Have Supplies

It is probably one of the most important and most basic rules in being prepared for emergencies; have supplies. We'll start with food because without it, nothing else really matters. You should focus on two different aspects of storing food in order to be prepared for the worst.

1) Keep your pantry stocked with the regular food you normally buy at the market. Sometimes people only have a full pantry just after payday and run low while they wait for their next check. But, if something were to happen that disrupts food supplies, you would be in trouble, especially if you also lacked stored food as well! The idea is to have enough regular food for a three or five days. If the emergency lasts beyond that, you then need to depend on stored food.

2) Buy food intended for long term storage, aiming to have at least 3-4 months of stored food. There are several routes you can go, or mix and match strategies. You can buy bulk rice, sugar,flour and beans, among other dry goods, for storing. It is best to seal them in a plastic tub of some sort, write their dates in permanent marker, and keep them in a cool area. You can also store large commercial size cans of tomator sauce, beans, fruit and other items. Again, keep in a cool area and write the date on them for easy reference. Check your stores often and use up the oldest one while replacing them to keep the same amount of food.

You could also store MRE's or other food-on -the- go options. These have some benefits, such as coming well sealed, having a very long shelf life, and taking up little space in case you need to travel.

However you do it, do make a commitment to storing food for your family. Emergencies happen, it only makes sense to be prepared!