So, if you were going to stock up on food/water

[smoogatz]

how would you go about it? How much? What kinds of stuff? I'd like to have at least enough food/water on hand for a month or so, in anticipation of spot shortages, etc. How much water for a household of five? How much food?

[maxsolomon]

1. stock up on water filters.

and live near a water source.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. My father stocked up on water during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

When we rediscovered the water 25 years later, it was stagnant and had to be discarded.

So another question to be asked, how long can food and water reasonably last without it deteriorating to point of it not being safe to ingest. And we can't live on Twinkies forever, even though it sounded like a good idea when we were five.

[smoogatz]

30. A neighbor of my in-laws had a bomb shelter.

No joke: he put it in instead of a pool. His family never forgave him. I'm not planning anything that extreme: just a bit of prudent stocking up, in case things get wacky around election-time.

[XemaSab]

3. There are a lot of websites about this

We've got beans, rice, canned veggies, and some other things.

According to what I've read, the critical things to have are treats, like Jello, and stuff like baking powder and bullion cubes.

Good luck! :hi:

[Carnea]

4. Buy a gun...that way you won't need the other things.

Seriously though if it gets that bad stocking up is only have the battle.

[smoogatz]

10. I'm seriously thinking about it: deer rifle for hunting,

semi-auto 12-gauge for home protection. I'm a pretty good shot—used to shoot sporting clays pretty regularly. But I'm not talking about the full-on societal collapse some people are worried about (in which case we're all pretty well screwed); just periodic spot shortages of staples, which I think are pretty likely. I'm thinking about sticking a few solar panels on the roof, too, so we have a bit of juice in case the power goes out (enough to keep the freezer cold and the thermostats working). Shoulda gone geothermal when we had the chance, but apparently it's not optimal in really cold winter climates like ours.

[Warpy]

5. First, buy a walk in refrigerator and a couple of large freezers

unless you are an extremely charitable person who enjoys feeding the bugs.

Trust me. I've had miller moths, so I know. They get through the threads of a screw top jar. They get through the tops on plastic pails. They chew through plastic and even mylar bags. They get into everything that isn't refrigerated or (for whole grains) frozen.

More perishable foods like meat, fish, veggies, and fruits degrade quickly when frozen. They remain safely edible but aren't pleasant after 6 months. Vacuum sealing them can stretch it out to nearly a year, but certainly no longer.

It's always tempting to hoard when food prices are rising rapidly, but it's generally not a great idea unless you're prepared to store it properly.

As for me, I will just do what I did in the 70s, live low on the food chain and pay attention to nutrition.

[kestrel91316]

16. Home canning is a better bet when the power goes out.

I know how, have done plenty, and need to get busy stocking up again.

I'm not afraid of botulism, either. I am a VERY fastidious canner and follow all the safety rules to the letter.

[Warpy]

19. Agreed, but canning just isn't the same

and people who aren't set up with a pressure canner and jars will find it cheaper to get commercially canned fruits and veggies.

Those are reliable for about a year. After that, they lose quality. Also, you need to watch the salt and sugar.

[kestrel91316]

22. I keep home canned stuff around lots longer than a year.

Depending on what it is, of course. Got some venison from 2005 I need to use up........Had a jar of sweet pickle relish from 2000 (!!!) that turned up, lol. Not only was the color faded out, it had fuzzy stuff growing on it, and the seal was bad.

I don't add much salt, if any, to most of what I can unless it's pickles. And my fruits get either NO sugar (water-pack) or unly a very light syrup.

[tjwash]

33. Me too.

Everyone in California is flipping out about the tomatoes being pulled off of the shelves, and I have about 50 jars of them in the garage.

I'm getting ready to do some pickling this weekend. I have a couple of bushel baskets of huge pickling cukes. I'm still using the plums we preserved from last year, as well as the peaches we dried and sealed. I also dry and vacuum seal the apples, and they last for a good long time.

Come to think of it...buying the dehydrator, and vacuum sealer was the best 110 dollars I ever spent.

The only thing that I haven't been able to preserve is the avocados from our tree. We give the extras away to the neighbors instead.

[kestrel91316]

34. I used to have jars and jars of tomatoes and stuff, too.

Now that I'm stuck in an apartment with no garden, that's over.

[KillCapitalism]

23. Make sure you have a generator & stockpiled diesel.

9 times out of 10 when you need to get into your emergency food stash the power is going to be out.

[nashville_brook]

6. one gallon per person per day -- FEMA

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/water


How Much Water do I Need?

You should have at least a three-day supply of water and you should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least one-half gallon of water daily just for drinking.

