food business insurance : Food Insurance and Disasters
In general, disaster preparedness involves a continuous process by which all individuals, groups, and communities manage hazards in an effort to avoid or ameliorate the impact of disasters resulting from the hazards. Actions taken depend in part on perceptions of risk to those exposed.
Effective disaster preparedness relies on thorough integration of emergency plans.For safe food storage techniques, there are plenty of ways to go about making sure your family stays safe in the case of an emergency. There is always the persistent fear out there that the food we take for granted, like corn, for instance, will no longer be as readily available as it is today. The foods we use daily are becoming more and more expensive, as is being reported on the news in an alarming trend
The types of foods that are in our grocer’s shelves are going up in price, as many Americans are losing their jobs, or the pay they are getting is not adequate for replenishing the regular amount of food consumed by their family. This can mean many things, but one big issue that seems to be arising, is the information being clamored for to learn how to properly store food.
For the first time in decades, Americans are looking to store food, in the event that it may become too expensive to purchase for many in the typical way. These families are trying out canning, storing, and preparing foods that will last for long periods without going bad, including dehydrated foods, that are very popular.
Thousands of Americans are looking at stockpiling foodstuffs, and ways to maintain a storage system that works for them, irregardless of their belief system. This wave of interest has gone far beyond religious edicts. These are concerned people, who are watching the news, and media that are showing how much food will be going up in the near future.
Here are some of the ways they are taught to keep food for a good amount of time.
Buying in Bulk
The quickest and easiest way (although least cost-effective) to build a food storage supply is to buy non-perishable items in bulk. Families can take advantage of memberships from stores such as BJ’s, Sam’s Club and Costco by purchasing flats of canned goods, large boxes of pasta, bags of rice, bottled water, etc. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has basic food supplies available to purchase through church storehouses. The order form and local storehouse information can be found on the church website.
Canning
Home canning may be the most cost-effective way to build food storage. Self canning is not difficult, but is time consuming. You will need some basic supplies, such as a pressure cooker and/or large pot for boiling with a rack, jars, as well as jar rings and sealing lids. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be grown at home, or purchased through local co-ops or farmer’s markets to keep costs down. The National Center for Home Food Preservation has detailed instructions on self canning.
Dry-packing
Newer technology has made home food storage even easier. Dry items such as pasta, flour, rice, oatmeal, dried fruit, etc. can be stored in plastic containers and storage bags long term. There is a small initial investment for this method. To pack dry items, purchase either a Food Saver machine or other vacu-pack-type machine. You will also need to purchase a supply of plastic bags and containers to use with your machine. This technique is very simple, and is a fun way to involve children with food storage
Gardening
# Leaders of the Mormon church encourage its members to keep a home garden. They teach that “planting a garden, even a small one, allows for a greater degree of self-reliance. With the right information and a little practice, individuals and entire families can enjoy the many benefits of planting and tending a garden”. Gardening is a fun and relaxing way to provide food for food storage, and it can significantly reduce the cost of building up food stores.
Quantity
How much food to can, dry-pack or purchase depends on the size of the family. Because church leaders emphasize the importance of food storage and self reliance, they have included a food storage calculator on their church website. However, this may not fit every family’s needs.
Families should store the type of food they like to eat. One way to determine how much your family might need to store for a three month supply is to create a menu for one week. Make a list of all the items you would need to fill that menu, then multiple the totals by 12. This can be adjusted for a six month or one year supply.
Considerations
In addition to food and water, consider other items that should be included in long term storage, such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, extra toothbrushes, laundry detergent, pet food, diapers, baby food and formula, light bulbs, flashlights and batteries, candles and any other household items that are purchased regularly. It is also a good idea to keep a financial reserve for emergencies
