Food for disaster preparedness

[johnh]

Gang,

I need to get something done in terms of food for disaster preparedness. For starters I am in tornado alley, so this is always a strong possibility. I also would like to better prepare for more extreme situations. Any of you buying the long-term storage items, what are you getting and where are you buying it? Any input would be welcomed.

Thanks!

John

[chrish]

been contemplating too. the radio ads and personalities are hot on the foodinsurance wares, but i've also stumbled across tomorrowsharvest which is a clearing house for a couple of brands, some of which i already know are good and tasty from my backpacking career on the AT in years past.

but yea, hoping to have some stored, but definitely not a 'prepper' in that regard...if i had 30-90 days stuck back, i'd be content. that's what i'm working toward.

[kb2wji]

I planned ahead. I've got a folder full of take-out menu's. That way I have the variety I want, plus I dont waste valuable storage space in my fallout shelter (aka "laundry room")

[TheTman]

I've been buying my rice and dried beans at Dollar General, bought a 10 lb bag of rice there for not much $$$. Beans are cheap too. I need to get some canned meat, that I'll use in normal cooking, like canned chicken which I often use to whip up a quick batch of Chicken n Noodles. DG also has inexpensive tupperware for storage once you open the bags and will keep insects out of it. When I go shopping I try and add 1 or 2 things for the survival closet. I look for items with a long shelf life, canned goods are good if you keep em rotated so you use up the oldest first.

[wyntrout]

I haven't gotten in to long-term stocking of food. I just buy some canned stuff to have on hand. I just bought some fruit cups for variety and chose the brand & size with the longest purchase by date or whatever.

Some MRE's are good and don't require copious amounts of water and heat to make edible, as all of that freeze-dried stuff does. It depends on the length of time you want to prepare to cope with.

For the immediate future, I'm just thinking of stuff we can eat right out of the can with little or no warming. A good "disaster preparation" book can give you particulars and some are more authoritative than just asking any Yahoo as we.

We bought some books:

"How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times"
James Wesley Rawles; Paperback; $11.56 Amazon.com

Disaster Preparedness for EMP Attacks and Solar Storms [Paperback]

Dr. Arthur T Bradley (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews) | Like (13)
List Price: $13.50 Price: $12.15
It's pretty discouraging but informative reading these books. You wouldn't believe the considerations given to the lists of lists!

My biggest worry is if the SHTF... really... we won't last long with just the two of us and our house being poorly constructed and located for defense. I am going to buy some more surveillance gear(battery-powered, or capable of 12-volt power) and protect it from EMP to help us keep up with intrusions or threats. Food is nice, but security is more important... and our life may be limited to hours as the "cockroaches" spread out looking for stuff to "share". Any visible light at night, cooking smells, or signs of habitation and having "stuff" will attract the "cockroaches."

Anyhow, there are online sites by these two authors and many others where you can START getting information... overwhelming information!

Wynn

[Scoundrel]

I bought this bucket:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1

...and I am considering buying this kit:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1

The first one has a 20 year shelf life and is very portable which can be useful for short bug-out scenarios. It needs water and supplemental foods, of course, but it's a great start. I've opened one of the "Italian Tomato Pasta" packets and had it for dinner. It was pretty salty, but edible. If I'm huddling around a campfire with my raincoat on and a disaster going on, it'll probably taste pretty good.

The second one is more complete with water storage and tools/recipes, but has a lower shelf life. Some of its items have a very long shelf life, some are shorter. It's a good kit for getting started, and then you can replace individual items as they expire. You'll need a good tracking system to keep track of expirations.

[Barth]

I don't have anything like that.
My first thought would be military style MRE?
http://www.thereadystore.com/mre?gcl...FQfe4AodTy2rzw

[wyntrout]

I bought four 4-lb boxes of iodized table salt(.95 each) and a GoalZero Solar Charging kit($99.99) at Costco yesterday. I thought I would go online and order some more of the little battery charger/packs, but they're $60 each!

The solar charging kit will power or charge AAA and AA batteries... comes with 4 of each... and things like small electronics that use those or USB regular/mini plugs and even has a 12-volt cigarette plugs adapter. The $100 kit at Costco would run you $200 or more ONLINE after you add on all of the stuff in their kit. It will keep radios and cell phones, etc. going, if it survives EMP or Solar Flares. I'll store mine wrapped in tinfoil in an ammo can lined with cardboard as an insulator.

Just rambling on more than food, but food is only ONE of MANY things to consider.
Just adding a few things at a time. I think we have about a months supply of food on hand... at least! I buy a lot of stuff at Costco in large quantities, such as my cereal, coffeemate, and Raw Sugar... 6-lb bags.

I did buy a "whole house water filter" for using my irrigation well water... 732 ft deep and artesian flow at about 2 gallons a minute. I still need a carbon block filter for using that for our consumption.

Just rambling on more than food, but food is only ONE of MANY things to consider.

After you check online or one of those books, you'll be overwhelmed at all of the possible things to worry about. You have to choose some level that you willing to support and get started.

Wynn

[wyntrout]

The two authors suggest having stuff on hand in quantities to share... like some food, water purification chemicals, salt, and things that will help others... charity. But there's a good thought behind that... giving them something, rather than turning everyone away, might keep them from assaulting you and taking everything you have.

Wynn

[Tinman507]

Most definitely want to have one or more of these things. I use one for backpacking etc.

[jocko]

oh yea gotta have one of those fockers. WTF is it???? Looks like something I seen in my doctors officer before my colonosphy. U ain't a doctor are u??? I always pictured u as a sheepherder living n those covered wagons with your dog "clyde" and carving in apen trees,, airplanes as they fly over u. Just sayin.

[wyntrout]

If you run across a reference to the Seagull IV water filter in your searches... that runs $500-$600! And each filter is $60 or MORE.

Wynn

[Tinman507]

[Tinman507]

If you run across a reference to the Seagull IV water filter in your searches... that runs $500-$600! And each filter is $60 or MORE.

Wynn

The MSR is damned near idiot proof. Only need a Scotchbrite pad to keep it going. It'll fill up a Nalgene bottle in a few seconds. When the SHTF, water purification plants will be down. Bad water is what's gonna collapse society when typhoid begins, etc.

[wyntrout]

Costco had a Steri-Pen(?) for $50... battery powered UV swizzle stick thingy that sterilizes the bacteria in a bottle so that they can NOT reproduce, but, DANG! You still drink them!

Got to git cookin'!

Wynn