Three days' supplies are NOT enough. . .

[Seven©]

Finally, even the government has officially changed its tune.

"Assemble and maintain a disaster supplies kit with food, water, medications, fuel and personal items adequate for up to 2 weeks - the more the better." —Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, 2002, FEMA page 91

"Additionally, you may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks." —Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, 2004, FEMA page 32

"During periods of increased threat increase your disaster supplies to be adequate for up to two weeks. —Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, 2004, FEMA page 166

Linky dink: Millennium Ark: Emergency Preparedness - Welcome!

[LiveToShoot]

Wise advice...the longer you can supply/meet the needs of yourself and your family the longer you'll be able to resist giving in and becoming subject to those who have.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by Seven©

Finally, even the government has officially changed its tune.

"Assemble and maintain a disaster supplies kit with food, water, medications, fuel and personal items adequate for up to 2 weeks - the more the better." —Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, 2002, FEMA page 91

"Additionally, you may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks." —Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, 2004, FEMA page 32

"During periods of increased threat increase your disaster supplies to be adequate for up to two weeks. —Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, 2004, FEMA page 166

Linky dink: Millennium Ark: Emergency Preparedness - Welcome!

With a few buckets of rice and beans one can stretch out what is on hand to eat for a months.

[Mooseman684]

2 weeks ??? Ha, they dont watch Jericho.
Better to have a year or 2 worth of supplies...
Rich

[LiveToShoot]

^+1!

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

2 weeks ??? Ha, they dont watch Jericho.
Better to have a year or 2 worth of supplies...
Rich

I agree, but storage gets to be a problem. 2 years of food alone would take up an average bedroom. When I kept 3 months for 6 people I'll bet it took up 30 sq. feet for the buckets of beans, rice, whole wheat, corn, salt, canned meat, and sugar. Then there was space for the hand grinder, water filters, stoves, lanterns, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, bugout packs, and I've note even mentioned the ammo storage. Then there's gasoline, Coleman fuel, and Kerosene stored in an out building along with non powered tools (saws, axes, splitters) for wood and farming.

Had some space at the time but storage used it up:

IMG_2299.jpg

[LiveToShoot]

Our home is smaller, which significantly reduces our overhead costs and allows us the extra cash to build up supplies and carry on when cash supplies may be reduced, and we use whatever space we have to store whatever we can, because we know that when the time comes to use what we've stored it will matter very little whether or not we have extra space...

[Mooseman684]

I aint talking Eating like a King...I'm talking survival eating...

[LiveToShoot]

Yes, survival eating...cause the other type requires too much rotation and possible spoilage. Items like Mitch_Mckee mentions work really well to keep you alive, and can store a long time.

[mitch_mckee]

These folks have been in the long term food storage business for a long time.

Great resource in their archives.

Welcome to Walton Feed, home of your dehydrated food storage needs.

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

I aint talking Eating like a King...I'm talking survival eating...

What do you mean about survival eating?

As in minimal for a period of time?

If you are storing for a long period of time, health is critical. You may not have adequate medical facilities. It is important to get a balanced diet as one can in a bad situation. In addition, I was packing for me, wife, a small child, four teenagers, five elders, and a sister. Now, they would have a pretty good amount to add to the pile so I didn't have to store all of it.

In the short term, calories are all that matter so much. Looking at surviving months or years, we ought to consider better nutrition because sickness will kill you just as dead as starvation.

[ShawnF]

I agree.

[ArkansasHunter]

When I try to store some extra vitals for hard times they end up get'in ate up .
After that Y2K B.S. oh never mind !!!

[LiveToShoot]

My wife and I have also purchased from Walton Feed and we're pleased with the products and services they offer.

For basic food needs, this is version a food storage planner my wife and I use: Food Storage Calculator

We do store additional items, to help ensure adequate nutrition and caloric intake. One of those items is sprouting seeds, which will provide a wide variety of nutrients to our diet.

In addition to food stuffs, we also store first-aid items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, clothing, etc. to hold us over for an extended period of time.

For us, it has been a gradual process of acquiring items over a period of years, which we continue to add items to each pay period/shopping trip.

