Food is as important as water for post quake survival. Psychologists tell us people who have experienced a severe emotional trauma may give up on life and can even die from the depression which follows.
Psychologically, a normal and healthy diet can lessen the emotional trauma of a disaster; therefore, we recommend that people store supplies for a disaster that are as close as possible to their normal fare. The food must be of a type that stores well. The minimum time that food should be able to last without refrigeration is six months.
In the brief space here, it is difficult to give the information necessary to put together an emergency food storage program. The needs and tastes of individuals vary greatly. If you are smaller or larger than average person you may want to adjust what you store as compared with what is suggested. The information here is to give the person who wants to store emergency food supplies some ideas. IT IS NOT INTENDED AS A SHOPPING LIST OF THINGS TO BUY. In each of the categories there is more food listed than should be needed. Think about the tastes and needs of your family.
ROTATING SUPPLIES
Rotating supplies every SIX MONTHS is the key; not because everything will go bad in six months, but because you need to make rotating supplies part of your normal habits. The easiest way to remember to rotate is to change your supplies every time you change your clocks for "daylight savings time". Remember, when you ROTATE YOUR CLOCKS, you ROTATE YOUR SUPPLIES. (Also remember that this is the time to change your smoke detector batteries.)
The easier it is for you to think about doing it, the more apt you are to do it continuously. When you rotate your supplies, don't throw them out, put them in the pantry and use them. Nothing has to go to waste.
REMEMBER: Your supplies rotation should include but is not limited to, batteries, food, water, medications (prescribed and over the counter). Don't forget to check and shake that fire extinguisher while your at it.
SAMPLE FOOD ITEMS
You need to stockpile at least SEVEN DAYS WORTH OF SUPPLIES PER PERSON PLUS PETS. These supplies should be non-perishables with long shelf lives. They should also be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. Heat and moisture speed the spoilage of food.
The following is a list of a few sample items. This is by no means the complete list of foods to stock. You should keep items that you and your family will eat. Try and select items that you use daily in your home. If your kids won't eat canned tuna before the earthquake they certainly will not eat it after. Try to plan as if you're going on a camping vacation for seven days, because this is essentially what you will be doing.
Remember to consume what you have in your refrigerator first, then your freezer, then your stored goods.
BEVERAGES
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Milk - Dehydrated or Evaporated
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Soda
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Coffee, teas, instant cocoa - remember, drinks with caffeine in them will move water through your body faster, so you might consider storing 1/2 again as much water.
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Powdered Beverages as desired - Don't forget these will require extra stored water to make.
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Fruit, tomato and vegetable juices
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Sport drinks, such as Gatorade
GRAIN PRODUCTS
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Multi-packages of individual serving breakfast cereal
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Instant HOT cereal in the paper packages
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Pancake mix - get the type that requires water only
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Bread - store in freezer
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Pasta
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Flour
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Corn meal
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Soda Crackers
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Rice
PROTEIN SOURCES
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Canned Meat: bacon, spam, sausages, meat spreads, chile con carne, beef stew.
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Canned Poultry: chicken, turkey
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Canned Fish: tuna, salmon, sardines
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Cheeses: hard wax wrapped cheese lasts longer
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Dried Eggs
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
STAPLES
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Salt
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Sugar
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Cooking oil
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Shortening
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Baking Soda
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Honey
SEASONINGS AND SPICES
Include seasonings appropriate for the meals you choose to store. Spicy foods increase the consumption of fluids.
SNACKS AND OTHER FOODS
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Nuts
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Peanut Butter
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Hard Candy
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Dried Fruit