| In an emergency situation, grocers' shelves will be | | | | many times dovetail with disruptions to utilities such |
| picked clean within twelve hours. Even with mildly | | | | as electricity and natural gas. A simple camp stove |
| disruptive events like an advancing winter storm, | | | | can provide a way to cook and heat meals, but this |
| food staples fly off the shelves in record time. We | | | | is on an as-case basis. Propane requires outdoor |
| have all seen the reports on the evening news; | | | | storage such a shed because of its volatility and |
| people scrambling to grab food and bottled water | | | | must be kept away from open flames such as that |
| ahead of the snowfall. Eventually, the storm passes, | | | | found in hot water heaters and furnaces. Whenever |
| the roads are cleared, truckers' are able to make | | | | using a camp stove indoors, you must have |
| deliveries and peoples concerns over empty pantry | | | | adequate ventilation such as an open window to |
| shelves dissolves to distant memory. | | | | avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. |
| A national emergency, by definition, will be an entirely | | | | Once you have decided on the best alternative |
| different reality. Supply lines will be stuck in gridlock | | | | cooking method for your circumstances, it's time to |
| as people flee to safety and services such as heat | | | | begin putting aside food storage. Provisions can be |
| and electricity will most certainly be disrupted in | | | | canned goods, bulk foods, or MRE's (meals ready to |
| portions of the country. | | | | eat). Provided you have a dependable means to cook |
| If you are undecided about disaster-proofing your | | | | them, dry beans and rice are a perfect protein when |
| household, you need only look to recent headlines. | | | | combined and they are relatively inexpensive when |
| The increase of earthquakes, volcano activity, and | | | | purchased in bulk quantities. If your storage is limited, |
| flooding at a time when financial stability is crumbling | | | | think about putting aside prepared canned meals like |
| beneath us has contributed to a renewed interest in | | | | stews and chili's. When storing either canned goods |
| gardening - up 19% according to the National | | | | or bulk foods, include canned fruits, vegetables and |
| Gardening Association. The use of wood stoves has | | | | meats, along with a variety of spices. Adding a |
| also seen a resurgence and their sales have tripled | | | | selection of textures and flavors to storage food |
| over the past few years. Although these | | | | helps avoid appetite exhaustion; a condition that |
| preparedness related statistics are encouraging, over | | | | develops when eating the same meal day after day |
| 80% of the populace live in urban settings, with a | | | | which can lead to an individual choosing hunger rather |
| large majority looking to their neighborhood grocers | | | | than face another bland meal. If money allows, put |
| as a dependable source of food stuffs. Yet, grocers | | | | aside a variety of comfort foods that your loved |
| no longer store back-up inventory as they once did | | | | ones enjoy like boxed pizza mixes, cake mixes, |
| and depend upon regular deliveries to restock their | | | | granola bars, popcorn, or trail mix. In a time of stress, |
| shelves. Because of this, households' expecting a | | | | having the ability to eat foods we enjoy helps to |
| quick run to the store to solve the problem of | | | | make a difficult situation more bearable. |
| empty shelves in a time of a crisis may be putting | | | | For those who will not have an alternate method for |
| themselves at jeopardy. | | | | cooking, MRE's are an excellent solution. Although |
| If you are among those who wish to avoid standing | | | | they may appear to be more expensive at the |
| in long lines for sustenance in a time of disaster, | | | | outset, when penciling in the cost of propane, MRE's |
| preparedness is not as difficult as it may seem. The | | | | can be well worth the investment. They are designed |
| best place to start is with water storage. The | | | | to cook in their individual packets and they offer the |
| average person can survive without food for 3 | | | | benefit of portability due to their minimal weight and |
| weeks, but only 2 days without water in | | | | compact size. |
| temperatures of 120 degrees and 10 days in 50 | | | | The preparedness bug can be contagious, so if it |
| degree temperatures. Plan to store 28 gallons of | | | | catches up with you while your stocking your |
| water pr month for each person. This is an | | | | shelves, keep going! Inflation proofing your household |
| extremely conservative recommendation, as the | | | | is a worth-while cause and you will be surprised at |
| average person consumes between 1,500 and 2,400 | | | | the peace of mind having full pantries can bring. The |
| gallons of water for drinking, clean up, and lawn and | | | | good news is there are multitudes of preparedness |
| garden maintenance under normal conditions. If you | | | | blogs and websites that will help you get started for |
| have the room, I recommend you store more. | | | | free, so if you find yourself floundering in a sea of |
| The next step towards preparedness is to plan for | | | | choices, or cannot decide on bulk vs. canned food, do |
| an alternate cooking source. Unexpected emergencies | | | | a little surfing. Your answer is only a few clicks away! |