Personal and Family Preparedness: Food Storage

Personal and Family Preparedness:Food Storage Renee.Aldrich@redcross.org

Do you have a Go Kit ready and up to date in your home for your family and pets in case of emergency? • A. Yes • B. Yes, but I haven’t looked at it in years. • C. No • A. 3 points • B. 2 points • C. 1 point

Family Home Storage • “…..prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings. • "We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."—Thomas S Monson All is Safely Gathered In: Home Storage

Responsibility • “The church (or government) cannot be expected to provide for every one of its millions of members in case of public or personal disaster. It is therefore necessary that each home and family do what they can do to assume the responsibility for their own hour of need.” James E Faust May 1986 • “Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. ~ Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

Why Do We Need to Prepare and Store for Emergencies? • Teach Self Reliance to our Families • Right Thing to Do • Confidence in current conditions in the world/country? • $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Families-Teaching Self Reliance • Pass on family knowledge of gardening, preserving food, and do-it-yourself home repair. • Quality Family Time, Memories, Teaching Talking Time

We Had Fun & We All Learned

I am ready to Shelter in Place. B. I have a months supply of meds, paper goods, and hygiene items. C. I am almost out of toilet paper and need to get toothpaste too. A. I have a 3 month supply of meds, paper goods, and hygiene items.

The Right Thing to Do • Obey the advise given to you from: • Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/ • FEMA http://www.ready.gov/ • Church Organizations • http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-0001-family-home-storage-meet-jean?category=welfare Video about Food Storage from the LDS church.

$$$$$$$$Financial$$$$$$$$$$ • Bulk buying saves money, time, gas • From Scratch! Cheaper and Better. • Not all home produced items are cheaper, but the ability and knowledge is invaluable. • Tight budget times • Pre-prepared meals are expensive. (Home canned chicken is 4-5 times cheaper than store bought)

We have a plan for emergencies, fire drills, communication, and location of members. A. Yes, we talk about them yearly and practice. B. We sort of have a plan, not written, just talked about. C. We are going to fly by the seat of our pants and have an adventure!

Why We don’t Prepare • Task seems overwhelming • Don’t Feel the Need, are Comfortable • $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ • Space • Time • Food allergies • Worried about Sharing

The Calm Before the Storm The ark wasn’t built during the rains. Prepare during times of relative peace and prosperity. Taylor your food storage for your family.

Store KnowledgeAlways Be Willing to Learn • Learn how to: • Garden • Bake • Can • Freeze • Shop wisely

We have a 3 month supply of food in the house. We rotate it too. A. Yes, we also garden, and preserve our own food. B. We have a 2 or 3 week supply. I buy stuff on sale. C. We shop when we get paid. We eat out a lot. I have a Sonic mint in my car.

Common Sense Food Storage • Three-Month Supply • Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.

Recommended LONG TERM Food Storage Long Term Foods • Wheat 30+ years • White rice 30+ • Corn 30+ • Sugar 30+ • Pinto beans 30 • Apple slices 30 • Macaroni 30 • Rolled oats 30 • Potato flakes 30 • Powdered milk 20 • Carrots 20 • Rotate Short Term Items • Pass on Storage as Children Leave the Home

Not Long Term Storage • Barley, pearled • Eggs, dried • Flour, whole wheat • Grains, whole milled • Granola • Meat, dried (such as jerky) • Nuts • Rice, brown • Sugar, brown • Vegetables and fruits, dehydrated (unless dry enough, inside and out, to snap when bent) Commercial Ok

BaBy Steps • $10 for 10 Weeks • Plan 9, Water, Food, Clothes, Meds, Flashlight, Canopener, Radio, Hygiene, First Aid. • Comp Shopping • Bulk Buying MISS

We have 14 gallons of water stored per person. (That is 2 weeks worth) A. Yes, it is stored in a cool dry dark place. In non breathable containers. B. We have some stored in milk containers in the house. C. We will be among the heard of crazies at Walmart grabbing for bottled water.

Storage Solutions CANS PETE Plastic Buckets Pouches Jars

Storage Conditions • Temperature: Store products at a temperature of 75°F/24°C or lower whenever possible. If storage temperatures are higher, rotate products as needed to maintain quality. • Moisture: Keep storage areas dry. It is best to keep containers off of the floor to allow for air circulation. • Light: Protect cooking oil and products stored in PETE bottles from light. • Insects and rodents: Protect products stored in foil pouches and PETE bottles from rodent and insect damage.

