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A well-stocked pantry, full of foods like canned vegetables, can keep you from going hungry in an emergency. JOYCE MARSHALL/FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM Visit the Photo Place

Keep a stash of healthy foods

Stash away some smart foods in case of emergencies.

Date published: 2/15/2009

DO YOU HAVE two weeks' worth of food and water stashed away? Federal authorities are asking everyone to stockpile supplies in case of a flu pandemic or a storm that topples power lines.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's not a question of whether we'll have a deadly flu pandemic, but when. Most of us weren't born when the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic hit, but it killed more people than World War I--20 million to 40 million, according to experts at Stanford University.

Modern medicine is better than it was in the past, but there's still no cure for the flu. So it's still a good idea to stock supplies.

My pantry is small, so I developed a bare-bones menu and shopping list to store the least possible amount of food. This saves money and space. I keep my stash of emergency food in large plastic tubs. That way, if we ever have to evacuate because of a power outage, I can just toss the tubs into the car and go.

Stockpiling food sounds melodramatic, but a few years ago, weathering Hurricane Isabel in Virginia, I was glad I had planned ahead. Our power wasn't out for very long, but just knowing we had everything we needed was a great comfort while the remnants of the storm roared outside.

BUILDING YOUR SUPPLY

I refresh my stash of food every year, either eating the food or donating it to a local food pantry.

To me, the most daunting part of gathering a supply is storing enough water. Plan to have on hand a gallon of water per person per day, advises the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That's because the average person needs to drink a half-gallon per day--more during hot weather, heavy labor or illness. Plus, you want some water left over for washing.

Next, focus on foods that come in single-serving containers, such as soups, or foods that won't spoil after opening, such as crackers. Also consider buying low-sodium foods, because salty foods make you thirsty. If you eat less salt, you won't use as much drinking water.

Check the Web site at pandemicflu.gov/plan/checklists.html for lists of other handy items, such as medicines, soap, electrolytes, batteries and the like, that you may need in an emergency. If you don't have access to the Web, you can call the CDC's hot line at 800/232-4636 for information in English or Spanish. Jennifer Motl is a registered dietitian. Formerly of Fredericksburg, she now lives in Wisconsin.

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Date published: 2/15/2009