How Much Emergency Food Should You Have Prepped For A Hurricane?

As hurricane season rears its ugly head, it's crucial for folks living in specific regions to be prepared for worst-case scenarios. The devastating tragedies that can occur during these violent windstorms are heartbreaking, but there are some precautions you can take in advance to ensure that you and your loved ones are as ready as can be. While things may look bleak as communication with others proves impossible, you can at least secure enough food beforehand to weather the storm.

How many rations to store for unforeseen events depends on whether you can take shelter in your home or are forced to evacuate. In case of the latter, it's wise to have a go-kit ready to take with you at a moment's notice. If evacuating the area is mandatory, the American Red Cross recommends taking at least a three-day supply of food and water along to sustain you through the worst. Ready-to-eat provisions that don't require refrigeration like dried fruit, peanut butter, and canned tuna from your pantry are the kinds of essentials you should look for. When the call to evacuate comes, there is little time to waste getting yourself as far away from danger as possible, so the food you are prepared to bring with you should be set aside in advance. If you can stay home, you will want to stock up on even more supplies in case the devastation in your area is severe.

Stores may not be operational after a hurricane, meaning if you don't already have what you need, you may be out of luck. Preparing ahead of time is essential to ensure you have everything you will need to get through it safely. If you are able to ride the storm out in your home, you want to have at least two weeks' worth of provisions to carry you through while emergency responders get roads cleared and turn the power back on.

Bear in mind that if the power goes out food in your freezer will only last so long, and plenty of items you may have in the fridge like raw hot dogs are unsafe to eat without cooking. So, shelf-stable rations that can be eaten as they come should be staples in a stay-at-home kit. You may be able to stock up on small propane tanks to cook some things on a portable stove, but if you are without a means of safely leaving your home for an extended period of time, make sure you have non-perishable, ready-to-eat food just in case.

Properly nourishing yourself during an event like a hurricane is essential in more ways than one. You obviously don't want to starve, but the entire situation can be stressful. Preparing enough food to get you and your loved ones by for a couple of weeks will at least let you rest easy knowing that finding nourishment won't be an immediate need.