A survival food kit is essential during natural and man-made disasters.
When disaster strikes, whether man-made or a natural occurrence, having an emergency survival kit may mean the difference between living and dying. Now is not the time for Twinkies and junk food; now is the time for nutrient-rich foods that have enormous shelf life. Keep your home and family prepared for such emergencies with a collection of foods that will keep you going through the rough times.
K.I.S.S.
K.I.S.S. is an old anagram and truism that stands for "keep it simple, stupid." This is especially important when setting up an emergency and survival food kit. As a general rule, a healthy adult needs approximately 2,000 calories a day to maintain normal activity. For emergency food stores, think of what keeps on the shelf. Store dried beans and nuts in vacuum-sealed bags for a protein source. Dry pasta and rive provide the needed carbohydrates. Dried fruit and powdered vitamin drinks give needed vitamin C and help make bad-tasting water easier to stomach.
Keep a minimum five-day supply of food, per person in the household, in the survival kit.
Storage Ideas
The food you keep must be stored so it remains dry and free of spoilage or mold. Purchase a vacuum sealer and baggies. Store all food in the vacuum-sealed bags, and then place the bags with the food in a watertight plastic bin or container. Number-5-sized buckets found at hardware stores serve this purpose. In addition, purchase silica gel packs and place them in the bucket. These absorb moisture and keep the bucket dry and safe.
Food Prep
When dealing with dried foods like beans, rice and pasta, you need a way of cooking them. Keep a small backpacking stove, and several canisters or propane fuel in the buckets. In addition, keep several lighters in the bucket. Next to the bucket keep a medium-sized pot and lid. Again, stay true to the K.I.S.S. adage and use as few dishes or pots as possible. Do not waste water on washing the dishes or pots. A single pot allows all family members to dip into the pot and eat from a common bowl, limiting water waste and conserving space.
Water
No one will live without water. Like the food, the water needs to be stored in a way that keeps it fresh and free of molds. In the kit, place two to three 5-gallon water jugs full of fresh water (or next to the kit). Add one drop of bleach into each jug before you place them in storage. Keep a water filter (available at sporting goods stores) and iodine tablets near the water.
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