3 Month Water Supply (for meals)

Now that I have my menu and ingredient list together I needed to figure out how much water I needed for cooking and drinking...here is the break down.  Please note that this post is not complete yet.  I am still working on my math : )

3 Month Water Supply

Breakfast:

  1. Pancakes/waffles: 15 1/3 cups

  2. Oatmeal: 80.5 cups

  3. Muffins: 22 cups

          Total: 117 5/6 cups or 7 3/8 gallons

Lunch:

  1. Bread: 22 1/2 cups

  2. Top roman: 90 cups

  3. Macaroni and cheese: 150 cups
          Total: 262 1/2 cups or 16 2/5 gallons

Dinner:

  1. Spaghetti/fettuccine: 150 cups

  2. Soup: 30 cups (if required)

  3. Tortillas: 3 3/4 cups
  4. Rice: 45 cups

          Total: 228 3/4 cups or 14 1/3 gallons

Dessert:

  1. Brownies:

  2. Cake/cupcakes:

Drinks:

  1. Milk:

  2. Water: 

  3. Hot cocoa:

Need to revisit the posts on the menu or ingredient amounts?

3 Month Meal Food Supply

I have put together a list of what my family of 5 will need for our 3 month food supply (90 days) based on the menu I put together.

3 Month Meal Food Supply

90 Breakfasts:

  1. Pancakes/waffles: 23 meals
      a. pancake mix: 1 large bag (Costco)
      b. cooking water*
      c. syrup: 4 large bottles (Costco)

  2. Oatmeal: 23 meals
      a. instant oatmeal packets: 161 packets  (4 boxes @ Costco)
         **Note: this is for 2 packets for each adult and 1 packet for each child
      b. cooking water*

  3. Cereal: 22 meals
      a. cereal: 19 boxes
      b. powdered milk*
      c. (for milk) water*

  4. Muffins: 22 meals
      a. muffin mix: 22 boxes
      b. cooking water*

90 Lunches:

  1. Sandwiches: 30 meals (tuna sandwich for adults and pb&j for children)
      a. bread*
      b. peanut butter: 6 -18 ounce jars
      c. jelly: 3 - 36 ounce jars
      d. tuna: 30 cans
      e. mayonnaise: 1 large jar
      f. relish: 2 jars
      g. mustard: 1 medium jar

  2. Top roman: 30 meals
      a. top roman: 60 packages (2 packages for each meal)
      b. cooking water*

  3. Macaroni and cheese: 30 meals
      a. macaroni and cheese: 60 boxes (2 boxes for each meal)
      b. cooking water*
      c. powdered milk*
      d. (for milk) water*
      e. butter: 4 boxes

90 Dinners:

  1. Spaghetti/fettuccine: 30 meals
      a. pasta: 15 bags (half spaghetti noodles, half fettuccine noodles)
      b. sauce: 15 jars (half spaghetti sauce, half Alfredo sauce)
      c. cooking water*
      d. diced tomatoes: 7 cans
      e. bread (leftover from sandwich lunch)

  2. Chili/soup: 30 meals
      a. soup: 30 cans (two per meal)
      b. chili: 30 cans (two per meal)
      c. cornbread*

  3. Burritos/chimichangas: 30 meals
      a. tortillas*
      b. black beans: 15 cans
      c. re-fried beans: 15 cans
      d. canned chicken: 15 cans
      e. rice: 30 cups
      f. cooking water*
      g. cooking oil: 30 cups

13 Dessert: once a week

  1. Brownies: 7
      a. brownie mix: 7 boxes
      b. cooking water*

  2. Cake/cupcakes: 6
      a. cake mix: 6 boxes
      b. cooking water

2 Side Dishes for lunch & dinner: one can fruit and one can vegetable with meal

  1. Canned peaches: 90 cans
  2. Canned pears: 90 cans

  3. Canned corn: 90 cans
  4. Canned green beans: 90 cans

1 Drink for each meal: 

  1. Milk: 85 meals
      a. powdered milk*
      b. (for milk) water*

  2. Water*: 87 meals

  3. Hot cocoa: 13 meals (once a week for breakfast)
      a. hot cocoa packets: 1 box (Costco)
      b. water*

  4. Juice: 85 meals
      a. apple juice: 60 bottles

*Baking ingredients: for bread, tortillas and cornbread
baking powder: 3 cups +1 Tbsp
corn meal: 15 cups
egg: 15
flour: 195 cups
low-fat dry milk: 7.5 cups
milk: 15 cups
oil: 9 1/4 cups +2 Tbsp
salt: 1 1/4 cup
sugar: 6 1/2 cups +1 Tbsp
water: 26 1/4 cups
yeast: 1/2 cup +3 Tbsp + 3/4 tsp

