Food Storage?

[glenpinpat]

unless you have some weird bomb shelter you are assuming that all your stored goods will not be destroyed. As we have seen in Japan, one big wave and it is all gone. And if it does survive it may just be under tonnes of rubble. From my time in the military and being an avide hunter and outdoorsman, if you cannot carry it, then it is no good. water purification tablets, pocket knife and multi-vitamins are all you need to carry. The best bet is knowledge and learning what you can eat and what you can drink in as many environments as possible.

[d30gaijin]

unless you have some weird bomb shelter you are assuming that all your stored goods will not be destroyed. As we have seen in Japan, one big wave and it is all gone. And if it does survive it may just be under tonnes of rubble. From my time in the military and being an avide hunter and outdoorsman, if you cannot carry it, then it is no good. water purification tablets, pocket knife and multi-vitamins are all you need to carry. The best bet is knowledge and learning what you can eat and what you can drink in as many environments as possible.

Dude,

I live in Idaho. 3200 ft. elevation. I seriously doubt a Tsunami is coming my way. I'll take my #10 cans over your pocket knife (btw, 20 years US Army, retired).

Don

[glenpinpat]

I was just using japan as an example as you had in your opening statement. I have never worried about natural or political disasters or situations when it comes to food storage. My frozen goods would be no good as I probably would not have enough power to keep a freezer running. As for dried goods and canned goods, if we rationed it I could probably get by for 2 months assuming a diet of 1200calories/person.

[d30gaijin]

I was just using japan as an example as you had in your opening statement. I have never worried about natural or political disasters or situations when it comes to food storage. My frozen goods would be no good as I probably would not have enough power to keep a freezer running. As for dried goods and canned goods, if we rationed it I could probably get by for 2 months assuming a diet of 1200calories/person.

Understandable but Japan was one of several scenarios I mentioned. My question centered on food storage at your place of residence and presumed it might be intact, not necessarily an escape and evasion scenario. And, although I did ask about an escape plan, I was thinking more along the lines of where to take the family and what to bring rather than a Rambo "Blend into the woods/loner" type of escape. If I wasn't clear on that I apologize, but then again, one never knows how many ways a post can be interpreted, although I should... I guess.

" if you cannot carry it, then it is no good. water purification tablets, pocket knife and multi-vitamins are all you need to carry."

Nice thought, if it's just you, but it isn't practical if you have a family to worry about.

I do count my frozen goods as part of my food storage as that is what will be consumed in the first days of something like a "No electric power" scenario that has the potential to last more than a week. Get in and out of the freezer quickly i.e., keep the freezer closed as much as possible and it remains a freezer for about 3 days or so (that assumes it is fully stocked and is dependent on outside temps). After that it becomes a refrigerator and should be good for at least another 5 days acting in the role of an ice chest. After that, cook it all up and keep it cool or preserve it via canning, salting, etc. Once the freezer is depleted or no longer useful I expect to turn to store bought canned goods. Once those are depleted I would then turn to the #10 cans of freeze dried and dehydrated supplies.

To me that is a better plan for a family than running away to the woods with a knife, water purification tablets, and some vitamins. BTW, I think I could keep my freezer going for sometime by intermittently powering it alone via my Honda generator. It is insulated so there is no need to keep it constantly powered since it is not constantly powered in its current form i.e., it starts up and shuts down several times a day. The only difference would be that it would start up and shut down when I decide it should (when I power it via the Honda generator).

Plan ahead. That's all I am trying to do.

Don

[glenpinpat]

that is a good idea by using the honda generator to run the freezer. How long would you have to run it and how much fuel would you need to do this? We talk about being prepared and funny how my parents cold room could probably could feed the whole street for a month. Maybe a generational thing.

[Larwyn]

There's lots of fish and wildlife around here, food keeps better in it's original "wrapper". Freezers and generators are a good short term solution, if you are inclined to go that route, I guess, but hunting, fishing, gathering skills can serve you long term. In the long term you would learn to shop "nature's supermarket" or starve.

[john warren]

don't understand why this is something new? didn't your mom and grandma can?