It’s usually in these types of situations that we ask ourselves “What if that happened to me or my family?” This is, in essence, what leads so many of us to create food storage and emergency supplies. Most of us have already followed the steps in creating a 72-hour emergency kit, but what happens after those first 72 hours? Have we prepared ourselves for after that and, if so, how long after? Today we’ll take a look at a few things we can do to better prepare ourselves for a long-term emergency, similar to what we are seeing today on the east coast. In doing so, we’ll cover three main points we need to consider in our preparations: Power, Food & Water, and Cooking.
Power
When an emergency hits, power is usually the first thing to go. While fuel-powered generators are a great solution to combat this problem, the effects of Hurricane Sandy have shown us a big problem. How do you power a fuel generator when the fuel runs out? Essentially, what is your emergency plan when your emergency plan runs out? Short-term solution: the Humless Generator. While this isn’t a substitute for a large, fuel powered generator, this small and easy to carry generator can be charged up on either car batteries or through a Solar kit and can give you power for your essential needs. You can get the Humless Generator and Solar kit at any of our store locations.
Food & Water
As we mentioned earlier, each member of our families should have their own personal 72-hour kit, with food, water, and medical supplies included. But what happens when the emergency lasts longer than 72 hours? This is where a strong supply of food storage comes in, and the best way to build that storage up quickly is through our Honeyville Combo Packs. Sold through our online store only, these kits include six popular products sealed in our #10 cans and are a perfect and fairly inexpensive way to build up our storage needs quickly. As well, our store locations offer 1-year supply kits tailored to fit any families needs.
When it comes to water, just as it does with food, storage is a necessity. Whether that storage is on a grand scale, such as a 300 gallon tank, or a smaller scale, like a 25 gallon drum, water storage is essential. Remember, when it comes to water, you’re using it to clean and cook with, not just for drinking purposes. A great addition to your water storage is a product we sell called the AquaPail. Sold in a 400, 1,000, and 3,000 version (the number is how many gallons it can treat) this small bucket is essential a large and complex water filter that can clean and treat nearly any type of water you come across. Just pour the water in the top and, within a matter of minutes, you’ll have clean, drinkable water coming out the bottom. Why wouldn’t you have this in your food storage pantry?
Cooking
When the lights go out, most of us start to think about our abilities to see and also keep warm. What most of us don’t realize is that a lack of power also means an inability to cook the food we have. In emergency situations, being able to cook your food storage is just as important as having your food storage.
So what’s the best way to cook our food? This can vary depending on what works for us personally. While some of us might be more prone to dutch ovens and propane or gas powered grills, others may find it easier to use thermal cookers or an All American Sun Oven. Luckily, we have all of these types of products at our Honeyville store locations and can help you decide on which one works best for you. My personal favorite would be the Volcano Stove. With the ability to run off of charcoal, wood, and even propane, this small stove is the perfect solution for nearly all of your cooking needs during an emergency.
We never know how we will be affected by a natural disaster, or even when it will hit. But sometimes, looking past the 72-hour window can help us become better prepared to take care of ourselves and our families.
