I lived on Army bases sometimes as a kid. Part of that life included regular drills where various families assembled in assigned bunkers (designated, reinforced basements). Part of the exercise was inventorying all the supplies and checking expiration dates on foodstuffs while we waited for the "all clear".
I remember once the adults started the inventory and there had been a mixup. Our shelter had crates and crates of crackers - but nothing else. No water, no nothing. (Of course, we kids all thought it was hilarious.)Luckily it was just a drill.
Anyway, expiration dates aren't easily distinguished on all foods. So you may want to make sure they are marked somehow so they can be rotated out appropriately for snacks or for a foodbank. (That is, if you plan to keep the emergency supplies stocked for any type of crisis and might be holding on to them for awhile.) You'll need to watch for expiration dates on some of the first aid supplies also.
We haven't took any percaution. We are a very rural area but....we also live by Mammoth Cave and some of the people that went to school where my kids go said when they were young they had an evacuation plan to go to the cave and there were rations stored there, my point being talk to the elders of you community and see what they did. I realize we've come a long way since air raid sirens and such but someone with past experience with this may be able to tell you something you haven't thought of, plus you may even learn some history about your community!
Living in a "third-world" country I live with this daily, the exception being what I can cook so rice and beans are always on my shelves! :cool:
I would suggest granola bars, fruit rollups, crackers, tuna, pork 'n beans, vienna sausages, canned meats, powdered milk and drink mixes, lots of water, dried fruits/raisins, and stuff like that. Remember you will need a can opener and also soap or hand sanitizer.
I was trying to think of things we would keep on hand out in the country when it would snow and no power for days at a time. Crackers, jelly, vanila wafers....most of what we buy these days have little shelf life. I would check into what canned items would be safe, hey, green beans are really good when that's ALL ya got!...granola,cereal, trail mix without nuts....pretzels?
Actually - the school already has plastic cut to cover each door and window as well as tape - we are charged with food, water and first aid supplies - with emphasis on shelf life of food and it's practicality as far as storage and appropriate nutrition is concerned.