Additionally, in determining adequate quantities, take the following into account:

* Individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate.
* Children, nursing mothers, and ill people need more water.
* Very hot temperatures can double the amount of water needed.
* A medical emergency might require additional water.

Back To Top
How Should I Store Water?

To prepare safest and most reliable emergency supply of water, it is recommended you purchase commercially bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it.

Observe the expiration or “use by” date.

Back To Top
If You are Preparing Your Own Containers of Water

It is recommended you purchase food-grade water storage containers from surplus or camping supplies stores to use for water storage. Before filling with water, thoroughly clean the containers with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap. Follow directions below on filling the container with water.

If you choose to use your own storage containers, choose two-liter plastic soft drink bottles – not plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them. Cardboard containers also leak easily and are not designed for long-term storage of liquids. Also, do not use glass containers, because they can break and are heavy.

If storing water in plastic soda bottles, follow these steps
Thoroughly clean the bottles with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap.Sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces. After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.


Filling Water Containers

Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. If the tap water has been commercially treated from a water utility with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean. If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to the water.Tightly close the container using the original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your finger. Place a date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place.Replace the water every six months if not using commercially bottled water.

also fo interest...
the Mormons have a food storage practice... you might check some of their strategies.

http://lds.about.com/library/weekly/aa112202a.htm

[Dreamer Tatum]

7. I would worry less about water and more about food

Water falls from the sky, food doesn't. Accumulate stores of dried beans and grain products that have nutritional value
(brown rice, high-protein wheat flour...). Vacuum-pack these items while you can, and don't forget salt, sugar, and other
favorite spices. For the purposes of barter, I would also store coffee, tea, and other things that will be quite valuable
in times of shortage. Yeast will be valuable, as will vanilla.

Good luck to you.

[smoogatz]

12. Not to mention bourbon!

Lordy. Barter. Hope it doesn't come to that.

[kestrel91316]

17. I have a gallon of vodka set aside for barter/medicinal uses.

If it's really TEOTWAWKI some day, I can drink myself into oblivion.

[ljm2002]

24. Re: "Water falls from the sky"...

...not that often, in some places. Like where I live, we average 4in per year, and it can be half that or even less in some years.

Also, you can go a lot longer without food than without water. Even in places where water falls from the sky more often than it does here, I really would not want my life to depend on the sky providing me with water in the next 3 days...

Great thread, though, and thanks to you and others for providing useful information.

[Dreamer Tatum]

25. Put two buckets on the ground: one for food, one for water

Tell me which one the sky fills first.

[Retrograde]

29. lessee, if I put them out today

the water bucket may have something in it by December, if the rainy season starts early. I wouldn't expect it to fill until January. Meanwhile, the food bucket should have attracted some snails, slugs and bugs.

Dreamer Tatum, from your posts I gather that you live somewhere east of the Rockies, where rain can occur any time of the year. More than 15% of the US population live in places where this doesn't happen: in most of California, for example, rain is seasonal and occurs from November through April - if we're lucky (this year the rains stopped in February, and people are using the D word). I've met many Easterners who can't grasp this concept of seasonal rainfall: it just seems too alien to their experience.

Back to topic: in addition to the 10 gallons of water, I keep canned soups on hand for emergencies. In a pinch, they can be eaten straight from the can, cold. In my area, dry foods aren't that practical: although they store well, they require extra water to prepare. The most likely catastrophe is a major earthquake, and I expect fuel as well as water to be in short supply then.

[Dreamer Tatum]

32. I live in a very dry portion of the US.

So I hear you. I think that if it comes down to water rationing that is enforced with guns, people will see how little they truly need to
get by. People in the West and Southwest will have to be resourceful, or will have to move.

Was mainly kidding about the two buckets thing.

[Frustratedlady]

8. I have stocked up because of high gas prices.

Peanut butter, canned fruits, soups, coffee and veggies that I normally use. I also stocked up on boxes of laundry soap, tp and paper towels. The prices have already gone up quite a bit since I stocked.

In an emergency, don't forget your hot water heater. The water from it can be used for washing/bathing.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. Why Are You Expecting A Spot Shortage Of Food/Water?

[smoogatz]

11. I'm more worried about food shortages than a lack of potable H20.

Mostly because of the extraordinary increase in fuel prices, the crappy weather in the midwest, and the whole ethanol scam. Rising fuel prices are potentially the biggest problem, IMO, since most of our agribusiness food production is so thoroughly petroleum based. But if there are other, weather-related catastrophes (more flooding in other parts of the grain belt, drought, etc.) we could see a ripple effect of sharp price increases and even shortages. I'd like to gradually stock up on some staple items like rice, beans, flour, canned fruit and veggies, etc. just in case.

