An emergency can happen at any time. In fact, it just happened and it will happen again. Multiple states full of people were hit with flash flooding, destroyed homes and power outages from hurricanes Irma and Harvey. If you have time to get to a store before a storm like one of those hit you, it is essential that you stockpile on some of the essentials. These include items that will not expire in a short amount, foods than be eaten or prepared without power and drinks that will not spoil in the bottles.
Fruits are essential to have in case of an emergency. Apples can last up to three months when they are stored properly, such as in a cool, dry area. You should never store them next to an item than can perish, such as bananas. This may cause the apple to ripen quicker than you want. Citrus fruits are another item that you can stock up on. These have a high acid content and very sturdy skins. You can keep them out in the open for up to two weeks without being refrigerated, especially if you buy them when they aren’t completely ripe yet. Grapefruits and oranges, which contain a lot of vitamin C, can help keep you hydrated in the event that you run out of water or drinks with electrolytes.
Canned foods generally have a very long shelf life of a few years, depending on what it is. If you stock up on your canned tuna, chicken, beans, and other things that don’t need to be cooked, you can pretty much slap it on a piece of bread and call it a sandwich. It might not sound very appealing, but when you have no power and no way to get to a store, you’ll eat just about anything. Canned soups are also a good idea since they can be eaten straight out of the can, same with chili.
Bottled Water in an Emergency
Yes, yes and more yes! Bottles water should be stocked in a three-day supply, at least. You should have one gallon per person per day. The normal active person should be drinking at least one half gallon of water each day. The other half is saved for adding to foods and washing dishes or washing yourselves. This is another one of those items that you want to grab as soon as you hear that there is an emergency or if a big storm is coming. You can even stock up on gallon jugs of water just to be on the safe side. If your bottled water has expired, don’t worry. Read our article on bottled water expiration dates for more information.
Granola & Power Bars
These are very filling and healthy. They are portable snacks that can stay fresh for six months or more, depending on where they are stored. Granola and power bars are an excellent way to gain carbohydrates without eating a ton of food. If for any reason you need to evacuate your home, you can simply toss them in a bag and go or eat them on the way. Protein bars are also part of this category because it can take the place of the protein that you would find in certain meats. It may not be as much, but it will keep you healthy.
These are just some of the items that you can stock up on in case of an emergency such as a flood, hurricane, earthquake or more. Other items include cereal, whole wheat crackers, nuts, peanut butter, jelly, powdered milk, vitamins, potatoes, yams, cucumbers, summer squash, pepperoni and so much more. Make sure to read what the FDA has to say on emergency situations and be sure to get to the store as soon as you hear about a hazardous situation. If you don’t, there won’t be anything left.