Hurricane Sandy is set to make landfall and the predictions keep getting worse. Rather than a slow down in wind speeds, scientists are predicting that they may increase. It also looks like it might be switching from torrential rain to record snowfalls. If you are in the path of Sandy, you might not be able to go get any more supplies. Hopefully you’ve already stocked up because it looks like this storm will pound the East Coast for days.
If you still have a safe chance to get supplies, look for shelf stable food products like canned meats and vegetables. Buy as much bottled water as you can- if the water is turned off, you need at least a gallon of drinking water per person per day. Don’t attempt to drink flood waters without first boiling it to purify the contaminants.
Here’s our list of foods you might want to have in an emergency: Canned beef, canned pork, canned chicken, canned fish, beef jerky, canned beans, canned vegetables, bottled vegetables, canned fruit in syrup, bottled fruit in syrup, boxed milk, canned milk, dehydrated milk powder, instant coffee, bread in waterproof bags, instant drink mix with sugar, salt, crackers, cookies, granola, protein bars. If you have a baby, stock up on formula and baby food. If you have pets, make sure you have enough food for a week or longer. Always remember to stock up on medication, as it could be days before you can access a pharmacy.
If you are snowed in, make sure you don’t start barbecuing inside. The carbon monoxide and dioxide released from the barbecue could be deadly. If your power is out and you need to use a barbecue or gas camping stove indoors, make sure you do it in a well ventilated room. An open garage is the best bet.
For more documentation on how to prepare for the hurricane, please visit Food Safety.com
