Storm prep: Filling the food chest

Buy early and stock up. Sage advice, when it comes to disaster preparations… especially stocking up on food. Whether you heeded that advice or not, there’s never a bad time to check your supplies. That’s especially true as we near the “season within the season,” that mid-August to mid-October stretch that historically has seen the most storms formed during our June-November hurricane season.

Here’s a list of food and food-related items you’ll want to have on hand, in case of a storm. Use these items, and buy in enough quantity to plan for three to five meal menus for the number of people who will rely upon them. We’ve tried to make it a little easier for you by organizing items in food groups.

Protein Group

Canned beans: lima, kidney, black beans, etc.
Canned chili, ravioli
Canned meat soups
Canned meats: tuna, ham, salmon, chicken, sardines
Packaged nuts (best: unsalted)
Peanut butter, bean spreads

Dairy Group

Cheese, processed (best: low-sodium varieties)
Milk, non-fat (powdered, canned or shelf-stable)
Puddings
Protein drinks and nutritional beverages (shelf-stable)

Bread Group

Breads, cooked: loaves, flatbreads and tortillas (best: whole wheat or multi-grain)
Breads, dried: Melba toast, taco shells, bread sticks, etc.
Breakfast cereals (best: single size-servings)
Breakfast/nutrition bars
Crackers: saltines, graham, etc.
Muffins
Pasta (dry)
Rice cakes

Fruit Group

Apples, fresh
Applesauce (best: unsweetened)
Fruit, canned (in its own juice)
Fruit, dried
Fruit juice (best: 100 percent pure)
Packaged raisins, apricots, cranberries, etc.
Trail mix with fruits

Vegetable Group

Salsa
Spaghetti sauce
Three-bean salad, canned
Vegetables, canned and soups
Vegetables, fresh: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. (before storm)

Extra Items to Consider

Water, bottled (extra supplies)
Infant food and formula
Foods for special diets
Coffee and ice tea mix (instant)
Condiments, packaged (ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise)
Creamer, packaged
Granola bars, fruit bars, nutritional bars
Powdered drink mixes
Tea bags
Water flavorings

Need more help getting yourself and your home ready for storms and other natural disasters? In addition to our “Hurricane Preparedness” classes (visit UFSarasotaExt.Eventbrite.com and search on “hurricane prep”), which we offer before and early into our storm season, you can contact our office by email to sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu or phone at 941-861-9900. And, the UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Service (EDIS) is a great place to find information. Get started with these pages:

Stay safe!