*see recipes for bread, tortillas, cornbread, and milk.  Also see 3 month supply of water for cooking and drinking and 3 month supply of milk for cooking and drinking.

3 Month Food Supply Menu

  Now that my 72-hour kit is all put together and my basement is ready to full with more food storage I am gathering my 3 month supply.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has encouraged us to store a 3 month supply of food we would normally eat.  To read more about what the church has said on food storage...click here.

Our 3 Month Food Supply Menu

Breakfast:

  1. Pancakes/waffles

  2. Oatmeal

  3. Cereal

  4. Muffins

Lunch:

  1. Sandwiches

  2. Top roman

  3. Macaroni and cheese

Dinner:

  1. Spaghetti/fettuccine

  2. Chili/soup

  3. Burritos/chimichangas

Dessert:

  1. Brownies

  2. Cake/cupcakes

Side Dishes:

  1. Canned peaches/pears

  2. Canned corn/green beans

Drinks:

  1. Milk

  2. Water

  3. Hot cocoa

  4. Juice

See how much you will need for a family of 5 ( 2 adults and 3 children) by viewing my 3 month food supply post.

Sanitation

Yesterday in church we received another preparation handout; this one is about sanitation. I have never even thought about this so I hope you all read this important preparation message.

"Sanitation can be a monumental problem during an emergency if advanced preparations have not been made. Toilet facilities will not function if water has been cut off, as is usually the case in a disaster. Therefore, it is very wise to plan and to prepare an alternate (and portable) method of sanitation.

'When man is forced to adjust quickly from a civilized environment, with all its comforts, to an existence mush like that of a caveman, body systems are upset, and one often develops gastro-intestinal problmes which compound the problem of sanitation.'

"A person that went through a Midwest flood said that one of the greatest problems was sanitation. Accustomed to the convenience of modern facilities, people had made no emergency provisions, and this had a devastating effect on morale. Conditions rapidly became deplorable.

"When it is necessary to have an emergency toilet facility, care should be taken to keep the area clean and as odor-free as possible. Every time someone uses the 'toilet' he should pour a small amount of disinfectant (Clorox, lime, etc.) into the container to keep down odors and germs.

"Individual privacy is important. Screen temporary toilet facilities from view by hanging a blanket, sheet, canvas, plastic sheet, or tarp.

• If damage in the water lines is suspected, do not flush toilets. Turn off water at the main valve so polluted water does not enter your water system.
• (Suggestion for swimming pool owners-pool water can be used to flush toilets if water is turned off at the main valve, providing sewer lines are undamaged.)

"A makeshift toilet:

1. Covered container for bathroom, such as a sturdy bucket or small trash can with tight-fitting lid and good supple of plastic bag liners. Improvised toilet seat.

2. Soil bags: Paper sack inside a paper sack filled with shredded newspaper.

3. Collapsible camping toilet, which uses plastic bags. OR

Small portable potty. OR

Plastic bedpan.

"SUPPLIES:

Clorox (bleach), household disinfectant, deodorant, insecticides (may be added to sewer)

RE-sealable plastic bags-can be used and sealed

Large trash bags = Make sanitary receptacles for the smaller bags. Keep in large covered trash cans until disposal time.

Large metal or plastic trash cans-for human waste and garbage. Be sure to have lids.

Hygiene supplies-toilet paper, wipes, hand sanitizer, soap, etc.

Folding camp shovel with serrated cutting edge-for digging latrines and disposing of waste."

72 Hour Emergency Kit

I was inspired to post blogs about emergency preparedness because when my grandparents came to visit they bought my family some food storage. Now my ward is handing out a lot of emergency preparedness handout. Which is just another example of how important having a food storage, 72 hour kit and other emergency preparedness items are.

