Access to adequate food supplies is a growing concern and something that is critical to survival in an emergency situation. Food emergencies can quickly become a problem during most regional disasters because of complex food delivery systems that have left us vulnerable to food shortages caused by delivery disruptions that often happen during a crisis situation.
Modern-day grocery stores have very limited storage capacity. Rather than having large stocks of food on hand, stores rely on a “just in time” system of food distribution, which means the food on the shelves is the only food in the store. When the shelves are emptied, they will stay empty until the next delivery arrives. This leaves most major cities only a few days away from starvation if distribution is stopped. In fact, during even small-scale disasters entire cities can quickly become food deserts, as unprepared people strip grocery store shelves bare in order to feed their families during the crisis.
Some scenarios that can cause a food emergency include
It’s easy to put the problem on modern business practices, but the fact is, average citizens are just as guilty in compounding the food security problem. Most people only have a couple of day’s worth of food stored in their own homes, which is why you see so much chaos in the lead up to and aftermath of any disaster. People have become complacent, believing the store shelves will always be full and there will always be enough food to feed their families.
The good news is there is a lot you can do to protect yourself from a food shortage.
You simply can’t rely on the current food distribution system to be there when you need it. The best thing you can do to protect yourself from disruptions is to start stockpiling your own inventory of food.
In my opinion, two weeks is the absolute minimum amount of supplies that you should have on hand at all times, and even that’s a very conservative number. Once you hit your goal of having two weeks’ worth of food on hand, you should then set a goal for having a three-month supply, then six-month, and then twelve-month supply of food.
Supporting local farmers and food co-ops can do a lot to maintain local food supplies. Almost every community has some sort of local food co-op or farmers market that can be a great resource for cutting your reliance on the system.
Being prepared for a food crisis is so much more than just stockpiling food. To be truly prepared, you must learn how to be self-sufficient. Even a small backyard garden can help add to your food supplies and can do a lot to ensure your ability to feed your family should local food supplies run low.
Food preservation techniques like canning and dehydrating foods can help you build your survival stockpiles at a fraction of the cost. By learning these age-old food preservation methods, you cut your reliance on the system and begin to ensure your family’s food security.
Being able to provide for your family is not something that should be taken lightly. Even in urban areas, you’re probably within a couple of hours of somewhere where you can hunt and fish. Learning how to obtain your own food from nature is one of the best things you can do to guarantee your food security.