Having enough food, water, and other emergency supplies is important to know how to do as a prepared individual. however, these are only the first steps in preparing for the unexpected.
The next level of preparation is looking at what kind of emergencies we can expect to face and what items you have or need to get rid of to make space for new ones.
Emergency Food Prepper Supplies
Having enough food for at least two years is an excellent way to start when investing in emergency food prep supplies. There are several ways to organize your stockpiles, but one of the most effective is by food groups.
The three major food group categories are meat, grains/beans, and vegetables or fruits. Each of these has their own individual packs which can be organized into what we refer to as “shelves” within each category.
For example, if you have eight (8) packages of dried pasta, you would make four (4) new shelves containing only pasta. You could then organize those shelves into what we call a pyramid structure, where the top shelf is limited to one (1) package of pasta.
After that, there can be up to five (5) additional pasty-only shelves, and so on. This effectively uses up much of the space inside the carton and also goes very quickly since you only use one item per shelf.
Grains such as bread, rice, and cereal can likewise have new interior dividers made. For instance, you could take six (6) slices of bread and put them along with another six (6) slices of bread in a plastic bag and seal it closed. This creates an insulated bin usable for cooking either raw grain dishes like oatmeal or baked goods like toast or waffles.
Short Term Emergency Food Supplies
Having enough food for one week is an excellent way to start when preparing for emergencies. These are typically referred to as “survival foods” or “emergency food items.”
Many of these foods are considered taste-neutral and can be consumed without much modification. Some even have health benefits!
These types of foods should make up the majority of your emergency food supply since they do not require special preparation or storage. They also cost less than more advanced foods such as dried fruits, canned goods, and shelf-stable packaged foods.
The best short term emergency food supplies include at least three days’ worth of vegetables, two weeks’ worth of protein (meat, chicken, fish), one month’s worth of grains (pasta, rice, bread), and several containers of sugar. You want to make sure you have adequate amounts of both natural and manufactured sugars.
Grains like pasta and rice can be heated and mixed with either meat or vegetable products to create easy, nutritious meals. For example, one could cook a pound of ground beef with a cup of dry pasta and one medium sized zucchini per person to produce a meal that does not need to be cooked again before being eaten.
Protein is important for keeping your body healthy so having a few packages each day will help meet your nutritional needs. Fish like salmon and tuna are great sources of nutrition while cheap and easily accessible as well.
Long-Term Food Supplies
A food supply that will last you several months is our next important item category. These are foods that can be consumed without preparation or special storage conditions. Some of these items should already exist in your home, like fruits and vegetables that you grow yourself!
Many people start prepping by buying large quantities of individual foods such as pasta or rice to prepare for an emergency. However, this isn’t a very efficient use of resources since most of those foods would eventually go bad if they were saved at cost. More effective ways to organize your food supplies are to buy small amounts of each product, with a focus on nutritious ones.
We have organized some lists here for you to consider starting with. Check out what we have listed and pick one or many products according to whether they are short term, mid term, or long term supplies.
Seeds
Next up, seeds! This is an important part of any survival food collection because most living things require plants to survive. Plants can be eaten directly or processed into foods you may eat like breads and soups.
Seeds are the most basic type of plant material that we will discuss in depth here. They contain all of the nutritional components needed to grow a seedling starting grass or flowery plant.
Selection tips: Make sure your dry seeds have adequate packaging before buying them. Some companies add plastic covers or tin foil to keep light out and protected.
Some sellers will advertise their product as “organic” but do not check for this label until after purchase as fakes exist. Make sure it has the certification stamp from an accredited organization such as Gerber (for germination) or The International Association of Seed Companies (for purity).
Types of seeds: A general term is ‘food crop’ seeds which include wheat, rice, and corn crops just to name a few. Some specific types are heirloom, heritage breed, organic, and/or GMO free.
Heritage breeds are cultivars (offsprings of a parent species) of agricultural crops that have been passed down through generations due to their quality. Examples of these include heritage tomatoes, carrots, and peppers.
GMO stands for genetically modified organism and refers to when a company inserts genetic materials from one species to create another.
Hunting and Fishing Equipment
When it comes to investing in additional hunting or fishing gear, how much you buy really depends on what kind of hunter or fisherman you are. If you enjoy spending time outside exploring nature, then buying more expensive equipment is worth it!
There are many types of people who hunt or fish, so not everyone needs the same level of equipment. The best way to determine if this applies to you is by doing some research and reading through our different shopping lists.
Some of these products may be beginner friendly, while others may be more advanced. No matter what level you are at when it comes to shooting game or reeling in a catch, we have helpful tips and reviews for every product category.
We also do not recommend purchasing all of these items at once, but rather one at a time as they each require specific regulations.
Water Prepper Supplies
Having enough water is one of the most important things you can prepare for in any kind of emergency.
Most people believe that having lots of bottled water is the best way to be prepared, but this isn’t necessarily true.
Bottled water will help you get through the initial days after an evacuation, but it won’t do much beyond that.
Fortunately, there are several different types of water bottles that anyone can pick up or make themselves. More importantly, these bottles need not be expensive!
In this article, we will discuss some easy ways to gather fresh water during a crisis.
Shelter Prepper Supplies
One of the most important things to have as a prepper is adequate shelter materials. This includes blankets, mats, pillows, and other bedding products that you can use to create comfortable sleeping areas for yourself and others.
Many people start prepping by buying some simple survival tools such as an emergency blanket or space-saver mat. These are great additions to any beginner’s collection!
But what about all those camping equipment items like stove fuel, cookware, pots and pans, bowls, and lids? Or water purification tablets and filters?
These are much more expensive initial purchases but will help you get into the habit of preparing for emergencies!
Good shelters make a big difference in your ability to protect yourself and your family during times of crisis. Investing in durable, waterproof covers is one of the best first steps towards being a successful prepper.
Sleeping bags and tarpaulins are very common shelter prep items. Even something as basic as an old wool sweater can be converted into effective thermal cover.
You don’t need too many fancy gadgets to begin practicing prepping.
Light Prepper Supplies
While some may consider themselves as having enough food, water, and equipment to last them through a short period of time, we call these people “survivalists” or “preppers.” The term survivalist comes from the word “survive,” so those with this mentality really believe they will survive without most things for an extended amount of time.
Conversely, a person who has access to plenty of food, water, and basic supplies is considered a non-survivalist or even a little bit negligent. These individuals could potentially use these resources to live a very comfortable life but they fail to understand that you cannot depend upon the world functioning properly during times of crisis.
In fact, many experts suggest that being prepared is not only acceptable, it is essential in order to be able to survive a significant change or disaster that does happen.