Survival Food - Freeze Dried & MRE

The ReadyStore is have a National Preparedness Month Sale now until September 30th.

You can save 20% to 30% off everything including one year supply food reserves.

MREs, Survival Kits, Mountain House #10 cans, are all on sale at The ReadyStore.

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Back in January I did a price comparison of cases of MRE. Below I have updated that comparison with today’s pricing. I used a Tampa Bay, FL zip code for 3 distributors that charged shipping costs depending on zip codes.

MRE is available now to order at these associated distributors;

• Nitro-Pak

• The ReadyStore

• Amazon.com

The ReadyStore is having 5% off sale on survival emergency kits.

There are 24 different kits including kits especially for hurricane preparedness (see list below).

No date is given as to when the emergency kit sale will end.

Make sure you enter discount code “KITSALE” at checkout.

Here is a list;
ULTIMATE Disaster/Hurricane Survival Kit - 2 PERSON

Prepare early! This kit is designed for hurricane prone areas. This kit contains many of the essential items…
Save:     $31.36

ReadyBOTTLE Emergency Kit - 1 PERSON

Talk about portable! You\\\’ll be able to bring this compact READY Bottle Emergency Kit with you anywhere. Makes a…
Save:     $6.88

ULTIMATE Ready Evac Kit - 4 PERSON

Our most complete kit! You can have the peace-of-mind and security you want during an emergency knowing that your…
Save:     $174.69

DELUXE 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

This is a terrific kit for one person! You?ll have all of the food, water, shelter, warmth, light you?ll need for…
Save:     $16.47

Grab-N-Go Economy Personal 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Our Grab-N-Go ECONOMY Personal 72-HOUR KIT works great for people on a budget. Perfect for students or those…
Save:     $9.19

Sanitation & Hygiene Add-On Kit - 5-PERSON

Avoid illness during a disaster with good hygiene. When there\\\’s no plumbing available, this Portable Sanitation…
Save:     $7.51

DELUXE Emergency Bucket Kit - 5 PERSON

Our 5 Person Shelter in Place 72 Hour Kit is great for the workplace, classroom or home. Everything is packed in a 6…
Save:     $41.58

ULTIMATE Ready Evac Kit - 2 PERSON

Our most complete 2 person kit! You can have the peace-of-mind and security you want during an emergency knowing…
Save:     $98.35

ULTIMATE Ready Evac Kit - 1 PERSON

Our most complete kit/! You can have the peace-of-mind and security you want during an emergency knowing that you…
Save:     $71.09

ULTIMATE Auto Emergency Survival Kit

This Ultimate Auto Emergency Survival kit is great for every vehicle! It includes all of the essential items…
Save:     $27.87

DELUXE All-In-One Survival Kit - 1 PERSON

Our new One Person All-In-One? 72 Hour Emergency Kit gives you one kit for any situation: a quick evacuation or…
Save:     $30.36

DELUXE Emergency Bucket Kit - 20 PERSON

FREE Shipping! Provides food, water, warmth, sanitation, light, communication, first aid & more for 20 people…
Save:     $97.51

DELUXE Emergency Bucket Kit - 10 PERSON

FREE Shipping! This kit comes with two 5 gallon buckets with Port-A-Potty lids that are stuffed full of…
Save:     $67.03

BASIC Adult 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Our BASIC 72 HOUR KIT is your first step in emergency preparedness. If you\\\’re on a budget, but still want the…
Save:     $4.43

BASICplus Adult 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Our Adult BASIC PLUS 72 HOUR KIT is a great starter kit. It works great for kids as well. Includes all Basic Kit…
Save:     $6.01

High Rise Evac Kit - 1 PERSON

Includes 1 water pouch, 1 dust mask, 1 whistle with lanyard, 1 lightstick, 3 bandaids, 2 non-aspirin pain relievers,…
Save:     $0.82

Student/Child\’s BASIC 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Perfect for Elementary Schools, Day Care Centers, and Pre-Schools! Each kit is packed in a heavy duty ziplock bag…
Save:     $4.03

