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Round numbers? Something approximating zero... In all seriousness, I actually sat down and read the FEMA recommendations on things to keep on hand. It's surpri
by wcunning 7y ago
Round numbers? Something approximating zero...
In all seriousness, I actually sat down and read the FEMA recommendations on things to keep on hand. It's surprisingly thorough and surprisingly difficult to keep all of it in stock, rotated so that it doesn't spoil and checked on on a regular basis. Growing up, my mom was an avid coupon shopper, not necessarily because we needed it, just because she could. That meant that we had a pantry that sorta, kinda resembled an edible version of a prepper -- no MREs, but enough commercial and home canned food to last several months without any rationing even without power. Dad also kept a 200 gallon gas tank due to bad memories of the fuel rationing and prices in the '70's. We were as prepared as you could reasonably expect, but we were still not as prepared as FEMA recommended in many ways. These days, in relatively expensive town, in a relatively small house, I cannot possibly keep everything on hand that FEMA recommends, even on the light kit for a few weeks, but I at least make a passing attempt.
- kiba 7y agoIf google's right, canned food doesn't go bad if properly stored though taste will change, and in any case the recommended minimum is three days of food and water.
- ethbro 7y agoDepends on the can. The "vintage military ration collection crowd" (yes, that's a thing) says that after decades you start to get some nasty leaching from can -> food, especially if it's an acidic food product (e.g. tomato sauce). Nowadays, they coat the cans. But I'm pretty sure whatever tests the coatings go through aren't simulating 20+ years of storage.
- paulddraper 7y ago> 200 gallon gas tank That...is a lot. IMO to pass the 50 percentile, you need a two weeks of canned food, 20 gallons of water, and a first aid kit.
- marmaduke 7y agoHow much space did that take up? I live in a compact apartment in a European city and don't think I could possibly stock more than 2 weeks, there's just not enough space.
- Scoundreller 7y agoAnd you probably can’t even get to the water from your toilet’s upper reservoir ;)
- Scoundreller 7y agoThe problem with FEMA’s recommendations is that they’re too general. If you will have a water supply no matter what (I’m near the Great Lakes), Canned foods are a waste of space and weight. Dry beans, rice, a 5gal collapsible container and purification tablets (or bleach) are better.
- Izkata 7y ago> If you will have a water supply no matter what (I’m near the Great Lakes) Algae blooms make this no guarantee (and in fact more likely than other disasters people do keep in mind): https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/us/lifting-ban-toledo-says-its-water-is-safe-to-drink-again.html https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/us/lifting-ban-toledo-say...