Also, the concept of "storing what you use and use what you store" helps us accomplish needed rotation and ensure we like to eat/use what we've stored...

During mild/temporary emergencies (illness, accident, unemployment, available cash being low to meet an unforeseen need, etc.) we've tapped into our storage and it has been a great help to get us past the situation.

A word of caution when selecting a source to buy food storage items from: PERMA PAK - CONSUMER ALERT-

We've purchased many food storage items from LDS Canneries. The products they offer are very high quality...and you're able to can them yourself at location, so you see exactly what's going into the cans.

[mos19k]

We all know that food storage is critical and some cases folks will go the emergency ration bars route. Personally I prefer to have real food on hand, it does take up a considerable amount of space but in my case I'm not feeding a large family. I keep foods that I like, such as, rice, pasta, dehydrated fruits and vegetables including potatoes. Canned meats, SPAM, Vienna Sausage, Chicken, Turkey, Ham, in general if I eat it now I try to find a stable version I can use. I see no reason to make a bad situation worse by eating foods I don't like. I understand it's survival but it's also life. For those that do have a limited variety try to store one-a-day type vitamins to supplement your diet. My Wife and I are still working our way up to a year's worth and we are getting close.

FYI, BJ's has 100# sack of rice for $28 and some change, most likely food prices will be going up so buy what you can when you can.

If space is at a premium look into the stackable bins and using wasted space, ie, under the staircase.

[iflylow74]

Ive read where several of yall mentioned dry rice and beans, does anyone know their shelf life?

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by iflylow74

Ive read where several of yall mentioned dry rice and beans, does anyone know their shelf life?

This is good, again, from Walton. Alan Hagan is very knowledgable. We both hung out on misc.survivalism (USENET group) for a few years until it got to be one flame war after another:

The Food Storage FAQs From Misc.Survivalism

Originally Posted by mos19k

We all know that food storage is critical and some cases folks go the emergency ration bars route. Personally I prefer to have real food on hand, it does take up a considerable amount of food but in my case I'm not feeding a large family. I keep foods that I like, such as, rice, pasta, dehydrated fruits and vegetables including potatoes. Canned meats, SPAM, Vienna Sausage, Chicken, Turkey, Ham, in general if I eat it now I try to find a stable version I can use. I see no reason to make a bad situation worse bad eating foods I don't like. I understand it's survival but it's also life. For those that do have a limited variety try to store one-a-day type vitamins to supplement your diet. My Wife and I are still working our way up to a year's worth and we are getting close.

FYI, BJ's has 100# sack of rice for $28 and some change, most likely food prices will be going up so buy what you can when you can.

If space is at a premium look into the stackable bins and using wasted space, ie, under the staircase.

We bought used buckets from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for $1.00 each. They are heavy duty, airtight, and stackable.

Much cleaning is required, though.

[mos19k]

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

We bought used buckets from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for $1.00 each. They are heavy duty, airtight, and stackable.

Much cleaning is required, though.

I've purchased some bins that have rubber seals and come with wheels, makes moving 100# of grain much easier. We have most of our supplies in our pantry and in one of our spare bedrooms. The buckets you're talking about are great. I've looked into them for storing grains and dehydrated products. $1.00 is fantastic, I've gotten some from one of the restaurants I frequent, I just have to get new lids for them.

If you want a water storage I like the water bladder systems.

Water Bladders - Interstate Products, Inc.

[LiveToShoot]

For those looking for this...here's some info on storage life for various food storage items, and info on food storage items available through LDS Canneries:
Product Recommendations
http://providentliving.org/pfw/multi...Dec007_pdf.pdf
and a handy food storage calculator: Food Storage Calculator

[big shrek]

Ah, spam...there are Spam restraunts in Europe...pretty good stuff when done up properly I'm partial to fried spam slices with cheeze

If one is in a hurricane-prone area...3 weeks supply is the MINIMUM. It took three weeks for power to return to my neighborhood after Hurricane Ivan...the BBQ grill got a nice workout Oh, and don't forget BUG REPELLANT!!

[LiveToShoot]

I remember one year, while stationed in Hawaii, when hurricane Eva came through...the BBQ grill was used by many to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner.