Thursday 21/05/15
Welcome back. This week's blog is continuing where last week's blog paused. At the end of the blog I left you with some homework to do (which I really hope you did).
With today's access to 24 hour, 7 days a week shopping, many people have forgotten the necessity of keeping a full pantry (beyond the food that will use in the next 7 days). Initially, you need to build up a store of food that will be enough to last you for 72 hours. Why specifically 72 hours? Most minor emergencies will have resolved within this length of time. Once you have reached this benchmark, you should then strive to increase your stores beyond this. Your next benchmark is 7 days, then 14 days, and finally, enough food for a month.
A month might seem a long time, and hopefully you will never have cause to rely on your stores for this long. Think of your food stores as an insurance policy; you'll be glad you have them in an emergency. Another reason that might spur you into action; you will appreciate your efforts if you suddenly find yourself unemployed.
When you are planning your supplies, you need to be realistic about the number of people who will be under your care. There is no point prepping for your family, only to discover you have a few extra mouths to feed during the disaster. Think carefully; once a disaster hits, it is too late purchase extra supplies. The extra people don't live in your house, but they will be the same people that regularly turn to you for help in times of need. I can't stress this strongly enough; include the extra people in your preparation plans. These people can be friends, extended family or even a neighbour that you regularly help with their problems. When disaster strikes; these people will turn to you for help. Also, don't forget to plan for your pets.
In addition to the food I have advised you to purchase, you also need to have a basic supply of cooking equipment you can use in rough conditions:
- A cast iron camp oven (for cooking food in the coals of your campfire)
- A billy-can (for reheating food on top of your fire, or boiling water)
- Cups, plates and bowls – plastic is ok, but metal is more durable
- Cutlery – often overlooked
- A good quality pair of long handled tongs – Cheap ones WILL break.
- A sturdy kitchen knife (with a full tang and durable handle)
- A wooden spoon
- A long metal hook (to lift your billy-can from the fire)
- A tin opener
- Several rolls of paper towel
- A plastic wash tub (to wash your dishes in)
- A hexamine stove with a generous supply of fuel tablets (if you can't have a fire)
Like I said last week, basic prepping for food is a simple, but lengthy topic. I will stop the blog at this point, and pick it up again next Thursday. Just like last week, you have homework. I want you to write up a list of the people who will rely on you in a disaster, and factor them into your disaster preparation plans.