Natural calamities and catastrophes require preparedness when it comes to basic necessities for survival. Of the three basic necessities, food, is the most important to be ready with in case of emergency. Hurricane preparedness is a lot easier to have ready when it comes to food. Cyclones always originate from the oceans, can be tracked and their paths can be predicted. This gives you a lead time of several hours or even days to prepare for food storage.
Some tips are listed below that would guide you on emergency food storage:
1. You should know your location if it is prone to flooding. If you do not intend to evacuate, make sure you have sufficient food supply with storage at the highest possible place in your home. Food stored at street or ground level becomes a waste when floods come without warning.
2. Do not store frozen foods as electricity can be cut off during a hurricane. Your refrigerator will not run unless you have a portable generator. Vacuum containers and Styrofoam boxes for food storage might keep them frozen two-days at most. Packing them with ice or dry might extend their frozen state a bit longer.
3. The best types of food to store for hurricane preparedness are canned goods that have an expiry date of more than a year, the same with instant noodles that can easily be prepared.
4. Dried and smoked fish are also long lasting food that can be kept in store for almost a month. Make sure that no moisture is trapped in the container as it will spoil much earlier or have molds.
5. To draw out air and possible from zip-lock plastics, you can use a large syringe without the needle. Press out as much air first before closing the zip lock with enough space for the syringe tip. While pressing the zip lock and syringe tip together, draw out the syringe piston almost simultaneously with the syringe and locking seal the zip. That should keep whatever is contained to be stored in semi-vacuum.
6. As much as possible do not store food in breakable or glass containers. Chances of breaking them are higher in emergency situations.
7. Store all the food prepared in several waterproof and air-tight bags. Keeping them in just one bag is like ‘putting all your eggs in one basket’. When you lose the bag, you lose them all.
8. Make sure all canned goods you store are lift-off top types. You would not be looking for a can opener or knife in awkward situations.
9. See that you have a couple of portable cooking fuel cans. They are very important when you need to heat or cook some food in cases where hypothermia is a threat.
10. If there are outlets near you where Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is available it would be best to keep them in storage for hurricane preparedness. They are well sealed with complete nutrients.
11. Make sure you have more than enough for the number of people in your household. Having more assures that even rescue is delayed or flood waters take longer to recede, chances for survival are much better.
Potable and drinking water is as important as food so have them in store separately from food you have prepared for emergency. Spilled water or its moist could cause molds to form. Care in preparation of emergency food storage will make things more convenient in rationing when the emergency arises.
http://www.ehow.com/info_8136879_basic-list-foods-longterm-storage.html
