Emergency preparedness touches on multiple areas, from survival kits and first aid supplies for addressing wounds to food and water. Often going hand in hand, emergency food and water supplies must last several years in storage and be in good condition once needed. Although water, for ease of use, is available in cans, what about emergency food supplies? Because calories, nutrition, variety, and portability must all be taken into account, a well thought out approach and gradual accumulation yield a comprehensive emergency solution.

Emergency food supplies begin with a foundation of grains, beans, powdered milk, oil, sugar, salt, and seeds. Although this combination is substantial and can be prepared off the grid, it excludes fruits, vegetables, dairy, and other forms of protein. To get variety, including emergency freeze dried food supplies is necessary.

Brands like Wise Food Storage, Mountain House, and Lindon Farms all carry freeze dried food in pouches or cans (small or #10), and all involve a similar approach to preparation. A serving is combined with the recommended amount of water and sits for a few minutes. After rehydrating, the food is ready to eat. Although most brands focus on full meals, others offer cans or pouches of individual items, which can be cooked with any basics or combined with other rehydrated foods. In all cases, emergency food supplies meet an individual's caloric needs. If serving suggestions are followed, such kits provide an individual with 1,000 to 2,000 calories per day.

Emergency food supplies, however, are affected by light and moisture, which can cause freeze dried items to decay. In order to maintain a food supply for use years down the line, create an optimal storage space. To meet these conditions, the area must be dry, dark, and cool, preferably between 50°F and 60°F. Basements, crawlspaces, and closets often have all such qualities.

Certain spaces, on the other hand, should never be used for food storage. A space with chemicals, for instance, allows the fumes to leach and enter your food supply. Trashcans and liners, similarly, should never be a storage location for freeze dried emergency food. An emergency food supply, as well, should never be buried underground.

Additional factors need to be considered as you purchase emergency food supplies. First, what will you do with leftovers? #10 cans contain several servings and a full can should never be prepared at once. All remaining freeze dried food should be put back in the can, which should then be resealed with a commercial resealer; frozen for later use, or stored inside another airtight container.

Additionally, think about the types disasters that can hit your area. Will you be inside, or will you be required to evacuate? For the former, consider #10 cans, but for the latter, opt for a portable solution, such as the plastic buckets filled with pouches of meals that Wise Food Storage and Lindon Farms offer.