Stocking Up the Pantry

Essential Elements of an Emergency Food Storage Plan

What happens when the power goes out for days because of a storm or there is a local or national emergency? How long can you feed your family without depending on an outside source?

Living in Montana or anywhere in the northern parts of the country, we have days when it’s snowing horizontally and not worth risking life and limb to venture into town for groceries. It’s handy to have staples on hand so you don’t have to think twice about it.

Our only security is what we can provide for ourselves. It takes preparation to create a well-stocked food storage plan, and the best time to start is now. Having plenty of food and necessary supplies on hand is nothing new for many of us. For folks in rural communities, running to the store can be an all day outing. And after living through the supply chain fluctuations over the past several years, we understand the reality that having stocked shelves at the grocery stores is not a guarantee.

How to Start

The first step for your long-term food storage shopping list is to keep track of what your family eats on a daily and weekly basis. Store what you use in realistic amounts. This provides a better understanding of what you’ll need for a month, three-month, or even year-long plan.

It’s difficult enough to buy groceries these days, so adding additional food to build a surplus can seem daunting. Start by adding a few things to your cart each week to reach a three-month supply. You can always expand once you have enough.

There are recommended amounts based upon well-versed sources in what it takes to feed the average household of four people for three months or one adult for a year. (If there is not a specific amount after the listed food, it’s more of a personal preference.)

While it’s wonderful to have a freezer full of vegetables from the garden or game from hunting, keep in mind that it’s a fragile system. In the case of a long term situation, a generator will buy you time but will only last so long. This list focuses on food that does not require electricity to maintain its quality. 

Bulk Staples

Includes the basics for baking and calories required to survive. Don’t purchase what you won’t use! Store in food-safe containers.

Meat

Track your family’s daily intake of meat and calculate what you’ll need in terms of pounds. This can include canned tuna, chicken, beef, or home-canned meat.

Freeze-dried meats are often sold in 10-pound cans and can be easily incorporated into meals.

Don’t forget jerky and other dried meat!

Fresh Produce

Many fruits and vegetables can be stored without refrigeration. A root cellar is the optimum storage space, but you can also use a cool, dark space in your basement, crawl space, or even closet.

Canned Goods

Include both goods from the store and home-canned, if capable.

Packaged Foods

While these are not absolute necessities, they’re handy to have on hand and help vary the menu.

Dehydrated

You can dehydrate a lot of food to have on hand. Just be sure to vacuum seal it in jars or mylar bags and add a desiccant packet to keep it fresh for up to two years.

✔ Apples
✔ Banana Chips
✔ Pears
✔ Roma Tomatoes
✔ Minced Garlic
✔ Shredded Zucchini
✔ Chopped Carrots
✔ Chopped Celery
✔ Green Beans

Freeze-Dried

Including freeze-dried cheese and eggs in the long-term storage lineup is a useful addition.

✔ Cheese
✔ Eggs (Can be used as is, or for baking and cooking)

Water

The average person requires a minimum of one gallon of water per day. That includes drinking, cooking, and washing. You’ll need to store 360 gallons of water if you don’t have a potable source. Keep stored water in a cool, dark place.

It’s also a good idea to have some sort of water filtration system available, and a gallon of bleach is also critical in water purification.

Additional Items

✔ Protein Powder - Adding powder is useful to consume an adequate level of protein.
✔ Powered Drink Mix - Add powdered drink mixes to add flavor, electrolytes, sodium, and minerals.
✔ Vitamin C and Other Supplements - Have a basic line up of vitamins and supplements to make sure your immune system remains strong.
✔ Canning Salt - Handy to have on hand because in a pinch, salt can become scarce
✔ Medications - Make sure prescription medications are up to date and you have as many as possible at a time. A med kit also provides several different antibiotics along with other useful medications.
✔ Pet Food - Triple your monthly supply of dog or cat food.
✔ Canning supplies - Buy extra lids, rings, jars, and additional ingredients such as pectin, ascorbic acid, and pickling spices.
✔ Toiletries - Stock up enough soap, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine products to last a few months.