DELUXE Family 72 Hour Kit - 4 PERSON

\”\\\”\” FEATURES…
Save:     $38.77

DELUXE Auto Emergency Survival Kit

Essential supplies for your car. Don\\\’t get caught unprepared! Kit Includes: 2400 Calorie Food Bar 9 - 4.2…
Save:     $14.84

DELUXE 72 Hour Kit - 2 PERSON

Our 2 Person 72 Hour Kits give you all of the essential items needed to survive the first 72 hours of an emergency….
Save:     $21.82

DELUXE All-In-One Survival Kit - 4 PERSON

2 - 6 Gallon Bucket 2 - Toilet Seat 2 - Backpack 2 - Toilet Bags (12 packs) 2 - Toilet Chemical 4 - 3600 Cal…
Save:     $62.51

DELUXE All-In-One Survival Kit - 2 PERSON

1 - 6 Gallon Bucket 1 - Toilet Seat 1 - Backpack 1 - Toilet Bags (12 packs) 1 - Toilet Chemical 2 - 3600 Cal…
Save:     $37.31

Child\’s 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Works great as a supplement for young children (under 12 years old). Even young children, including infants, should…
Save:     $7.69

RESCUE V Evac Kit - 1 PERSON

The RESCUE V EVAC KIT provides enough food, water, and emergency supplies for 72 hours. Relief Agencies such as FEMA…
Save:     $14.03

This reminder of what I mentioned in a previous post. Mountain House #10 cans at The ReadyStore will increase in price by up to 30% on September 1st.

If you are considering buying a discount food reserve from The ReadyStore then Sunday is the last day before the 30% increase.

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The ReadyStore is forecasting an increase of 30% on September 1st, 2008 for #10 cans of Mountain House freeze dried food. The notice on their website says this is a mandatory increase for all retailers so it sounds like all will be affected.

Previously Nitro-Pak, forecasted 15% increase in Mountain House #10 cans on August 1st. Prices did go up, but for food reserves which have a mix of other food the observed increase was about 7-8%.

Nitro-Pak has stated a further increase of 5% would occur on September 1st.

Some of the increase can be attributed to higher food costs, but I wonder if the heightened demand caused by survivalists buying on speculation of nearness of the economic collapse they predict has played a major role.

According to the ReadyStore’s comment “If you haven’t placed your order, now is the time!” it appears if you place your order before September 1st, you can avoid the price increase.

For the same reasons as hurricanes, and a few more, the best Earthquake preparedness food is MRE.

MRE (meals ready to eat) or military rations are just that - ready to eat. They are a complete meal with no water needed to prepare.

Most importantly they can be heated with “flameless” ration heaters which is much safer than using an open flame or other cooking equipment after an earthquake.

Since you may not have utilities for weeks in some areas after an earthquake it is much more convenient to have ready to eat meals for this period.

Since you can buy MRE in 12 meal cases with 6 different meals in each case, the variety offered makes them a better choice.

MRE is not the tastiest food and some people have difficulty digesting them so I don’t recommend using MRE as a survival food longer than 3 weeks at a time. This however is hopefully much longer than you will need an emergency food reserve after an earthquake.

According to Nitro-pak, each of their MRE’s typically include;

1. Soda type crackers and a spread, like cheese, peanut butter
   or jelly as an appetizer
2. A main course entree, like beef steak, chicken & noodles, turkey breast, etc.
3. A complementing side dish like fruit, rice, soup or potatoes
4. Some type of dessert, snack or candy
5. An accessory packet which includes: matches, spoon, wet wipe, salt, pepper,
   coffee and sweetener (some may include an alternative beverage powdered
   drink, too).
6. Military versions also include a mini roll of toilet tissue.

MRE lasts 5-7 years if stored in cool place below 80 degrees fahrenheit.

If you store a few cases in a basement, it would be best to have them under a table near an external door that you can break down if need be. That way you can access the MRE meals after an earthquake.

Three places you can order MRE online;

Nitro-Pak
The ReadyStore
Amazon

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One further update on Mountain House #10 Cans availability, I called The ReadyStore customer service and they confirmed they too have regular supply.

The lead time listed on their website is 3-6 weeks.

The customer service representative from The ReadyStore said shipments of individual Mountain House #10 cans, cases of 6 #10 cans, and the freeze dried food reserve packages were all shipping in that range and will continue to be available.

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