Wildfires, earthquakes, power outages, and global pandemics are just a few reasons why I strongly encourage you to keep an emergency supply of food in your house. When you live 25+ miles from the closest major grocery store there might not be time to get there before things go south. Most of us country folk experienced this with the COVID-19 outbreak. We all heard store shelves were getting emptied fast and by the time we made it to a store, it was slim pickings. There’s also a good chance that a natural disaster like a wildfire could stand between us and the grocery store. Being proactive is part of the rural lifestyle.
There is much debate over how much food to keep on hand. Anywhere from a few days’ to a week’s supply of food for each household member is recommended. I will point out that it’s better to have a small supply on hand than nothing. Don’t forget to consider infants, pets, and special dietary needs. No matter the size of your supply, rotate the food out every so often to ensure that it’s fresh.
Dried foods
Rice
Oats
granola
Canned or dried beans
Nuts
Pasta
Dried fruits
Smoked or dried meats like beef jerky
Multivitamins
Canned goods
Peanut butter
Granola bars
Canned meat such as fish, chicken, and turkey
Canned fruits and vegetables
Canned soups
Canned Beans
Drinks
Bottled water
Powdered milk
Sports drinks (avoid ones loaded with sugar and artificial color)
Canned juices
Instant coffee, tea, and cocoa
Liquid I.V. Packets
Powdered drink mixes such as Tang or Gatorade powder
MREs are a great, no-planning-involved option.