SHTF

When SHTF it is too late to get prepared. Find out what you need to do now for survival.

Look, you don’t want to be caught off guard when a disaster hits let alone when SHTF. Just take a look at the natural disasters in the past 5 years. Each time you see people struggling for food, clean water and shelter. What would happen if there was no one to help you? You were on your own?

Although there is no telling when the next catastrophe will strike, becoming prepared with these 4 essentials will bring you to a level of preparation above the majority in your city.

Food

If you don’t eat, you will die. Food is one of the basic necessities of life. Start off getting enough food on hand to last three or four days. If we are talking when SHTF, you are going to need food for a much longer period than that. Plan for a year if you can.

Preparing in advance for SHTF means having canned, dehydrated or otherwise nonperishable foods handy. It is smart to use a food storage calculator and tracker to know what your family needs and keep track of what you have. It is also essential to read up on food preservation.

Indoor and outdoor gardens help subsidize dietary needs. SHTF for extended periods of time may cause protein deficiencies. Raising livestock is one option. Learning how to build traps or hunt for food is another great skill to have.

Water

Though people survive a number of days without food, when SHTF, individuals must have a plan for acquiring fresh drinking water. Sometimes SHTF in communities when bacteria or viruses invade local water supplies, leaving households without water until a remedy occurs. Without power, some individuals may not be able to access water, even from the tap. These are only some circumstances where having an adequate water supply is essential.

Experts suggest having 1 to 2 gallons of water per household member per day. Many people buy bottled water, but filling juice or soda bottles also serves the purpose. Another method of water storage might include filling food grade buckets, which often have sealable lids. Catching rainwater is also another way of obtaining fresh water. Some people live in regions having open bodies of water. When storing or obtaining water when SHTF, survivalists suggest adding 16 drops or 1/8 of a teaspoon of bleach to each gallon of water as a disinfectant.

Shelter

People who live in areas known to experience natural disasters often have basements or cellars. If SHTF because of mega disasters, some prefer having the knowledge to build makeshift shelters when needed. Many individuals build underground shelters, which received popularity in the 60s. Tucked safely beneath the ground’s surface, many shelters are barely visible from above ground.

Besides natural disasters, many also contemplate SHTF secondary to economic collapse and the ever rising chaos and violence in society, which will surely increase. In desperation, there will most likely be pillaging and plundering and many believe having a well-stocked, hidden shelter when SHTF will be one of the few means of having security.

Security

Though many still abhor the thought of owning a firearm, others prefer to carry protection in case SHTF. In rural areas, many citizens own weapons, not merely for protection, but also as a means of providing food. In the city, when SHTF, confusion and panic occurs. Many suggest that in this scenario, the safest thing to do is stay hidden with ample supplies and armed protection. When SHTF, some people have the convenience of gathering with family or friends, away from a hotspot location. Small townships may rally, taking turns performing guard duty for the sake of the community.

SHTF Conclusion

Between the political, social and natural events occurring recently, many prefer to err on the side of caution if SHTF. Besides basic supplies, individuals must also consider an adequate battery or fuel supply, along with first aid for emergencies. Do the research and evaluate what needs and what quantities of items should be on hand if SHTF.

How to Store Chocolate… For Emergencies… ;)

With the holidays, there is no shortage of chocolate… but what if one day it was no longer available?

What would happen if one day you do encounter a disaster? Let’s pretend you are stuck at home, no where to go or way to get there, and you actually have to live on exactly what you have in your food storage! (Gasp! – from most of us…)

If you are like many people, you probably have a few pounds of wheat, rice, beans and maybe some canned foods that your family eats most often. You even have a couple gallons of water! Good for you!

Let’s skip ahead a couple of days, maybe even just hours. And pretend you have children . Ages 10, 7, 5 and 2. It’s day 4 and this “spending family time together” is getting really old! You have already played all the card games, board games, hide and seek, and are all story – timed out. A little incentive would be really nice to bribe the kids to be kind and “stop bugging your sister!” I don’t know about you, but my kids will do just about anything for some chocolate, bubble gum… or even a lollipop! You need to have SoMeThInG for them to look forward to as far as food goes. Beans. Again. Aren’t gonna cut it!

