by Lee Flynn - March 31, 2014
Food
A store of food is of the utmost importance when considering emergencies. The food storage items should be non-perishable, meaning in cans or shrink-wrapped packages. Good choices are canned vegetables or soups that can be eaten at room temperature, shrink-wrapped crackers, cookies and granola bars. Store your food in a cool, dry place with steady temperatures. Make sure to keep a can opener in with your canned goods. Check the cans periodically for expiration dates and rotate your stash so you’ll always find something safe in an emergency. Toss any dented or bulging cans. If you have grain or wheat products in boxes, place those in sealed paper bags so pests cannot reach them.
Water
Safe drinking water is vital to survival in an emergency. The recommended amount is a gallon of water per person per day, preferably in sealed jugs to maintain purity. You should keep the water in the same place as your food. Iodine droplets, boiling or water purification tablets can be used in an emergency if you’re unsure whether your water is safe. While these purification methods will help clean water of bacterial contaminants, they cannot protect against chemical contamination; so be sure you know what you’re up against before drinking purified water.
Medical Supplies
Most people keep first-aid supplies in their bathroom, but if you have a safe place like a panic room, cellar or bunker, you should keep all your emergency supplies together. Check your supplies periodically to ensure they’re still safe to use; they should be stored in a cool, dry place where they are unlikely to become contaminated or get wet. While it’s tempting to put them under the sink in the bathroom, they should be kept in the same cool, dry place as your food and water.
