Winter can be a dangerous time. With snow storms, and ice cold winds, the roads (and people) can be quite precarious. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest where snowfall can mean panic, and disaster. Currently Western Washington is experiencing such a calamity with record high snowfall, and weather warnings yet to come. This last week stores were stripped of their bread, milk, jugs of water, and flashlights in an onslaught of unprepared, and panic stricken shoppers. There was a weather warning, and part of that warning was to get what was needed, and get home on Friday in order to bunker down for a long weekend, or maybe even longer. As I read about people who tried to prepare themselves for the winter storm, I was forced to take my own emergency preparedness in stock. Many people state that funds prevented them from preparing themselves for such a storm, and yet, I do not think that is true. All that it takes to be ready for storms is a little bit of thinking ahead, and planning beforehand.
Food Storage
There are a few ways in which to prepare extra food for your family in case of a weather, or other emergency. One such way is to take a tax return, or save up extra funds, or take a paycheck with overtime on it, and buy emergency food in bulk. A few years ago my family took advantage of a black Friday sale on some dehydrated food storage. Yes, while other families were buying a brand new television, we had saved up some extra money, and got an amazing deal online. After we did this, we slowly bought some narrow totes so that we could store the food under one of my children’s bed. Also, after that I would buy one extra gallon of water while at the store to add to the storage.
Before we had bought the dehydrated food, we had slowly began our food storage another way. Each time that I saw a great sale at the outlet store, I would just buy an extra can of food, or box of crackers. After we bought the dehydrated food, we took inventory of what was missing. There was little protein or vegetables or fruit. It was mostly carbohydrates. So we slowly added a can of meat, vegetables, or fruit here or there. I also got a couple of boxes of dehydrated milk to go with the cereal in the storage. For people on extremely limited income, this is the method that works best. Just stock up a pantry, or a cupboard, or a tote with an extra can of food each time that you shop for groceries.
Another way to store food would be to store extra oats, flour, and other supplies that could be used to make bread or other basic food items. Along with these, another great item to store is sprouting seeds. Sprouts are a great source of essential amino acids, and vitamins and minerals. They are fairly easy to sprout, but a small storage of bottled water would need to be stored somewhere. If space is scarce in your home, under beds is a great place to keep this extra water.
Other Storage Items
Along with picking up an extra can or two of food while shopping, matches, candles, and toilet paper should also be picked up. Winter storms can often cause the power to go out. A box of matches can be found for just a few dollars, and candles are sold at the dollar store. Another item that can sometimes be found there are hand warmers. These are great for the people in your home, but can also be beneficial if you have reptiles, or birds that are dependant on a heat lamp. Flashlights, and extra batteries can also be found at the dollar store as well.
If funds allow, some other non-essential items to store could include instant coffee, powdered creamer, and possible alcohol. If you are preparing for a long time emergency, alcohol can be used medicinally, and also used for trade. While looking at long term storage, salt and sugar are also great items to keep in bulk. Along with this water filters, and a 72 pack are all great things to look out for on sale. Keep an eye out throughout the year on Groupon, Living Social, thrift stores, and online sales. It doesn’t take a lot if you prepare over time to make sure that your family has what they need. Sometimes all it takes is skipping the $5 coffee in order to make sure that there is at least a well stocked pantry, and a well stocked freezer so that panic over food doesn’t have to exist.
How prepared are you?
Great advice. I cannot believe the weather you guys have been experiencing. I always think of such emergencies (for us it would be hurricanes not snow storms) but never get around to doing it, You give some good advice here. Just b uy one extra with every trip. Especially water!
It is times like this that I am extremely grateful for knowing how to make homemade staples such as bread and buns. Then all I need to worry about is having power and the basic ingredients to get by should we ever find ourselves in an emergency. I hope your weather settles soon!
And here I thought only people in the Carolinas rushed to buy milk and bread the first time snow is mentioned by the weatherman.
These are great suggestions. I live in NH, so we get our fair share of nasty winters. It never fails that there is a run to grocery stores any time blizzard or storm is predicted. Knowing the kinds of things that store well, long-term, is helpful!
This is very helpful.With the way the weather has been I’ve been thinking of this lately.
My electricity was out for 2 days. Much of the food I bought to ptepare for the snow spoiled. Ideas for supplies that don’t require cooking?
Yes! That is a bummer that you lost food. Some of the freeze dried food we had does not require cooking. Neither does canned meat, and fruit. Also, sprouting seeds are great as they are almost full nutrition. Just make sure to have stored up some water as well.