We’re in the thick of our hurricane season, and many of you have prepared for a storm to swing our way. But, in the swirl of activity in gathering papers and first aid supplies and flashlights and the like, it’s easy to overlook one critical element of your preparations: food.

Don’t wait. Finding ample supplies in the chaos that often trails hurricanes and other tropical storms can be difficult, if not downright impossible. Buy early, and stock up on non-perishable supplies.

Gather supplies with each family member in mind, as well. Many people with special diets need to continue eating properly to maintain their health.

Special diet or not, we all need to eat healthy. Take time now to design a suite of healthy menu choices to cover one or two weeks. Remember, you’ll likely be without power for refrigeration and food preparation. So, plan your meals accordingly, and stock up on supplies now.

Think about how you will store your hurricane food supplies. Try to organize foods in large plastic bags or bins, to help shield them from water damage. Store your food supply where you have easy access, and avoid using the supplies before the storm. Since many food items won’t survive “on the shelf” indefinitely, use your non-expired, extra supplies or donate them to a food pantry when the storm season ends.

And, of course, don’t forget the water. Plan for one gallon of drinking water per person per day, unless more is needed for medications. Think about filling your bathtub with water for other daily uses.

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