The Case For Food Storage

There’s been a lot of talk in the media and on the internet over the past few months about food storage. And while there’s been a lot of talk, how many people do you think have actually taken it seriously enough to make a plan and then act on it?

Starting from scratch is a daunting task, and I wouldn’t blame anyone for putting it off until next week or the week after that…etc. The fact is though, that the sooner you get started, the better off you’ll be. Food storage is a lot like investing. Actually, food storage is investing. Starting early, keeping steady, and taking it one step at a time will pay huge dividends in the future.

Seeing the good sense in food storage is easier today than it has ever been.

Good Reason

• Food prices have been rising (especially on the basics like wheat/flour, beans, and rice) in recent months
• Gas prices (the cost of transportation and farming) have been extremely unstable
• The economy has been slumping
• Unemployment has been rising
• Food supplies have been threatened
• Pandemic, natural disaster, power disruptions, war and civil unrest all cast their influence around the world

I’m not just trying to be pessimistic or a fear monger—it’s good practice to take an inventory of current events and prepare ourselves to more easily navigate the turbulent waters that lay ahead (or that we’re currently sailing through).

Even after reading all the points above that help shed light on the importance of food storage, it might still be difficult for some to see the individual application. Here’s a quick scenario:

Disruption of Food Supply

With the pandemic, nearly every American has seen a disruption to their food supply (or their toilet paper supply), and we're still seeing shortages along with climbing prices in many cities across the country.

Not only are there issues with the supply chain, but some cities have gone on curfew and literal lockdown. Even when there are exceptions for purchasing food and other emergencies—many may not want to enter public places like grocery stores, and delivery options can also be halted by government or because workers quit or become sick.

You may have some good food in your refrigerator or pantry. But once that food is gone, where will you find more? How much food will your family need? Even if you are able to make it to the store, they may not be open until the power is back on and the employees can also make it across the roads to work. In addition, the supply trucks are likewise subject to the wrath of storms and may be stuck on the side of the road for days or more. Before long, the shelves could be empty and the local grocery store will not be able to act as our emergency food supply.

Disruption of the food supply can take many forms—from the disaster or storm-type situation described above to personal illness, job loss, or other circumstances that can make it more difficult to put the food we’re accustomed to on the table. Food storage is like a savings plan that will help mitigate those threats.

Helping Others

In addition to our own needs, we may be called on to help family, friends, and neighbors. Despite the unfriendly world we live in, I doubt I know anybody who would let and elderly widow next-door go hungry while enjoying a warm meal a door or two away. It’s also possible (even likely during the holidays) that we have friends or family over when a storm or other event strands others in our care. In these cases, having the bare minimum in the kitchen shelves won’t cut it.

Food Storage Really is an Investment

Not only is it an investment in your own safety and peace of mind, but if done correctly, can translate into real dollars. Food prices rarely go down. When you buy now for potential rough times ahead, you cut out inflation and price gouging, and you’ll inevitably enjoy a better selection than you would get if forced to buy when there’s a run on the supermarket shelves.

Types of Food Storage

There are about as many ways to do food storage as there are foods to store. Some of those methods include canning, bulk purchasing, MREs, freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, rotation systems, and even hunting (storing ammunition, anyway). In the future, we’ll go over pros and cons of each of these avenues.

And Don’t Forget the H2O

When discussing, thinking about—and even in careful planning, there’s an important point that often gets left out: Water Storage. We really should refer to it as “Food and Water Storage” rather than just “food storage.”

Humans can live a few weeks without food, but only a few days without water, so be sure to include adequate water storage in your plan. Again, we’ll cover this in-depth (no pun intended) in a later post, but for now one of the most helpful water storage resources we’ve ever seen can be downloaded here: Water Storage & Purification.

There’s No Time Like The Present

If you haven’t started preparing your food storage, now’s a better time than ever. A good food storage plan is the foundation of any strong bug out or dig-in plan.