Keep in mind that a three-month supply of food is basic. A preparer must have at least a three-month supply of food in stock at all times. Keep in mind that a three-month supply of food is the minimum, with a supply of one year or more being ideal. When you're striving for a one-year supply, it's best to increase your food supply in smaller increments one month at a time to avoid making mistakes and feeling overwhelmed.
Accumulate enough food to provide at least 2000 calories and 1 gallon of water per day, per person in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. The minimum storage requirement for the 72-hour emergency kit, suggested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is 6000 calories and 3 gallons of water per person. There are two ways to build your emergency food pantry. One way is to store more of the non-perishable foods you already eat in daily life.
This list covers that type of food, the things you can find in any supermarket that is great for your reservations. The beginner's prep guide explains the pros and cons of each method, as well as basics such as how much food you should store for your family. And if you're not yet familiar with the FIFO model “store what you use, use the model you keep, take a look at it too. If you're already storing food for the long term, you can incorporate some of those staples into your short-term supply.
If you have been preparing diligently, you may already have a fairly large supply of food that would possibly last you and anyone else in your household for a long time. Once you have your 72-hour kit connected, I suggest you go ahead and save at least a two-week supply of food. At some point, if the food supply is interrupted, rationing may be a consideration you should consider. Rather, this prep supply means that you have 15 to 30 full days of food and water for everyone in your household stored in a location that will not be used unless there is an emergency.
Orchards and livestock add to a large extent to this cumulative total you have, but unless you have a very productive garden or a large number of animals, the food you have on hand is likely to start to run out. Preparers focus part of their attention on storing food and creating renewable sources such as gardens or livestock (chickens and rabbits) to protect against the possibility that the local grocery store can no longer provide something to eat. I solved this problem by buying only one-day supplies every time I went to the grocery store. Even though there's a specific list of foods below and you'll be fine if you only buy from that list, it's worth understanding the basic differences between what's good for your pantry and what's not.
For long-term emergency preparedness, it is recommended that instead of 15 to 30 days, you store food for 3 months of food and water specifically for emergencies. We think it's best not to obsess over which containers to buy, but to simply order some so as not to delay creating an emergency food supply that your family may desperately need. You may have a lot more emergency food on hand than you thought, but you never considered them emergency food.
