Congratulations to those of you that have decided to take this challenge, I have certainly had some great feedback this weekend with people that are getting on board. Excellent!!
A few sayings that have alway inspired me are:
“Safety doesn't take a holiday”
instead of be prepared, "I am Prepared”
or Shakeout BC's earthquake preparedness line, "Shake out, don't Freak out!!"
With these sayings in mind, you might think differently about getting prepared. Not bothering to put together some items to help you with surviving a catastrophic event is... absurd.
For this week, let's talk about food. Water and food are key elements to surviving a disaster. You and your family can assemble an emergency food pack using with the following tips: choose food that doesn't need refrigeration, requires little or no preparation , meets any special diet needs, is familiar to your family and is sealed for protection. Protect items from contamination by rodents, insects, humidity, ground water and variations in temperature.
Don’t forget to pack beverages! Water, and juices should come in vacuum sealed containers. Evaporated canned milk is a good option, you might also want coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
When packing canned foods, include prepared meats, sauces, stews, baked beans, spaghetti, vegetables, andfruits.
Freeze dried foods are another way to go. You can get meats, vegetables, fruits stews and soups packaged this way.
And don’t forget instant foods like dried soups, sauces, cereals, cookies, crackers, candies and jellies, and peanut butter.
If you are looking for some easy solutions, check out meals from Total Prepare, which have a shelf life of 25 years! Yes, you heard it, pasta primavera and strogonoff that will last a quarter century! These meals also happen to come in rodent proof containers.
Additional food related supplies you must not forget: a bottle opener, can opener, salt, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, sealed containers for storage, paper plates and cups, plastic bags-different sizes, including orange garbage bags which can be used as a signal flag. If you have a baby, be sure to check with your pediatrician or family doctor to be certain your pack contains the proper supply of nourishment.
Another word about water. There are many types of bottled water available. A supply of bottled or pouch water should be considered. Alternative water sources could include: covered wells, protected springs, contents of your hot water tank or the reserve storage tank on your toilet. (Of course, some of these sources may only provide water for cooking, hygiene, and washing.)
In an emergency situation, if no drinking water is available, liquids may be obtained from canned fruits and vegetables and soft drinks. If you are uncertain of the safety of the water that is available, find out more about the following precautions that can be taken:
boil the water (boil suspected impure drinking water for a minimum of six minutes.)
purification (drinking water may be purified with purification tablets, or small amounts of chlorine bleach or iodine. check with your local health authorities for more complete information.) Bruce McTaggart had some great suggestions at our preparedness party this spring.
Until next week, good luck with adding food to your bag.
