Having an emergency food supply will ease some of the stress of emergencies and natural disasters, according to Elizabeth Andress, a food safety specialist with UGA Cooperative Extension.
“Flash floods, tropical storms, blizzards—whatever the disaster, it pays to be prepared,” Andress said. “Every family should have at least a three-day emergency food supply to fall back on. Natural disasters can prevent you from running to the grocery store to pick up supplies for dinner.”
The size of your emergency food supply depends on the size of your family and home storage area. Select foods that are nonperishable and require no refrigeration, little or no cooking, and little or no water.
Include ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables. Select containers that can be used in one meal or snack, since you most likely won’t be able to refrigerate leftovers.
Add canned juices, soups, and canned or powdered milk. Include bottled water for drinking and extra water for mixing powdered milk and diluting soups. Supply enough fluids (milk, juice, water, etc.) so each family member has at least one gallon per day.
Include staple foods, like sugar, salt and pepper, and high energy foods like peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars and trail mix.
Source: UGA Cooperative Extension