In May of 2006, our Editor was in the Flood Zone in New England. Here you
will find her thoughts and lists on what you may need for your family in an
emergency situation.
We just thought we'd post about being prepared in emergencies. Living in an area
of New England that was just pummeled by rains and floods, we wanted to discuss
baby food in emergencies. You may also jump to How to maintain your foods in the
event of a power outage below.
While we advocate and believe that homemade baby food is better than commercial
jarred baby food, we wanted to mention that in times of emergencies it is a good
idea to have some jars of baby food on hand! In fact, it's a good idea to have
access to canned and other non-perishable foods as well. Have you created an
emergency cupboard full of foods and drinks that would weather a flood, a snow
storm or other emergency situation? What do we recommend? Here' s peak into our
Emergency cupboard to give you an idea:?
FOOD STUFF:
24 cans of various veggies (excluding corn as it is the least nutrient
dense)
10 gallons of spring water
2 boxes of dry powdered milk
12 cans of meats (6 large cans of tuna fish, 6 large cans of chicken)
25 pounds of rice
2 jars of instant coffee and 1 box of tea (hey, in emergencies you don't
want to be left without any coffee do you?)
1 large container of dry coffee creamer
4 bags of various dried fruits and 2 large containers of raisins
2 large jars of peanut butter (the "fake" kind as it will keep better than
real peanutbutter)
4 boxes of whole grain crackers and 2 boxes of Saltine crackers
6 packages of rice cakes
1 box each of protein and Luna bars (24 bars in total)
1 pound of sugar in individual packets
2 cartons of baby wipes
EATING & HYGIENE
1 sack of toilet paper (12 rolls)
1 sack of paper towels (12 rolls)
paper plates, plastic cups, knives, forks and spoons
1 large, fully stocked First Aid kit with extra Hydrogen Peroxide
Feminine Products
2 large bottles of anti-bacterial lotion
extra batteries for the radio and flashlights
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What's in The Baby Emergency Cupboard?
Our twin babies are out of diapers and out of "baby food" however we had the
following for them in our Emergency Cupboard:
2 cases of diapers (considering we have twins)
2 cartons of Baby Food Veggies (the carton that has 12 jars each in it)
2 cartons of Baby Food Fruits (the carton that has 12 jars each in it)
6 large cans of liquid formula and 2 large cans of powdered formula
various toys and books
This is just a list of things we had set aside in the event of an emergency that
left us stuck in the home for a few days, with or without power.. You may wish
to include more or leave out a few things. Whatever you do, we hope we have you
thinking about emergency supplies!
A few Key Items to consider if you experience a power outage:
Foods in the Freezer should keep for up to 48 hours provided the freezer door is
kept closed at all times. It is a good idea to add ice to the freezer if your
power will be out for longer than 48 hours. If this outage occurs during the
freezing winter months, after 48 hours you may place your frozen foods outside
in a locked and safe container to maintain their frozen state.
Foods kept in the refrigerator should keep for up to 6 hours. Do not open the
refrigerator door for longer than needed or for more times than you need.
Opening the door may increase the temperature in the refrigerator and shorten
the amount of time your foods will stay good for. It is important to note the
foods that will pose the most possible danger to your health. The University of
Minnesota notes the following:
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Potentially hazardous foods are those foods such as high protein foods
(meat, eggs, dairy) and cooked vegetables that support the rapid and
progressive growth of disease causing bacteria.
Food borne illnesses can be caused by bacteria that can multiply rapidly
in foods when the food is held in the temperature danger zone (41? to 140?F).
Dangerous Foods after a Power Outage
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Resources & Learning More:
Safety of Frozen Food During a Power Outage
http://www.umext.maine.edu/emergency/9002.htm
Before Disaster Strikes - A guide to Food Safety in the Home -
http://www.foodprotection.org/publications/Booklets/Rev._Disaster_Strikes.pdf
U.S. FDA - Consumer guide to Food Safety During an Emergency -
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsdisas.html
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