FOOD STORAGE:

Dear Friends,

There have been more natural disasters in the last few years than any world should experience. They can happen anywhere at any time. It is important to panic proof your life!

Natural disasters could be a lot less stressful if each member of your family had a 72-hour kit filled with essentials for survival. Water, electricity, and telephones could be out for days. Cell phones might work, but they might not.  

Food Supply Depot is my Recommended Vendor for Food Storage. Their 72-hour kits are pre-packaged and ready to go. Gordon Benson has written a terrific article to explain the importance of having a 72-hour kit for every member of your family.   

Howard 

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It has been said that "when the time for action comes, the time for preparation is past." As an Eagle Scout, I take to heart the motto to "Be Prepared."  

A 72 hour kit is just that, an effort to be prepared for natural or man-made disasters. Despite the slow response during Hurricane Katrina, in general, we can expect that assistance from the government and relief agencies can be mobilized within about 3 days. So we're on our own for the first at least 72 hours.

When considering how to be prepared, it is important to remember the Survival Rule of Threes. Death can come within:

1)    3 hours without protection (Shelter);

2)    3 days without water (Hydration);

3)    3 weeks without food (Nutrition).

There are factors that can shorten the time frames of these three needs, but these Rules are useful to prioritize what we should include in our kits so that we are prepared for short term survival.

First Priority - Shelter

Shelter is really about addressing any conditions that weaken the body's defenses such as injury or environmental exposure that lowers or raises the body's core temperature.  

1)  First Aid Kit - While a basic first aid kit is a must-have item, knowledge of how to administer assistance is even more important. My father was in Iceland for winter survival training during WWII. Because he had paid attention during his scouting years, he was able to set and splint the seriously fractured leg of a fellow GI using the broken skis. The hapless victim then had to be towed from the icy mountain top behind skiers in a makeshift harness Dad tied using scouting knots. While the poor infantryman was pretty bruised from the trip down the slopes, the attending physician said he'd never seen a better setting job by a non-professional. Practical knowledge of first aid is crucial to survival and it's a good idea to get training such as that provided by the Red Cross.

2)  Environmental Protection - This is not about a federal agency, but how you mediate the physical conditions with which you are dealing during the emergency. In cold and damp weather it means having appropriate protective covering to maintain body temperature, while in heat it means shade and protection from the effects of sun exposure.   The kit should include some if not all of the following:

a)  solar blanket or sleeping bag,

b)  jacket, gloves, hat, rain poncho,

c)  tarp and/or tent,

d)  fire starting equipment such as a lighter, waterproof matches  or magnesium fire stick with water-protected kindling

e)  high SPF sun block, which fits the adage that "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure;"

f)   sunglasses.

Second Priority - Hydration

Closely tied to maintaining proper body temperature and function is water consumption. The rule of thumb is 1 gallon per adult per day for consumption and hygiene, which means 25 lbs of water each if you carry the full 3 days. The amount needed increases during the warm season. Beside the weight, that's a lot of bulk to carry. If sources of water are readily available, you can reduce both bulk and weight by carrying a 1 day supply and having appropriate gathering and purification equipment as part of the kit. During a disaster, assume all water needs to be treated. "Better safe than sorry" is the attitude to take with any water source, something anyone who's had dysentery will confirm. A lever action pump with a .2 micron filter and purification tablets are an excellent combination.  

Of course, any family prescriptions need to be included in the kit and rotated appropriately.

Third Priority - Nutrition

While most of us could survive without food forthree days, it would be very challenging, both physically and emotionally. Stress levels are greatly elevated during disasters, so foods higher in calorie and fat content are best to provide energy and a sense of satiety. Since refrigerated foods will spoil, ready to eat food such as energy bars, dried fruit, nuts and jerky can provide some of the required nutrition. Rotate these based on shelf life. Such snack foods can become monotonous and children especially respond better if familiar, warm "comfort" foods are also available. There are terrific dehydrated and freeze dried foods with long shelf lives on the market, including entrees and even desserts like ice cream! Of course this means investing in a portable stove with fuel, mess kits and utensils with the attending weight and bulk. It is best not to try new foods in this stressful situation, so a trial run of your portable meals is recommended.

EXTRAS

Besides the minimum items required for survival, you'll want to have items of personal hygiene like toilet paper, wipes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, waste disposal bags with ties and/or camp shovel for digging a latrine. If you have a baby, don't forget an infant's hygiene needs in your kit. You'll also need a knife and/or multi-tool such as a Leatherman. It's always useful to have a personal light source, and headlamps are a great way to keep your hands free for whatever you need to do in the dark, like pitching the tent or preparing dinner. Make sure you have fresh batteries by rotating them annually. A small game like Uno can provide much needed entertainment to distract from the rigors of the situation. A light source for all to gather around in the evening can be very comforting, so a wax or fuel candle is also a good idea.

It can become a fun and bonding family experience to have practice "emergency" camping trips using only what's in your 72 hour kits. This is a great way to determine what you need to add, replace or adjust in quantity. It will also physically and mentally prepare your family so they gain the confidence necessary to face and survive the challenges of a real emergency.

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Visit Food Storage Depot's website. It's user friendly, and has a simple calculator to help determine the calories needed for you and your family to determine your long-term food-storage needs. Be sure to use "rufftimes" at check out to receive a 20% discount!