Has hurricane Sandy got you thinking about how prepared you might be in an emergency? It’s even more important in stressful times to keep everyone well-nourished, and natural disasters often mean doing it without refrigeration. You should count on having at least 3 days of food and water per person. Below are my top picks for the shelf-stable foods that should be in your pantry. (For non-food emergency-preparedness information, please see the Resources section below)Water:
Plan to have 1 gallon of bottled water per person per day. For a basic 3-day kit, that’s 3 gallons per person. It should be used for drinking as well as sanitation.
Healthy Foods for the Emergency Kit:
It’s a good idea to choose lower-sodium foods that could make you thirsty. For the same reason, canned foods with a lot of liquid are a good idea. This is also a time when high-calorie foods may work in your favor (but keep it healthy and think nuts and granola bars).
Keep food safe by washing hands, throwing away food you suspect has gone bad, and keeping eating utensils clean. Throw out cans that are swollen, dented or corroded, since it may indicate bacterial growth inside. I actually favor tetra-packed foods for my pantry as they keep my food safe and are BPA-free. For the foods below, look for foods in shelf-stable packaging, including tetra-packs, cans, and jars.
Fruits & Vegetables
- 100% juice
- Fruit salad, pineapple, peaches, or other fruit packed in 100% juice
- Dried apricots, prunes, raisins, and other dried fruit (keep in a tightly closed container)
- Tomato sauce or tomatoes
- Soups (just watch the sodium)
- Corn, green beans, pumpkin puree, and other veggies
Note: A consistent supply of fresh fruit in the house can mean that you can enjoy some fresh produce for a few days when refrigeration goes out. Apples, bananas, and citrus work well.
Whole Grains
- Dry cereal
- Bars – breakfast, granola, energy bars
- Whole grain crackers
- Brown rice cakes
Protein
- In-shell pistachios and peanuts
- Peanut butter
- Canned tuna
- Canned fish that’s lower in mercury: sardines, herring, salmon
- Canned chicken
- Boxed soy milk or cow’s milk
- Canned chickpeas, lentils, red beans, black beans, or other beans
Extras
- Reduced sodium broths
- Vinegar, herbs, spices, and other low-sodium flavor enhancers
- Coconut water
Special Populations
- Infant foods and formula
- Food safe for those with food allergies
- Soft foods for older adults who may have trouble with hard foods
- Food and water for pets
- Vitamins or dietary enzymes that some people may want
Non-Food Food Stuff:
- Don’t forget a manual can opener.
- You may also want non-fragile cups, plates, eating utensils, as well as hand sanitizer.
Resources:
- American Red Cross: Plan and Prepare
- FEMA: Build-a-Kit
- Sign up for monthly e-news from FEMA
- Sign up for preparedness tips, disaster alerts, and ways to get involved at American Red Cross
Personal note: As a New Yorker for over a decade, I feel a personal connection to the devastation that came with hurricane Sandy. Thankfully, friends and family in the northeast are coping well. We moved to California just a few months ago, so we were lucky to be out of Sandy’s path.