Storage Conditions • Bread made with 20 year-old wheat Stored in garage (left) • In a cool basement (right).

I have a summer and winter car kit. Regular oil changes and tire checks are done. A. Yes. I have used the jumper cables in the kit in the car to help start a stranded car. We needed the extra hat and gloves once when we got stuck in the snow. I keep the gas in the car above ¼ full. B. I do have a tool kit in the car. C. I am running on fumes, my tires are in bad shape, my cell phone is just about dead, and I hope someone will help me if I am in trouble.

My Storage • “T” system/ built on 8’ wall in basement • Store bought cans rotate down • Home canned food on bottom shelves • Short term food also held here

Another View of T System

My Storage • Stainless steel racks for long term storage. • Soda bottle crates for water • Stainless steel rack for soda bottle storage • Jars in Rubbermaids

Water Storage Feminine Hygiene Plastic ware/Cups Paper Plates/Bowls Napkins Paper Towels Toilet Paper

Fuels • Propane tanks for turkey fryers and camp stoves • Kerosene for heaters and lamps • Wood for fireplace • Charcoal for outdoor grills • White gas for outdoor camp stove Charcoal Lighter Fluid Matches Lighters

Other Storage

I have full coverage insurance on my car, home, and life. A. Yes I do. I even have replacement coverage. B. I have enough insurance to cover my car and home. Bare minimum. C. I am a renter, I don’t need it. Or I paid off my house, not required to carry it.

Safety First Emergency Cooking • Pressure Cooker & Jars/ Power failure for freezer, • Kerosene Heaters, some cook on top • Camp stoves OUTSIDE • Turkey Fryer OUTSIDE • Dutch Oven • Outdoor Grill OUTSIDE • Keep 100 jars on hand if you have freezer meat.

Pop Bottle Storage • You need, pop bottles, electrical tape and oxy absorbers. • http://www.bing.com/search?q=oxygen+absorbers&src=IE-SearchBox&Form=IE8SRC • DON’T FORGET THE KITTY

HOME PRODUCTION • The G word • Truck farms • Dehydrate • Freeze • Water Bath Canning • Pressure Canning • Smoking • Raising Animals for meat • Wild Game • Food Saver Vacuum Sys

Food Storage Buddies • This is my food storage buddy, Carol • We have canned chili beans, navy beans, chicken, pork, chicken stock, beef, asparagus and tomatoes. We froze corn too! • Food Storage is fun and much easier with MY BUDDY CAROL

Canning LEFT-Water bath Canning High Acid Food- fruits, tomatoes, pickled veggies RIGHT-Pressure Canning Low Acid Food- meat, veggies, soups

Pandemic Flu Preparedness • Flu Terms Defined • Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available. • Avian (or bird) flu (AI) is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. Low pathogenic AI is common in birds and causes few problems. Highly pathogenic H5N1 is deadly to domestic fowl, can be transmitted from birds to humans, and is deadly to humans. There is virtually no human immunity and human vaccine availability is very limited. • Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu.

Impact of a Pandemic Flu Flu Kit

Local Resources • LDS/Mormon Friends • KSU Extension • Local Truck Farms • Cattle Farmers • Grain Elevators • Walmart has wheat • Coops • YOURSELF – grow something

Internet Sources for Food Storage • LDS: http://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage • KSU: http://search.ksre.ksu.edu/index.htm?qt=food+storage&site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksre.k-state.edu%2Fp.aspx%3Ftabid%3D23 • Baby Steps: http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/ • Canning: http://www.homecanning.com/ • http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/canning.aspx#axzz2fk9aCwJC • Canning, Freezing and Dehydrating: I recommend getting a Ball Blue Book. • http://www.recipes-pro.com/lp1/index.php?k=ball%20home%20canning%20recipes

Thanks to: • Devan for inviting me to do this! • You • Any Questions? • Renee.Aldrich@redcross.org • 21-18 Good Job! I am preaching to the choir. • 18-15 Glad you are here. Doing well. Keep going. • 15-10 Well. .. You have a way to go, but it won’t take you long to catch up. • 10-7 Yikes. I think we will be taking care of you in an emergency. No you can’t come to my house!

Personal and Family Preparedness: Food Storage