Emergency Preparedness Step 4

Choose shelf-stable, easy-to-eat foods that your family eats:

• Canned soups, stews, and chili

• Beans, lentils, rice, pasta

• Nut butters, granola bars, crackers

• Shelf-stable milk or dairy alternatives

• Canned fruits and vegetables

• Pouch or boxed meals (mac and cheese, rice kits, pasta sides)

• Baking ingredients (flour, yeast, oil, sugar)

• Comfort items: tea, coffee, cocoa, hard candy, chocolate

• Snacks: trail mix, popcorn, cookies, jerky

💡 Cluck-Worthy Tip: Build “easy meal kits” by grouping ingredients into gallon zip bags or baskets—like canned chili + cornbread mix, or pasta + sauce + shelf-stable Parmesan.

When the power goes out and there’s a storm outside – you’ll want options. Don’t forget to plan for 2 weeks of cooking fuel.

• Large camp stove or small depending on your needs (don’t forget fuel)

• Portable power station and an electric hot plate

• Sterno cans + folding stove rack

• Camping oven or grill (with extra charcoal or propane)

• Fire pit (if local laws allow)

• A solar oven or thermal bag for a passive cooking option to save fuel

Safety Tips!

• Store fuel safely
• Practice using your gear before you need it
• Don’t cook, even with electric which can spark, if you suspect a gas leak. Be sure to store a few preps that don’t require cooking.

• Can opener

• Mixing spoon

• Metal Bowl

• Cast iron or Stainless pot or pan

• Pot holders

• Paper plates and utensils (to save water)

Stick with the same rule. The absolute minimum should include 1 gallon of water per person per day (but 2 gallons would be a lot more comfortable). This includes drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene.

So for 3 days:

• 1 person = 14 gallons
• 4 people = 56 gallons

• Don’t forget pets! 🐶🐱

Water Storage Ideas:

• Pre-bottled water (cheap, easy, ready to go)

• Shelves to stack 5-gallon water bottles, and manual water pump for easy use without power

• Stackable water storage bricks

• Water container with a spigot for convenient hand and dish washing

• Bathtub water bladder (extra emergency water for incoming storms)

• Water treatment drops for stored water
• A gravity-fed water filter can help provide clean drinking water for everyday use

Keep your 72-hour supply somewhere easy to access in a pinch:

• Store in clear plastic bins with lids in a hall closet or spare room

• Store potatoes and onions in breathable, light-proof containers

• On a garage shelf (only items that aren’t temperature sensitive)

• Store food and water somewhere cool and dry

• Under the bed in storage bins

• Dedicated “emergency shelf” in your pantry

• Keep heavy items low (so they don’t crush other stuff or your toes)

• Label and rotate foods as needed (first in, first out)

• Keep a basic inventory list taped to the inside of a cabinet or bin lid