When planning your emergency food supplies, remember you may need to reach them in the middle of chaos. Store items in a safe, easy-to-find location where they won’t get buried by falling objects. Short on space? A large trash can in a utility room, garage, or tucked under a decorative tablecloth in an apartment makes a great storage container.
Emergencies can happen anytime. Are you prepared right now? Check expiration dates on your food and water, and rotate your stock every six months. Put a reminder on your calendar and don’t put it off.
Tips for Emergency Food Storage
- Everyday canned goods, dry mixes, and pantry staples work well. Just follow “first in, first out.”
- Choose foods that require no refrigeration, water, or cooking.
- Plan for special diets, allergies, infants, toddlers, and the elderly. Nursing mothers may want to store liquid formula.
- If the power goes out:
- Use perishable food from the refrigerator first.
- Then move to the freezer, keeping the door closed as much as possible. In a well-insulated freezer, food may last up to two days with ice crystals intact.
- Finally, use non-perishables and your dedicated emergency food supplies.
- Check your freezer door seal to ensure it stays airtight.
