The first preparedness challenge in February is to add food and water to your 72-hour kit and make an evacuation plan. Always plan to evacuate on foot to an evacuation shelter (typically a school or church), and pray you get to use your car. Some will need something with wheels to carry multiple 72-hour kits. Remember, water is heavy.
Food and Water
- Food and water should last for three days. 72-Hour Kit Food Pack Example.pdf (2022 prices). Choose items with a shelf life of at least 6 months to 1 year.
- Try to find foods that are lightweight but high in calories. Stressful situations burn calories. Each adult should try to get up to 2000 calories per day.
- Include some kind of comfort food like hard candy.
- Foods like beef jerky have strong odors and can make everything smell like jerky.
- Put the water you can carry in your kit and extra water near your kit in case you’re fortunate to evacuate by car.
- Store your kits inside your home and never in a garage where heat will damage your food.
- AN UPDATED EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST: I laminated mine to protect it from water damage. Even though these numbers are in your cell phone, cell phones get damaged during disasters.
- AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PLAN: Ready.gov/plan has a good one. Print and laminate it or put it in a plastic bag to protect it from water damage.
- FAMILY PHOTO: a current photo is helpful for identification or if someone gets separated.
- CASH: Keep cash in small bills in a waterproof container and well hidden. Perhaps enough for a night in a hotel and some food.
- Fill out my Grab and Go List where you will prioritize what you would take with you if you had 5, 15 or 30 minutes to evacuate.
- Hang a copy inside a cupboard door or two in your home. Teach family members how to use it.
Resources:
Spread these tasks out over the month so you don’t get overwhelmed. You’ve got this!
I believe in you!
Valerie Albrechtsen
Your Food Storage Organizer
Check out my food storage and emergency preparedness bundle in my Etsy shop.