This weeks ward handout was about 72 hour kits. It said:

"72 Hour Emergency Kit

By Rachel Woods, About LDS Guide, http://lds.about.com

Notes:

• Update your kit every six months (put a note in your calendar/planner) to make sure that: all food, water, and medication are fresh (not expired), clothing fits, personal documents and credit cards are up to date.
• Small toys/games are important too as they will provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.
• Older children can be responsible for their own pack of items/clothes too.
• You can include any other items you feel are necessary for your family's survival.
• Some items and/or flavors might leak, melt, "flavor" other items, or break open. Dividing groups of items into individual Ziploc bags might help prevent this.

Food and water

(3 day supply of food & water per person when no refrigeration/cooking is available)

• Protein/granola bars
• Trail mix/dried fruit
• Crackers/cereal (for munching)
• Canned tuna, beans, meat, Vienna sausages, etc ("pop-top" cans might leak/explode & Jerky can "flavor" other items)
• Canned juice
• Candy/gum (Jolly Ranchers can melt & mint gum might "flavor" other items)
• Water (1 gallon/4 liters per person)

Bedding

• Change of clothing (short and long sleeve shirts, pants, socks, jackets, etc.)
• Undergarments
• Rain coat/Poncho
• Blanket and Emergency Heat Blankets
• Cloth sheet
• Plastic sheet

Fuel & Light

• Battery lighting (flashlights, lamps)
• Extra batteries
• Flares
• Candles
• Lighter
• Water-proof matches

Equipment

• Can opener
• Dishes/utensils
• Shovel
• Radio (with batteries)
• Pen and paper
• Axe
• Pocket knife
• Rope
• Duct tape

Personal Supplies & Medication

• First aid supplies
• Toiletries (roll of toilet paper-remove center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag feminine hygiene, folding brush, etc)
• Cleaning supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc. Warning: Scented soap might "flavor" food items.)
• Immunizations Up-to date
• Mediation (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Children's medication, etc.
• Prescription Medication (for 3 days)

Personal Documents and Money

(Place these items in a water-proof container!)

• Scriptures (miniature ones are lighter)
• Genealogy Records
• Patriarchal Blessing
• Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts)
• Vaccination papers
• Insurances Policies
• Cash
• Credit Card
• Pre-paid phone cards

Miscellaneous

• Bag or bags to put 72 hour kit items in (such as duffel bags or hiking back packs which work great)
• Infant needs (if applicable)"

Additional items for emergency kits

In yesterdays Relief Society handout it had an overview of Kathi Oram Peterson's article "Additional items to consider for emergency kits" from the Deseret News. I found it helpful and would like to share it with you.

To read the entire article click here.

The overview statement said

"1. Printed emergency plan. Print copies of an emergency plan and give them to your family member.s The plan should show meeting points, locations of emergency centers, evacuations routes and the phone number of someone who lives out of the state that they can call. During a disaster you may not always be able to call with in the city, but out of stat can be possible.

"2. First aid kit. You need the regular essentials but also medications that your family needs on a regular basis. You will need to be diligent to rotate some medications.

"3. Survival books. Survival books give detailed information that explain such things as what to do if an electrical line is down, or how long water must boil before it is safe to drink.

"4. Money. Cash in large and small bills, plus change, will be in high demand. Vending machines are easier to use with exact change.

"5. Duct tape. This all-purpose tape can come in handy to many ways: taping broken windows, repairing torn material, keeping a broken arm/leg taped to a board, etc.

"6. Photos and family history. Have those priceless books plainly marked (like a red x) and in one place ready to grab. If your information is stored on a computer, download a copy to a thumb drive or external hard drive. Keep it updated and in your kit."

To see my First Aid Kit blog post click here

To see my Food Storage blog post click here

To see my 72 Hour Kits blog post click here

Food Storage

Building our food storage is also another great and important way that we can prepare ourselves and our family for natural disasters, loosing a job or the unthinkable. Every family should build a one year supply of food storage. You don't need to go buy it all at once. Start off by buying a few extra cans/items when you are at the store to build up a 3 month supply.

According to the LDS food storage calculator you will need the minimum for an adult 7+ years/one child 0-6 years for a one year. To see LDS food storage calculator go here.