[Catherine Vincent]

13. Probably because of high fuel.

We mostly get our goods delivered by 18 wheelers; diesel has gone up quite a bit. The truckers may start limiting deliveries.

[kestrel91316]

18. Whether it's a spot shortage, or just long-term skyrocketing prices,

buying in bulk and having something set aside for hard times is just common sense. When you buy in bulk, you pay today's (lower) prices for tomorrow's food.

Remember the grasshopper and the ant?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. live near a fresh water creek and buy a gun.

what I did anyway. :shrug:

[kestrel91316]

15. My earthquake preps include a 15 gal blue plastic barrel of water

(at the office, 2.5 miles from home) and canned goods from the 99c Store at home (no-cook stuff like Spam and canned ravioli and soups ans easy stuff). I have flashlights, and because I went through Northridge I kind of know what came in handy and what is silly to worry about.

Canned sterno in both places, along with water at home and canned foods at the office, would probably be a good idea for double back-up. But during Northridge our biggest problem was no electricity for 24 hours (no biggie) and no gas heat/hot water at home 1 month. My current apartment is all electric.

Preps for other emergencies/long range disaster management are different. I have plenty of beans, rice, cornmeal, flour, sugar, cooking oil. I know enough people near my office with LARGE yards that if I needed to grow veggies I would just garden on shares, doing a lot of the work myself in exchange for land use and a portion of the produce. Many of my clients would gladly help me out in exchange for my advice in food production/processing (a major avocation for me).

Probably need to stock up on seeds again. They could be priceless barter goods soon.

[Mojorabbit]

20. I have a solar freezer

and a foodsaver vac sealer. I keep some big arizona tea plastic containers filled with water in it as well as food. A big berkey filter will filter any water you find and make it safe to drink.
http://www.bigberkey.com/
Mountain House has number ten cans of good tasting food that will last 30 years if kept out of hot places like the garage. http://www.mountainhouse.com/emgcy_fds.cfm
Some rice and beans and spices to jazz them up will keep one alive and with a full tummy for spot shortages.

[slackmaster]

21. For myself (one person + 2 cats), I keep about 50 gallons of filtered water in carboys

Food - Two cases of MREs, abundant canned food, dehydrated backpacking food.

I have a functional camping stove (MSR WhisperLite) plus a gallon of white gasoline. Also a very good Katadyn (?) water filter in case things go on for a very long time.

[NightWatcher]

26. we tried to get an "Emergency Preparedness" Forum here and I guess it failed

I think it is something that would benefit all of us here.

I'm sure your questions would be addressed and answered, but I guess we'd still rather pretend like nothing bad will ever happen, or if it does FEMA will come take care of us all.


(to answer your question)..Water filters are good. Katadyn has a great line of filters for all needs from camping to survival prep. http://www.katadyn.com/

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. I'll add the lowly clorox

useful as hell, to get rid of the nasties as well

[Akoto]

27. I have to stock up every year for the hurricanes.

Canned food is best, since a lot of it can be eaten without needing to be cooked. Other foods which give you some good calories and protein. Bottled water, since water sources can be tainted after a disaster (though there are ways to purify water if necessary). We buy three giganto cases of bottled water from BJ's (bulk food supply store) every hurricane season and it more than lasts us.

Basically, anything that doesn't quickly expire without refrigeration and doesn't absolutely have to be cooked. We do have a grill with a side burner which has carried us through many a post-hurricane month, however. Lived off of soup and meat cooked on that thing for the three weeks we had no power and minimal groceries. :)

[smoogatz]

31. Good advice.

Propane grill, I assume?

[benEzra]

35. Easiest way to store water is to get a water dispenser

like this:



and buy the 5-gallon bottles of water from Culligan or Lowe's or whatever. The water is usually local and tastes a LOT better than our local city water. The dispenser is gravity-fed and works even when the power is out, and one spigot delivers chilled water. The cooler doesn't use much power, either. There is a per-bottle deposit, and then the water is about a dollar a gallon ($5/5 gallon bottle).

We live in hurricane country (coastal NC, and we moved here from Florida) and something like this can save you a lot of grief if your water goes out due to a storm. We lost water for a WEEK after hurricane Opal hit northwest Florida, and if we hadn't had a stock of water, we'd have had big problems. Not only is there the danger of dehydration, but you can't even wash your hands without potable water.