items in sealed plastic containers.

Be sure to regularly check the expiration dates of stored food.

In a self-storage unit, “the temperature of a storage unit is important, along with moisture”. Fluctuating temperatures could shorten the lifespan of food and extreme humidity could damage goods, so you probably will want to consider a climate-controlled storage unit.

Furthermore, make sure to monitor your supplies. “Always check the expiration date and throw out any foods that have been damaged” .