GRAINS: 300 lbs/148 lbs

Wheat: 150 lbs/75 lbs

Flour: 25 lbs/12 lbs

Corn meal: 25 lbs/12 lbs

Oats: 25 lbs/12 lbs

Rice: 50 lbs/25 lbs

Pasta: 25 lbs/12 lbs

Spaghetti

Fettuccine

Lasagna

Penne

Rigatoni

Dried corn

Pearled barley

Others (cereal grain)

LEGUMES: 60 lbs/24 lbs

Dry beans: 30 lbs/15 lbs

Soy: 10 lbs/5 lbs

Pinto

White

Kidney

Lima: 5 lbs/1 lbs

Winged

Red

Navy

Pink

Blackeyed

Split pea: 5 lbs/1 lbs

Lentils: 5 lbs/1 lbs

Peanuts

Dry soup mix: 5 lbs/ 1 lb

MILK: 75 lbs/ 37 lbs

Dry milk: Nonfat powdered milk (instant or regular): 60 lbs/30 lbs

Evaporated milk: 12 cans/6 cans

Other: 13 lbs/6 lbs

FAT & OILS: 13 lbs/ 7 lbs

Shortening: 4 lbs/2 lbs

Cooking (vegetable) oil: 2 gals/1 gal

Margarine

Mayonnaise: 2 qts/1 qt

Salad dressing: 1 qt/1 qt

Peanut butter: 4 lbs/2 lbs

SUGARS: 60 lbs/ 29 lbs

White sugar: 40 lbs/20 lb

Brown sugar: 3 lbs/1 lb

Honey: 3 lbs/1 lb

Molasses: 1 lb/1 lb

Corn syrup: 3 lbs/1 lb

Jam: 3 lbs/1 lb

Fruit drink powder: 6 lbs/3 lbs

Flavored gelatin: 1 lb/1 lb

COOKING ESSENTIALS:

Baking powder: 1 lb/1 lb

Baking soda: 1 lb/1 lb

Iodized salt: 5 lbs/3 lbs

Seasonings & spices

Vinegar: 0.5 gal/0.5 gal

Yeast: 0.5 lb/0.5 lb

WATER:

Water (drinking): 14 gal/14 gal

Bleach: 1 gal/1 gal

EXTRAS:

Canned food: fruits, vegetables, meat, soups, beans, chili, etc.

Condiments: ketchup, mustard, syrup, etc.

Dehydrated food: fruit, fruit leather, spices, jerky, etc.

Packages of gravy mix, taco seasoning, fajita seasonings, etc.

COOKING EQUIPMENT:

Blender (electric and hand)

Camp/backpacking stove with fuel

Charcoal

Cooking utensils: can opener, spoons, spatulas, etc.

Dutch oven

Eating utensils, plates, bowls, cups (paper)

Wheat grinder (electric and hand)

NON-FOOD ITEMS:

Aluminum foil

Bathing water

Bathing soap/body wash

Batteries (variety)

Blankets & space blankets

Candles

Cash

Cell phone with charger

Clothes washer (hand operated)

Clothing (complete outfit)

Cotton balls and Q-tips

Deodorant

Dish soap

Face wash

Facial tissue

Fire extinguisher

Female hygiene products

First aid kit: see my blog post here

Flashlights with batteries

Fuel (gasoline, propane, etc.)

Hand soap

Garbage bags and ties

Garden seeds & tools

Hair gel and spray

Infant supplies (diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles, formula, jar food, blankets, clothes, etc.)

Important documents

Lanterns with supplies

Laundry detergent

Local maps

Lotion

Matches (waterproof)

Medical masks

Medicine: over the counter and prescription

Paper towels

Plastic containers

Plastic wrap

Ponchos

Portable toilet

Radio with batteries

Razors & shaving cream

Shampoo & conditioner

Sleeping bags

Space heater

Tent

Toilet paper

Tools: hammer, wrench, pliers, etc.

Toothbrushes, toothpaste & floss

Vitamins

Washing water

Water purifier

Whistles

Ziploc bags (variety)

STRESS RELIEVERS:

Board games and cards

Books

Bubble bath

Candy & gum

Coloring books & crayons

Pencil & paper

Puzzles

Are you feeling overwhelmed about now. It is okay. Take a deep breath and say "one item at a time". Starting is better than procrastinating...you will at least have something!

