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Food is just one of
the basic necessities of life. During disasters and
emergencies, adequate nourishment is more valuable than
ever.
When planning your disaster supply kit, it is recommended
that you plan on 800 - 1200 calories per person, per day.
If you are at either end of the age spectrum or, if you
are pregnant or nursing, your nutritional needs may vary.
In addition, many medical conditions may necessitate that
you adjust your nutritional intake accordingly.
Remember, following a disaster, if possible, use the food
from your refrigerator and freezer first, then use food
from your pantry. Only after those reserves are
exhausted should you break into your emergency food
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Water,
of course, is fundamental to survival.
Having adequate clean water in the event of an
emergency is one of the most important
considerations in any disaster preparedness
strategy.
Consider the following facts as you prepare:
Water
is the single most important item necessary for
survival, (next to air).
A
person can survive for long periods (weeks)
without food, but only for short periods (days)
without water.
In
general terms, the human body requires 4 times as
much water as food. Therefore, for every
pound of food consumed in one day, it is necessary
to consume about 4 pounds of water (which is
about 1/2 gallon).
The safest and best way to store water is to have an aseptically packed (sterile & without microorganisms) water product which has a
5-year shelf-life.
No water product can claim longer than 5 years, and have a military approval rating. The Datrex, Mayday & Aqua Blox brands are guaranteed to last 5 years, are aseptic, sterile, free from microorganisms, and military approved.
Store
enough purified drinking water so that each person
you are provisioning for has about 1/2 gallon (8
cups) per day for drinking.
Beyond the 1/2 gallon drinking water required daily for survival, each person in an emergency situation needs 2-3 gallons
per day for cooking and general hygiene. |
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