Food Storage

Focus your food storage efforts on familiar foods that you are accustomed to preparing and eating. You can use the canned foods, dry mixes and other staples on your cupboard shelves. Canned foods often won't require cooking, water or special preparation.

Storage Tips

• Keep food in the driest, darkest and coolest spot in the house.
• Avoid eating from dented or bulging cans.
• Maintain dry goods in screw-top jars or airtight cans to protect them from pests.
• Inspect all food containers for signs of spoilage before use.
• Rotate your food supply through regular use.

Short-Term Food Supplies

The secret to a family's preparedness is its self-sufficiency. While it is unlikely that an emergency would cut off your food supply for a very long period of time, you should prepare a supply that will last a week or more. A supply that will last for a week can relieve a great deal of inconvenience and uncertainty until services are restored.

Remember, you may already have a supply of food on hand that will last for a week. Keeping it fresh is simple. Just rotate your supply once or twice a year.

Make sure you have a can opener and disposable utensils. And don't forget nonperishable foods for your pets.

How to Cook if the Power Goes Out

For emergency cooking you can use your propane or charcoal grill or camp stove, but stay outdoors. Canned food can be eaten right out of the can. If you heat it in the can, be sure to open the can and remove the label first.

Nutrition Tips

In a crisis, it will be vital that you maintain your strength. So remember:

• Eat at least one well-balanced meal each day.
• Drink enough liquid to enable your body to function properly (two quarts a day).
• Take in enough calories to enable you to do any necessary work.