Most candies will last at least 6 months if they are sealed and kept in a cool, dry place. M&M’s can last about a year if they are sealed tight! 6 months isn’t all that long, you say? Well, that’s why we love rotating our food now, isn’t it?

Keeping things in your food storage that your family usually consumes is both wise and delicious! If you ever have to use your food storage in an emergency it doesn’t have to be torture! Make sure to get the basics that will sustain your family and then get foods (and sweets your family will eat.

If you aren’t sure what you need for basic food storage, you aren’t alone. People around the world are recognizing the wisdom in stocking up food for emergencies but don’t know where to start. Make sure to check out our food storage calculator which will help you calculate the basic food storage your family needs to survive and keep track of what you have so you can rest easy, knowing your family is prepared.

Do you store snacks? What are your favorites? Post in the comments below and start a conversation!

Opening photo by John Loo

Freeze dried ice cream….mmm?

What would the world be like with out ice cream?

One of my favorite things about ice cream is when I add a little milk to it and it forms into sweet crystallized clumps of deliciousness! Or add some marshmallows, stir it up, and let it sit for a little bit so the marshmallows can harden and they are nice and chewy! What is your favorite way to eat ice cream? Could Freeze dried ice cream ever bring you that kind of satisfaction? Good question.

Could freeze dried ice cream ever suffice?

I have to admit before taking my first bite of a freeze dried ice cream sandwich… okay, I’ll be honest, from the moment I saw them on the shelf in the store my thoughts were:

1. Gross
2. Really?
3. What in the world would that taste like?
4. Should I try it?
5. No
6. Yes
7. How could I not?!
8. Oh, buy it already!

The challenge:

The taste test really was a family affair. Every one was curious as to what they would taste like so we chopped them up into pieces and passed the plate of freeze dried ice cream sandwich around. I think all our faces looked the same, like, “what am I doing? This is weird.” We popped them into our mouth. Each of our eye brows loosened up and actually began to raise. Every ones reactions were the same, “Wow, that’s pretty good!” Then we passed around the Neapolitan ice cream. It was surprisingly good too! I knew then and there that we needed some freeze dried ice cream in our food storage!

The result!

Freeze dried ice cream doesn’t give you the same cool sensation you receive from regular ice cream, but the taste is exactly the same!

Opening photo by Amanda Govaert

New Feature: Edit names and amounts!

The most requested feature is live! Edit category and food names and change the have and need amounts on the fly!

Easily update categories, food/supply names and amounts! Just click, edit, and save!

This has been the most requested feature over the past year! Since this is customization, it only works for those with the Recommended version.

Enjoy!

Stockupfood was live on the radio!

We were recently featured on the Prepper Broadcasting Network’s Homestead Honey Hour to talk about stockupfood and take your live calls and questions! Click the play button below to check it out!

New feature: Print your food storage!

We added a highly requested feature, printing! Now you can print your food storage or emergency supplies to take it shopping or file away for your records.

When you print from most websites, it prints the entire page along with unnecessary graphics that distract from what you really need. On stockupfood, when you click print food storage, it generates a customized page with only the essentials: your inventory, progress, and goal. It also shows you the date so you know how up to date you are.

With your newly printed page you can take it grocery shopping to get your food storage supply built up or file it away for your records.

We would love your feedback to make our site even better. Join the conversation and post your comments below!

New feature: Food storage resources!

A new food storage resources page has been added to the website which has videos and downloadable resources! Watch this video to see where it is!

Now you can find the food storage videos we put out along with the downloadable resources all in one place! We will be adding to this list constantly so be sure to check back often!

We would love your feedback on what kind of food storage or survival videos you would like to see! Post your ideas in the comments below.