In this blog, we’ve written about the importance of having an emergency plan for your family and business in case flooding should occur.
Another part of the emergency planning process is putting together an emergency kit. According to FEMA, your kit should include enough food, water and supplies to keep you and your family going for at least three days.
So what food should you include? Ideally, you want nutritious, non-perishable items stored in sealed containers. Real Simple magazine recently came up with a list of foods suitable for emergency stockpiling. Some of them include:
- Peanut butter
- Whole-wheat crackers
- Nuts and trail mixes
- Cereal
- Granola bars and power bars
- Dried fruits
- Canned meats (tuna, salmon, chicken)
- Canned vegetables
- Canned soups
Be sure to accommodate for any special dietary needs and include baby food and/or pet food as needed. Also, try to choose salt-free or low-salt foods so you don’t increase your thirst, and be sure to include a manual can opener and eating utensils.
According to some experts, it’s better to have food stored in cans than jars because jars are more susceptible to flood water contamination. For more on food safety after flooding, Utah State University has helpful information on foods to keep and foods to discard post-flood.
As you take steps to ensure your family will have the food, water and supplies they’ll need during a flood, be sure to take steps to protect the structural integrity of your home as well. Our FEMA compliant flood vents protect your home by allowing flood waters to flow through. It’s easier to clean up a wet basement than tear down your home and start over. For more information about our flood vents, contact us.
