Three days of grub...

The first winter advisory went out last week and the checkout lines at the local wally world and grocery stores were backed up and you'd likely burn through half a tank of gas waiting in line to get some more at the pumps.  Seems like every time we have a winter advisory or storm warning around here, folks stock up like we've reached the end of the Mayan calendar.

Runnin' out of grub at the wrong time can be an inconvenience at the least, and deadly in the worst case situation.  The gals and I are of the sheepdog and prepping mindset, so over the years we've made many preparations in various areas of our life.  Sometimes, folks just don't know where to start and that is an area where I have a simple suggestion... three days of grub.

The USDA recommends consumption of between 2,000 and 2,500 calories per day for men and between 1,800 and 2,300 calories a day for women to maintain proper health.  The U.S. Army Survival Manual FM 21-76 indicates that the minimal calorie intake to survive is between 600 and 1,000 per day.  I'm currently following a balanced 1,200 calories per day plan to take off some weight and considering that many Americans consume upwards of 3,000 calories each day, I have to say... my stomach thinks my throat was slit.  You need to plan for your own requirements.

Now some will say, "My freezer and refrigerator are full, what's the problem?"  Well, some will have generators and some won't to preserve their food in the event of a power failure.  Some folks have bottled water stocked up, but many don't in case the water system breaks down or becomes contaminated.  Maybe you figure you'll just run to the store... but so has everyone else.  Last week wally world was cleared out of bottled water and it was a simple winter advisory, not a three day blizzard.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge,
   but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."

~Proverbs 27:12 

Even if your not worried about prepping for a disaster, it would be advisable for everyone to keep some basics on hand and if your not sure where to start... begin with three days of grub.  That includes food, water, and don't forget medications.  Think about what you would need for you and your family to survive three days without being able to access any other immediate food or water sources.  Most folks don't realize that, depending on heat and other conditions, three days without water can leave most folks well on their way to death.

So what kind of grub should you pack away or keep on hand for three days?  Well, that depends on you and your family.  Some folks may just want to put some boxes or tubs of food and bottled water away.  You may not be able to cook, so you should consider having food that can be eaten hot or cold.  You may not have the ability to keep food or beverages (or your insulin as I have a friend who is diabetic) cold, so again... you should think about that along with the storage life or expiration dates of the food and beverages you store away.  Oh, and don't forget the pets and livestock, if you have any, 'cause even our four-legged friends like to eat and drink too.

We have a food rotation system set up in our house that usually means we have thirty days of canned and dry goods that we use daily.  We have a significant stock of bottled water that we rotate through on a regular basis.  When it comes to water, don't forget you can drain the 40-plus gallons in your hot-water tank if needed and you can use a device like he Water Bob to fill and store water in you bathtub.  You may also want to consider having something on hand to purify the water for consumption as boiling may not be a possibility.

Additionally, you may want to have a Bug Out Bag (BOB) ready to go for each of your family members, but that is a topic for another day.  If you have a vehicle or place at work, you might even consider storing some food and water there too just in case you're stranded.  Make sure you include your whole family in on the plan and preparation.  I personally know some men who have extensive preparations in place and their wives haven't been included.  Get the entire family on board.

The bottom line is... if you haven't made any specific preparations for troubles that are almost sure to come at some point, I would encourage you to think about it and take the first step with... three days of grub.