Make a inventory of all the storage you have. This way you will know what you have, where it is, if you need more, how long you have had it. You can make them as detailed as you want. These pictures are just a basic list. Click on the pictures below to for a larger view.

You might be interested in these sites:

Home Storage - How To Begin

Food Storage Made Easy

Provident Living Family Home Storage

Food Storage...and beyond

Provident Living Growing a Garden

Two Cans of Corn: Home Storage For Newlyweds

Home Storage Build on the Basics

Everyday...Food Storage

Provident Living: Using Food Storage

Prepared LDS Family: 3 Month Food Storage Menu

72 hour kits

Having a 72 hour kit on hand for every member of your family is a great way to be prepared. You never know when and where a natural disaster will happen, your house will catch on fire, you will lose your job, etc. So lets spend a Monday evening helping our family learn about preparedness and starting our 72 hour kits.

My family used old school backpacks to store our kits in. Each member of the family had one. This way if we ever got separated everyone will have what they needed. You can pack in a duffel bag, luggage bag, plastic containers, etc., whatever works best for you and your family. It just needs to be portable.

Here is a list of items you may need/want in your 72 hour kits. Remember you want to pack as light as you possibly can; you may be caring your kit for a long way. Pack smart and with the essentials. The adults and older children can carry more and may need to take some of the elderly or children's gear.

Checklist:

Bedding & clothing:

*Change of clothes: long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, pants, socks, underwear, hat, jacket, gloves, sturdy shoes, etc. (one complete outfit)

*Rain poncho or jacket

*Blankets

*Emergency heat blankets

*Cloth sheet

*Plastic sheet/tent

*Sleeping bag/wool blanket

*Hand and body heating packs

Fuel & lighting:

*Flashlights with batteries

*Lanterns with batteries

*Extra batteries

*Flares

*Candles

*Water proof matches

Equipment:

*Shovel

*Radio with batteries

*Pocket knife

*Pen and paper

*Axe

*Rope

*Duct tape

*First aid kit: click to see what you need in it

*Sewing kit

*Whistle

*Toilet paper

*Toothbrush & paste

*Hand sanitizer

*Hair brush or comb

*Razor

*Soap

*Sunscreen

*Insect repellent

*Local map

*GPS

Personal documents & money:

*Scriptures

*Patriarchal blessing

*Legal documents: (birth/marriage certificates, passport, wills, bank info, etc.)

*Vaccination records

*Insurance policies

*Cash in small bills (at least $20), include quarters for phone calls

*Credit cards

*Pre-pay phone cards

Food & Water:

*Enough water for 3 days per person (1 gallon or as much as they can carry)

*Water purification method

*Can opener

*Eating utensils

*Light weight stove and fuel

Some menu ideas:

Breakfast:

cereal with powdered milk

cup of fruit

fruit roll

granola bar

instant oatmeal

juice box or canned juice

hot chocolate mix

Lunch:

applesauce cup

beef jerky

cheese & crackers

cup of soup & saltine crackers

fruit cup

fruit snack

granola bar

nuts/sunflower seeds

pudding cup

trail mix

juice box or canned juice

Dinner:

applesauce cup

canned tuna, beans, turkey, Vienna sausages, sardines, etc.

chili

fruit cup

fruit snacks

granola bar

jerky

nuts/sunflower seeds

pudding cup

stew/soup & saltine crackers

juice box or canned juice

Snacks:

applesauce cup

candy/gum

cheese and crackers

fruit cup

granola bars

nuts/sunflower seeds

pudding cup

Remember to plan for 3 days (9 meals total). Think of non perishable, quick and easy items. Will you need extra water? A can opener? Try MRE kits.

Tips:

*UPDATE every 6 months! Make sure that all the food, water, medication, credit cards have not expired. Make sure all clothing still fits.

*Don't forget your stress relievers. Candy, toys, security blanket or item, etc.

*Use Ziploc bags to help contain items that may break or spill.

*If you have an infant pack necessary items such as diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, pacifier, etc.

Sources:

About.com

Dorothy at University of California